In the last few years there have been several cases in which parents have been investigated for simply allowing their kids to be … well … kids.
For instance, in 2028, Beth Widner, of Canton, Georgia, was investigated by child protective services after her 7-year-old stopped by for a cookie.
According to a story in Reason, “In August of 2018, the Widner kids—then ages 13, 11, nine, and seven—were members of a swim team at their local YMCA, which was about two blocks from their house. One day, after swim practice, the 7-year-old, Jackson, lagged behind while the rest of his siblings walked home, and stopped by the grocery store for a free cookie.
A store employee thought it was so unusual to see an unaccompanied 7-year-old that the employee called 911. Then, instead of letting him leave, the employee told Jackson he had to wait for the police to arrive.
Indeed, Widner was investigated at least twice for simply allowing her youngest some independence.
In another case, in 2024, police handcuffed Brittany Patterson in front of three of her four children and drove her to the station in Fannin County, Georgia. She was then fingerprinted, photographed, and dressed in an orange jumpsuit. The reason? Her youngest — 11-year-old Soren — had walked about a mile to town.
On Wednesday, February 11, 2025, the Kansas Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill that would protect “free range parents” from being prosecuted for allowing their children some freedom.
Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, SB 408 — “Excluding a child engaging in age-appropriate independent activities from the definition of a child in need of care in the revised Kansas code for care of children” — would amend KSA 21-5601 to state “Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to mean a child is endangered for the sole reason the child’s parent or guardian … permits or fails to prohibit a child from engaging in independent activity as described in K.S.A. 38-2202, and amendments thereto, unless such parent or guardian has knowingly or recklessly disregarded an obvious danger to the child given the child’s age, maturity and physical or mental abilities.”
Additionally, it would add to the definition of “Child in need of care” that “Child in need of care” does not mean a person less than 18 years of age … who is engaging in independent activities without adult supervision when a parent allows such child to engage in such independent activities,” as long as independent activities are appropriate based on the child’s age, maturity and mental abilities, the lack of supervision is not so grossly negligent as to endanger the health or safety of the child.
Moreover, SB 408 states “‘independent activities'” includes, but is not limited to, traveling to or from school or nearby locations on foot or by bicycle, playing outdoors, remaining at home for a reasonable amount of time or remaining in a vehicle that is not dangerously hot or cold for a reasonable amount of time.”
President of non-profit “Let Grow” Lenore Skenazy — who is also the author of “Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry” — testified on behalf of SB 408 and, in a phone interview, said it is unfortunate that bills like this are even needed.
“I don’t want to overstate the case,” Skenazy said. “Most parents won’t be cited for neglect or abuse, but there’s this chilling effect that we can just cauterize with this law, right? You don’t have to worry, you know, gee, I think my seven-year-old can go to the 711, but you know, am I going to be found guilty of something?”
Skenazy said a 2023 University of Michigan study found that 17% of parents think state or local laws prevent children — even as old as 11 — from being unsupervised.
“Kansas wants strong, independent kids,” Skenazy — who spoke on this issue in Kansas a few years ago — said. “It wants parents who aren’t, you know, worried that they’re going to be investigated, simply because they trust their kids with some independence.”
Deputy Secretary of the Department for Children and Families, Tanya Keys, testified in support of the bill — indeed, there was no opponent testimony.
Keys, in written testimony, said DCF already takes “the totality of the circumstances, including the child’s age, maturity, developmental abilities, environmental conditions, duration of the alleged lack of supervision, and the presence of any immediate or potential safety risks,” into consideration.
However, she said, the law as it currently exists is vague and SB408 would clarify “statutory language regarding age-appropriate independent activities” and would align “with existing intake procedures that already require individualized assessment rather than decisions based solely on age or the presence or absence of supervision.”
A table presented in her testimony shows the potential depth of the problem, as nearly 20% of reports to child protective services in the last year were for “lack of supervision,” behind only emotional abuse at about 24% and physical abuse at about 31% of reports.
Blasi said SB 408 is designed to both keep children safe and to allow parents the autonomy to raise independent adults.
“One of our most important goals is to make Kansas the best place in America to raise a family,” Blasi said. “Supporting a culture of family means protecting the right of children to play in a way that is both safe and independent. SB 408 prevents unnecessary government interference and gives families room to thrive and kids to grow.”