Concerned stranger accosts 10-year-old and 6-year-old walking home alone from the library, prompts complaints about taking away childrens' independence: 'I hate that it's not normal for kids to be allowed to move around outside the house alone'

Ally Perry • Writer and Editor

Aug 17, 2024 4:00 PM EDT

If you ask a lot of parents what the scariest thing about having kids is, many of them will probably say something about ensuring their safety. The world is full of threats that are even more threatening when you're a vulnerable semi-grown person who isn't anywhere near ready to be living on their own.

At the same time, the only way children are going to be prepared to be adults is if you allow them to practice some of the things that they will need to do in adulthood. One of those things is experiencing what it's like to be outside the house without adult supervision. While doing this appropriately can sometimes be difficult, it's fair to say that some people are a lot more paranoid about it than others. This is something that one Twitter user's kids encountered while walking home from the library. Although it's good to keep a look out, sometimes the concern is overblown.