Public Opinion of WA Residents on Free-range Parenting and Its Legal Implications on Child Neglect
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i4.2136Keywords:
Free-range parenting, Helicopter Parenting, Washington State, Public Opinion, Child Neglect, Demographic factorsAbstract
Free-range parenting is the practice of giving children more freedom to act independently. However, in recent years, many proponents of this practice got into legal trouble or faced social criticism for being neglectful and were labeled as “bad parents.” Most of them are low-income families that cannot afford babysitters. Others are well-off parents that advocate for fostering independence. Nevertheless, their actions incurred various consequences due to their socioeconomic status as helicopter parenting becomes increasingly popular. The lack of specific laws to clarify the difference between neglectful parenting and free-range parenting cause poorer or uneducated parents to suffer from serious legal charges unjustly. Washington is among those states that have not updated its laws to keep up with the heated debate over parenting preference, so gathering input from WA residents on this topic is essential for highlighting the controversy and providing necessary insights into the social trend to inform the policymakers when evaluating and amending neglect laws. 222 WA residents were conveniently selected to answer a 30+ question survey over two months. This study found that younger generations, high-income parents, and people with higher education are more disapproving of free-range parenting. It was also found that average WA residents believe parents have the responsibility to always accompany children under 12 years old, presenting a more conservative/pro-helicopter parenting preference. The reasons behind the inclination were explored. Based on those results, the researchers discussed legal recommendations for the WA legislature to reduce ambiguity to better protect parental rights while sustainably alleviating child neglect.
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