I don't understand. I'm in my 40's, and when I was that age it was perfectly normal for kids of that age to be able to play in a park unsupervised for a couple hours (and walk to/from school, go to the store, and do lots of other things capably). The DoJ statistics show that it's safer now (crime wise) than when we were kids. Why is it not ok now, why must kids be treated as invalids, and why must parents who allow their kids to be competent and confident be treated as criminals or in need of parenting classes?

It's the attitude of the authorities in this matter that is training our kids to be incompetent. When they grow up, they're going to get their lunch eaten by people in other countries that allowed their kids to learn self-reliance and responsibility early.

I'm thrilled that the charges were dropped but...parenting classes, really? How about a class for police officers and the woman who reported the father--a class to educate them about truly neglected children, e.g. child prostitutes, physically and sexually abused children, etc., not children that were left at the park by their father so that they could PLAY. How humiliating for the father to be forced to take classes to "get him on the right track", when he was not off track to begin with--at least not as reported in the story. There was no mention of any other neglect or abuse by the father reported in the original story, so unless some details are missing, this father seems guilty of absolutely nothing.

I definitely agree with both Lexi and Lori--this seems like something that I grew up doing all the time. However, if the kids weren't within walking distance of home, then they were effectively stranded. If they did live nearby enough to walk safely home, then this charge is completely ridiculous and I feel bad for the humiliated father.