Free range kids: Children can now play outside without adult supervision in Utah

Ashley May | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Utah passes controversial 'free range parenting' law The Governor of Utah signed the country’s first measure to formally legalize allowing kids to do things on their own without adult supervision. It's being referred to as free-range parenting.

Play at a park, bike to the store, walk to school — all activities children in Utah can now legally perform alone, without parental supervision.

It's all part of a "free-range kids" bill signed by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert last week. The law, which specifies it is not neglectful to let children wander independently, will take effect May 8. An age limit was purposely not defined, but the law says children left alone should display maturity and good judgment.

"It’s not neglect if you let your child experience childhood,” state Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, who sponsored the bill, told Salt Lake City's KUTV 2News. "The message is you need to protect your kids but we are not doing kids any favors if we shelter them to the point where they are not learning how to function."

It's a controversial move, and could be the first legislation of its kind in the U.S.

Lenore Skenazy, who wrote a book about "Free Range Kids," has become a force behind what's also known as free-range parenting after writing a column that received national attention about how she let her then-9-year-old son ride the subway by himself. She says on her blog allowing children their independence helps empower them to feel smart and capable.

But parents who let their children roam free could face legal problems in other states. For example, when a Maryland couple tried to give their children independence by letting them play alone two blocks from home, Child Protective Services picked up the then-10 and 6-year-olds.

Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, the House sponsor of the bill, told The Salt Lake Tribune this bill "is to prevent in Utah a problem that has happened in too many other states … where parents have been prosecuted, gotten in trouble for doing nothing more than allowing a child to play outside or go to the park."

He said if children are found showing signs of abuse, there will be legal action.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets