Above was typed on phone late at night and may sound abrasive, so for context: I live in the Toronto, Canada area. On regular basis, local or national news will have an article about child protection services being engaged for items such as 12 year old left at home alone or a 8 year old being alone on sidewalk etc. Schools and Neighbours are typically the ones who report the incident. Culture is one of protection, and a child seen alone on the street raises immediate alarm bells amongst bystanders. Three provinces have legal limits of either 12 or 16 years old for children to be left alone for any period of time; but in all provinces and federally, canadian social services organizations "advise that children under 12 should not be left unsupervised". This is typically pursued under "supervisory neglect" and "placing children under risk of harm".

In my province of Ontario, the statutory limit for leaving a child without adequate supervision is... sixteen years old. Fine of up to $5000 and up to 12 months in jail.

Which is insane to me, having walked to school since age 6, taking buses solo since age 11 or 12, lived through civil war at age 12 and flying unspervised over three airlines and four countries to another continent at age 15. But there you have it.

So a suggestion to raise kids free range is just not an option where I am, unfortunately :(

---- Edit A background of Canadian legislation framework: https://cwrp.ca/sites/default/files/publications/Legal%20Age...