'Free range' parents spark debate about children playing alone outside

Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 8:30 AM - Now that warmer temperatures have arrived, kids can get outside mor.

But how young is too young for children to play outside by themselves?

This has become a talking point after police picked up two children aged 6 and 10 found walking home alone from a park, a mile away from their house in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Child Protective Services have launched a child neglect investigation over the April 12 incident in Silver Spring, Md., according to the Montgomery County Department of Police.

The parents now find themselves in the media spotlight. "It's beyond ridiculous," The mother, Danielle Meitiv, told The Associated Press on Monday. She and the father, Alexander Meitiv, believe in "free range" parenting, according to media reports. "The world is safer today, and yet we imprison our children inside and wonder why they're obese and have no focus," she said.

The first time police stopped the children was in December after responding to a concerned citizen call. The siblings were halfway into a one-mile walk home from a park. After dropping the children off at home, police called Children Protective Services. 

It was this past Sunday around 5 p.m. when police responded to another call about the welfare of the two children after someone reported seeing them at a nearby parking garage. A police officer observed a homeless person whom he was familiar with, "eyeing the children," Montgomery police said,

This time, instead of dropping the kids off at home, the police took them straight to Child Protective Services. 

Reports indicate the parents began worrying when the kids were not home by 6:30 p.m. It was around 8 p.m. when child services called the parents to notify them that the kids were in their care. By 10:30 p.m., the parents were able to retrieve their children. 

Upon police request, the parents were asked to sign a temporary safety plan, agreeing to not allow the children to be unattended. 

The investigation continues. 

SOURCES: Montgomery Country police | Associated Press