Debate Rages After Mom Of 5-Year-Old Convicted For Letting Son Walk 1/2 Mile Alone

On its face, it sounds horrific: a mom allows her five-year-old son to walk alone to a neighborhood pond, a half mile away. That mom is Karyann Parkinson and she’s speaking out after being convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Parkinson is also now on a state abuse registry for the next seven years. The mom of five says she had just walked to the pond six times with her son that day, in their gated community, complete with security guards. It was one of those guards who escorted the boy home, and ultimately called police. Debate is now raging online among parents, how young is too young to walk alone, and what is the role of the state when it comes to making parenting decisions?

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