Here's an article on free-ranging kids, though the author doesn't call it that

[conuly]

It's unusual in that the comments are worth reading.

One that stands out starts thusly:

Teaching in a comm. college, I find that younger students are typically unable to describe the neighborhood they grew up in. Some say they still don't know their own neighborhoods beyond the back yard. Older adults have strong sensory memories of their childhood neighborhoods, and usually enjoy recounting those places, people, and games.

That? That is terrifying.

The kids on this block aren't growing up like that, most of them, which is a great relief to me. Annoying as the local kids are at times, I'd rather see them outside playing than stuck inside all day.

Comments

[leora.livejournal.com]

None of the houses in my neighborhood have kids' toys outside. Probably because they're all keeping any kids they have in their backyards.

I figure it probably is close, but sometimes sound can travel deceptively far, especially when someone is yelling. So, I figure it's probably one of the houses around me, but it could even, theoretically, be a house across the large street... ummm my house is on a block with a small street and a house on that street directly out from the front door. But behind me is a large busy street and then on the other side of that, more houses. If it's coming from there, it's highly unlikely I'll figure it out. But it's probably nearby. Which means the houses to the left, right, across, and across and down the tiny cul-de-sac street a bit.

It helps that they're all houses. If there were an apartment complex it might be hopeless (although someone else could probably figure it out. But it's still a large enough group of possibilities that it's tricky. Also, I don't want to report any family simply because they're in the right area and have kids. I want some evidence that links possible abuse to a particular house. While an investigation isn't the end of the world, I really don't want any family investigated if they almost certainly have no abuse (or, at least, no signs of it).

So figuring out which houses have kids would be a start, but I'd really like some link. I was hoping I'd go out and find a child playing. Maybe even be able to ask the kid if they'd just been sent out to play. But no such luck.

I like to think that if there is abuse someone will report it even if I don't, but I know far too many people who were abused and it was never reported, so I don't actually feel like that's something I can rely on.

Mainly, I want the child to know that s/he deserves to be treated better and it's not his/her fault. That can make a big difference. I'd like the child to know that somebody gives a damn and thinks the treatment (if it's as bad as I fear or worse) isn't okay.

But getting info won't be easy. Especially as I am a stranger, so kids aren't supposed to talk to me. I'm vaguely hoping if an opportunity presents itself being a blind cripple will count in my favor and make me seem less scary.