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If you want to be a free-range parent and avoid jail, having money helps If you want to be a free-range parent and avoid jail, having money helps
(about 7 hours later)
There are two ends of the parenting spectrum in America right now: one affluent and one poor. But both risk run-ins with the law if they err on the side of independence for their children.There are two ends of the parenting spectrum in America right now: one affluent and one poor. But both risk run-ins with the law if they err on the side of independence for their children.
Among the affluent, there are the “free-range” parents who allow their children to do things like walk alone from the park, and, in turn, are found responsible for “unsubstantiated child neglect” by Child Protective Services. And many struggling parents have wound up in jail for leaving their children alone. One McDonald’s employee was charged with “unlawful conduct towards a child” for letting her 9-year-old daughter play in the park while she worked, while a homeless woman who left her children in the car during a job interview was charged with felony child abuse.Among the affluent, there are the “free-range” parents who allow their children to do things like walk alone from the park, and, in turn, are found responsible for “unsubstantiated child neglect” by Child Protective Services. And many struggling parents have wound up in jail for leaving their children alone. One McDonald’s employee was charged with “unlawful conduct towards a child” for letting her 9-year-old daughter play in the park while she worked, while a homeless woman who left her children in the car during a job interview was charged with felony child abuse.
Whereas the names for affluent parents connote freedom on one hand (free-range) and surveillance on the other (helicopter), poor parents are simply caught between criminal irresponsibility at worst, and falling victim to large-scale cutbacks at best.Whereas the names for affluent parents connote freedom on one hand (free-range) and surveillance on the other (helicopter), poor parents are simply caught between criminal irresponsibility at worst, and falling victim to large-scale cutbacks at best.
Related: Leave our kids alone: parents of free-range children bemoan 'land of snitches'
For the former parents, two California start-ups, Shuddle and HopSkipDrive, are here to help. These new ride-sharing companies boast tracking apps and a carefully vetted, all-female driving staff – who are also childcare experts – to ferry unaccompanied minors to their merry-go-round of extracurriculars, hassle free. It’s Uber for the underage set, at a price.For the former parents, two California start-ups, Shuddle and HopSkipDrive, are here to help. These new ride-sharing companies boast tracking apps and a carefully vetted, all-female driving staff – who are also childcare experts – to ferry unaccompanied minors to their merry-go-round of extracurriculars, hassle free. It’s Uber for the underage set, at a price.
But it’s a price that economically disadvantaged parents, who get no cutesy monikers, still won’t be able to pay.But it’s a price that economically disadvantaged parents, who get no cutesy monikers, still won’t be able to pay.
Shuddle charges a $9 monthly membership fee plus individual ride fares that are 15% higher than Uber or Lyft, due in part to the increased insurance costs on a car service catering to youth. Also, unlike other ride-hailing businesses which are on-demand, Shuddle and HopSkipDrive (the latter founded by three inspiring professional women who are also mothers) requires parents to book at least one day in advance. HopSkipDrive uses packages to price their rides, the largest one consisting of 50 rides for $600 and the smallest one comprising of five rides for $95. Though these fees may not seem like much to some (especially for stressed parents, who might consider the service a godsend), the emergence of these companies represent something else beside an entrepreneurial no-brainer: another faultline between the haves and the have nots.Shuddle charges a $9 monthly membership fee plus individual ride fares that are 15% higher than Uber or Lyft, due in part to the increased insurance costs on a car service catering to youth. Also, unlike other ride-hailing businesses which are on-demand, Shuddle and HopSkipDrive (the latter founded by three inspiring professional women who are also mothers) requires parents to book at least one day in advance. HopSkipDrive uses packages to price their rides, the largest one consisting of 50 rides for $600 and the smallest one comprising of five rides for $95. Though these fees may not seem like much to some (especially for stressed parents, who might consider the service a godsend), the emergence of these companies represent something else beside an entrepreneurial no-brainer: another faultline between the haves and the have nots.
In the Bay Area, where Shudder is located, districts slashed school bus services in 2012, leaving all parents to make lengthy trips to escort their children to and from school on sometimes unreliable and occasionally dangerous public transportation. But the children that have trouble getting to school also participate in less extracurriculars than wealthy kids - the same wealthy kids for whom kid ride-sharing services were invented. In the Bay Area, where Shuddle is located, districts slashed school bus services in 2012, leaving all parents to make lengthy trips to escort their children to and from school on sometimes unreliable and occasionally dangerous public transportation. But the children that have trouble getting to school also participate in less extracurriculars than wealthy kids - the same wealthy kids for whom kid ride-sharing services were invented.
According to the new book by Harvard political scientist Robert D. Putnam, Our Kids: The American Dream In Crisis, the divide between the attitudes and practices of rich and poor families hasn’t been this wide since the Gilded Age. Extracurricular activities – or the lack thereof – actually play a role in exacerbating this trend .According to the new book by Harvard political scientist Robert D. Putnam, Our Kids: The American Dream In Crisis, the divide between the attitudes and practices of rich and poor families hasn’t been this wide since the Gilded Age. Extracurricular activities – or the lack thereof – actually play a role in exacerbating this trend .
A study on low-income Latino students in Southern California found that extracurricular involvement predicted school achievement. Another study demonstrated that kids involved in extracurriculars were 70% more likely to go to college than kids who only loosely participated.A study on low-income Latino students in Southern California found that extracurricular involvement predicted school achievement. Another study demonstrated that kids involved in extracurriculars were 70% more likely to go to college than kids who only loosely participated.
Labor scholars have found that team and club leaders were more likely to negotiate higher salaries later in life. There’s also a study that says students who participated in extracurriculars in the 1940s suffered less dementia 60 years later. And even for the most vulnerable current students, extracurriculars confer advantages.Labor scholars have found that team and club leaders were more likely to negotiate higher salaries later in life. There’s also a study that says students who participated in extracurriculars in the 1940s suffered less dementia 60 years later. And even for the most vulnerable current students, extracurriculars confer advantages.
Affluent parents have long understood the importance of extracurricular activities in both child development and those children’s success as adults, from the colleges to which they may be admitted to the peer group networks they may develop as a result. The ability to participate in such activities, or the inability to do so, doesn’t just impact the ballooning inequities in our educational system, it has an impact on the inequities in our society at large.Affluent parents have long understood the importance of extracurricular activities in both child development and those children’s success as adults, from the colleges to which they may be admitted to the peer group networks they may develop as a result. The ability to participate in such activities, or the inability to do so, doesn’t just impact the ballooning inequities in our educational system, it has an impact on the inequities in our society at large.
Entrepreneurs are making the attainment of these positive outcomes a lot less stressful ... for privileged parents at least. But parents who need the extra help the most – working families who are struggling financially – will be left behind if these services are out of their reach. And so will their children.Entrepreneurs are making the attainment of these positive outcomes a lot less stressful ... for privileged parents at least. But parents who need the extra help the most – working families who are struggling financially – will be left behind if these services are out of their reach. And so will their children.