Exactly. There are so few moms at home any more that most neighborhoods are full of empty houses that are only occupied in the evenings and on weekends.
When neighborhoods were full of moms and kids, it was much safer for kids to be out running around, because the moms knew the people belonged in the neighborhood during the day and could recognize strangers.
And you’re right about how kids’ lives are organized every minute of the day, too. Ever since the “experts” decided they knew how kids learn and what they should know when, kids have lost the freedom to explore, create, and learn on their own. Real learning is largely invisible to the outsider. It irritates me that every toy or game these days has to be educational. Fun is educational, but kids aren’t allowed to have unstructured fun today.
“When neighborhoods were full of moms and kids...”
Those were the days! Growing up in the 70’s, there was a mom in every house who would either give you something to eat or yell at you if needed. In the evenings, my folks would sit on their front stoop smoking and relaxing with a beer while we played TV Tag or rode our big wheels and bikes. Eventually neighbors would come over to have a smoke with my parents while their kids would join in the games. Only once..in 1971 did our folks call us in on a beautiful summer evening. Apparently a teen girl was found murdered right up the road. They think a neighbor boy did it, but it was never proven and the family moved away. However, things returned to normal and we blithely played and swam the summers away.