> Letting your children roam unattended is not child abuse
I'd check your local laws around this. I know people in my city have been investigated for Child Neglect for letting their 7 year old walk to the mailbox alone.
I absolutely would. It sickens me how our society seems hellbent on making sure everyone is anxious and fearful of everything, all of the time. If people do not stand up and push back, this sort of government paternalism just keeps intruding. I'd fight any charges against me to the supreme court if necessary, and I'd hope they'd set a precedent.
Kids below a certain age can't do this stuff on their own anymore in a lot of places. Your neighbors will call child protective services on you.
This leads to kids being raised indoors, or only in enrolled events, because parents can't spend all of their time outdoors with the kid.
Then when the kid is old enough to be outdoors on their own without supervision they don't want to be because they have been raised indoors.