Transcript for What Would You Do: Mother leaves 8-year-old son alone at the beach
We’ll meet back here it 4:00. Thanks, mom. Love you. Ove you too, hoy. Have fun. An 8-year-old boy is spending the afternoon by himself on the boardwalk. His mother believes in the philosophy known as free range parenting, the concept? Raising kids to be independent with limited parental supervision. It’s a parenting style popularized by author and columnist la nor. You get problem-solving by doing things on your own. But critics call it dangerous. Free range parents under fire, accused of neglect for letting their kids walk home alone. This is an old-fashioned way of your kids. It’s crazy, I get it. When this New York mom wrote a column about letting her son ride the subway by himsel you will never believe the reaction. International outrage. Do you know what time it is? I’m supposed to meet my mom at 4:00, but my phone died. If you are alone on the boardwalk. It’s 3:30. Have you been at the beach all afternoon? Yeah. It’s no big deal. Would you be concerned? What would you do? It’s a beautiful day at the beach, and our hidden camas are rolling as Finn happens upon this woman. Exucuse me. Do you know what time it is? 12:39. I’m playing by myself all day. Whyin. My mom dropped me off alone. How old are you? 8. And she left U? He doesn’t waste any time filling her in. He is here by himself. We can’t just leave him here. I know we can’t. We have to do something like this. I’m sure they have a radio or something. They are off to tell security, but what will they say to our mom? Finn. Hi, mom. Sorry. Is he bothering you? No, he sai is here by himself. I leave him sometimes in the morning and let him no play. I would take him with you, because, if not, I’m going to have to report you to the poce. Yocan’t just leave your 8-year-old. I’m sorry. Why would you report that to the police? He is an 8-year-oldut in the open. Most states don’t have laws dictatg the exact age a child can be left alone, but Utah recently amended its child welfare laws. Th now clarify that parents cannot be charged with neglect foretting their children who are mature enough play outside or walk home from school by themselves. I’m a free range parent. ‘S, like, I think that a lot of people baby their kids. It’s not even about him being mature. It’s the fact that there are other bad people in the world and you can’t control what they are going to do. Let’s go, quickly. Time to meet this protective pair. Llo. This is part of TV show called “What would you do?.” They are actors. What? What were you thinking? How could someone leave their child on the beach at 8?that’s crazy. The danger he? Honestly, you never know. That’s the problem nowadays. Sir, do you know what time it the? Not everyone we meet today thinks our actor has too much freedom. My mom says she trusts me to play alone. Yeah. That’s good. I mean, that’s good. At least you’re not playing video games 24/7. Yeah. G climb a tree or something. Yeah, I like playing outside. Good. I’m dependent. You’re not a little kid. I’m 8 years old. Yeah. You’ll be fine. What’s the worst that can happen at the beach? Sunburn. And this mother. My parents just TD me to play outside. That’s nice. They call it free range. Oh. Okay. Free range is good because they want you to be creative, yeah? I can see that. When yr son’s 8, is he going to be free range? Probably not. What do you think of that kind of parenting? I don’t judge any parenting. I D understand that mindset. I wouldn’t do it myself, but, you know, I mean some people grow up like that. Finn is back it and finds these ugt thatful teens. We can go get you ice cream. You don’t think it’s okay to be alone? Not at your age. You were worried about him, right? Yeah My heart is beating so fast right now. He said he was 8, so — I’ll be back at, like, 6:00? You don’t have someone here to, like, stay with him? These girls try to keep mom from leaving. No. I think he is fine. He is really mature for his age, and — I don’t want anything to happen to him. After mom takes off, they stay with him, passing T ball. You don’t want to be to trusting. Everybody isn’t so nice in the world. All right. Let’s go. Hey, guys. How are you? Oh, my god. Do you know the show, “What would you do?” Yes. We were watching it the other nit. We roll one last time. There’s chicken fingers and French fries. No, that’s okay. Then he meets this woman who is willing to share some food and some friendship The reason why I’m askings I think it’s dangerous for you to be out here by yourself because people are not as nice as they usually say they can be. People come in all different shapes and sizes. I’m tall, you are short. I’m big, you’re little, but the personity, their heart, is sometimes the heart is not as pure as us, do you know what I mean? Yeah. After she impartser wor of wisdom, they head off to the beach. But before they have some more fun in the sun, we introduce ourselves. What is this? How are you? Hi. How are you? He is an actor. We do a TV show Calle “What would you do?” Oh, my god. No. Oh, my god. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. She told us she sees both sides. I think it’s good in a way. I think it gives the child more of a sense of responsibility. Why? Too much responsibility is too much on the child. Come on, Finn. Say hi.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
