But does being responsible mean you have to have them in sight 24/7, to be supervising everything they do 24/7? I think that’s what the so called free range thing is about, not about treating them like free range animals.
When parents send/let their 6 year go on own to park a mile away, that is irresponsible. And putting the supervision burden on a 10 year old sibling is equally wrong and no substitute for the parent.
I grew up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin. All 4 of us are pretty independent & able to take care of ourselves- and we were when we were kids. Our parents didn’t hover. All of us have been self employed—3 of us with employees.
A kid being raised today doesn’t learn to think past their nose, as Dad used to say.