Engineering360: "App lets parents 'follow' school buses"

This will be a huge convenience to those parents who need or feel the need to meet their child at the bus stop.

Helicopter parents rejoice!

Apparently, unbeknownst to me, I was a " free range child " , as were many of my friends and siblings. What's surprising is that those same people turned out to be " helicopter parents "

Could it be that one generation is taken in by a particular psychological discipline and a succeeding generation by another.

As the previous helicopter parents are now being replaced by lawnmower parents.

As the youngest of six, I was definitely "free range". I just better be within hearing range when the dinner bell was rung. I quickly learned you don't hang around the house saying there's nothing to do.

By the age of eight, I was riding my bicycle with my friends a couple of miles downtown to go to Baker's Five and Dime to buy balsa planes and such. Or a mile or so the other way to the Cracker Barrel store to buy penny candy.

The explosion of information/news and the penchant of the merchants of dire & doom to sensationalize every tragedy has/had skewed the public's impression of 'safety'. That is what has created this generation of helicopter parents. There's a boogey man behind every bush and tree.

My wife and I let our kids roam reasonable distances and locations. I don't know how anyone has the time and energy to 'helicopter' their kids. We equipped our kids with knowledge and 'training' on how to stay safe. They pretty much knew it anyways from school, TV, etc. Kids are safer today than they've ever been. We just told them not go anywhere alone. Go with friends. Safety in numbers.

Yes, it was small town downtown. The stores have changed, but not a whole lot else. I seemed to recall though that you would see a lot more children's bicycles along the sidewalk.