I love that the kids was allowed to go and explore and the parent supported him in this activity. In today's society kids are often held back from something like this because of the fear parents have about the dangers out their in the world. At the first house I lived in with kids we had a couple neighbors with kids and I remember that these parents were extremely clingy with their children. I remember it so well because in some ways it made me feel like I was being negligent. My son (8 years old at the time) would ask to go out in the front to play with the other kids and of course I would say yes. I could see him from the window and wasn't worried. My parents would basically kick me out of the house and tell me not to come back till dinner so this seemed normal to me. The other parents were always right there hovering over their kids to ensure their safety. We lived on an a horseshoe shaped road and the kids would want to bike around it in circles. I would be in the front gardening while the kids went round and round. The neighbor moms would run beside their kids bikes to protect them from falling. It made me laugh inside but I also felt that these kids needed just a little freedom to be independent and explore. I've moved away and my son is 16 now but often wonder how sheltered those kids still are.