Where are the parents
On several different occasions I see very young kids walking home by themselves! They're not with any other kids. They live in the rentals above the buildings on Main Street and down the road from the new CVS. I'm not sure their parents understand that they need to supervise their children. I contacted Hackettstown police and they said they were fully aware of the situation and can only keep an eye out for them.
FredFinger 
Hopeful How old are we talking?
It's prob situations where parents have work or even have younger siblings at home and they don't want to bring them out in the cold.
Hackettstown doesn't have busses so its a walking district. They have crossing guards.
Maybe someone is at home who is disabled and cant go with them. Depending on the age may be no issue
nosila You are aware that there are no buses to transport children in town?
If you believe children are being abused or neglected, I recommend you call 1-877-NJ-ABUSE.
Teacher That's a bit extreme "Teacher"
Over a child walking back to their home? I believe kids should always be buddied up, however that's not always possible. I wouldn't allow my kids to walk alone or together until they were at least 12. For each family it's different.
Simplify I started walking home with my younger brother when I was in 4th grade. So maybe 9? How old are the kids?
HappyTeacher Dear Helicopter Society:
Please understand that not only is it normal for able bodied children to walk home from school, it is encouraged for their mental well being and sense of self worth.
Please take the bubble wrap off the kids lest we all be doomed in our old age as we leave the planet in the care of a bunch of snowflakes.
Teach them well and let them grow up accordingly - they'll be fine.
Corner CurmudgeonHackettstown is a "WALKING DISTRICT"
What is your definition of "very young?"
What makes you think they are in danger that needs police?
Maybe you should make sandwiches and snacks, and open your home to the unsupervised children walking home alone. They are probably hungry too.
MAN I ran all over the neighborhood, when I was a kid. I never got killed or kidnapped or beaten or raped or fell into a well and had to send Lassie for help. If the parents are teaching their kids to be responsible and look after themselves, good for them! Maybe they won't grow up to be arrogant, nosy gossips who don't know how to mind their own damn business.
JerseyWolf Jerseywolf - it's a whole different type of world out there now. Too many "crazies" around. Depending on the age, children shouldn't be walking alone. The "buddy " system is the safest way.
Botheredbyuu2 There were "crazies" back then, too. It's just that the instant national media makes us far more aware of them, now. But that awareness means that people are more likely to act when something truly suspicious occurs. And there are many things available, now, that weren't around, when I was a child. Kids have cell phones and panic buttons and tracking devices, and cameras are everywhere.
Nonetheless, I do agree that the "buddy system" is far more preferable. Teaching your kids to manage without their parents all the time is one thing, but teaching them some common safety and common sense is also prudent.
Well said Corner Curmudgeon, even with the ridiculous pop culture terms.
I remember when I was first introduced to Hackettstown Life my neighbor said to check it out and see if I can figure out his screen name. Both being motorcyclists I searched the word motorcycle
and there it was a thread whining about a man who picks up his son at the middle school on a motorcycle. This person thought it was reckless and dangerous. It
had to be me since I picked up my son regularly on my scary Honda Nighthawk.
Some things never change, always somebody worried about everybody else's kids, cats dogs etc
CBGB For my own children, I would consider age. Very young is a vague description. But always a buddy. Even that is not a guarantee of safety. Walking from school to Main, they may always be in sight of a crossing guard.
Life us a crap shoot, but you don't want your kid, or any kid, to be the amber alert child. If you try, you'll find an adult who wouldn't mind adding your child to their group.
maja2 I went to and from school on my own by third grade. Public bus and -god forbid- a walk down my street to the bus stop.
The crazies were around back then also.
Blackcat I think I know who FredFinger is talking about. That girl is about 3 or 4 years old.
I called the police once and I found out later that someone else I know called them too.
If it's that girl she is way to young to be walking all alone up 46. My friend stopped traffic bc she crossed 46! The mom didn't seem to be concerned.
Concernedneighbor Teenagers and adults can be victims too. Children need to learn how to look out for themselves. If there is always someone looking after them, always intervening, they fail to learn these skills. Then, once they have some independence they make stupid decisions because they never had to learn as a child. Kids walking home without an adult will probably be far more street savvy than those constantly escorted by an adult. When I was in high school I was stunned by how many girls would jump into cars with boys they did not know, did their parents teach them nothing about safety! I walked to school and ran all over the neighborhood when I was a kid. If a car stopped anywhere near us we were always ready to run!
Jesse123 I would agree that id the child is only 3-4 years old, that is too young to be out walking by themselves. However, as long as the parents have taught the kids and feel they are capable, there is no reason why they cannot start walking to and from school in the 1st grade. I grew up outside of Newark in a town without buses. We all started walking home in the 1st grade, and we also walked home for lunch in the elementary school. I know that was years ago, but the same crazy people were around then, but as stated above, we didn't have instant news access so it wasn't as popular.
Irishresq Kids ride the subway every day alone in NYC. It's part of the lifestyle and there are many crazies there. I see kids on SEPTA coming home from school when are 4,5,6 and they get home safe. I know there is a disconnect between urban and suburban lifestyles but I really think that people need to not jump to conclusions. Also, as someone else said, our world is no different than it was 30-40 years ago, you just hear about more stuff now because of technology and the need to fill 24-hour news with stories.
helpthekitty Safety in numbers, at any age for that fact!
We are so quick to judge: either parents are neglectful or too protective. Darned if you do, darned if you don't.
iRun #1 For a town that doesn't buss kids to and from school, my taxes shouldn't be so high! #2 It is daylight, we aren't talking about kids out and about in the middle of the night. When I was a kid both my parents worked, I envied my friends that went home to a parent. Reality is...life keeps getting more expensive and it is rare for a parent to be home these days. Not to mention, parents these days need to cut the strings. I see more and more parents carrying their kids bags, pampering them a little too much, etc. Kids need to learn how to be independent...even if it means, walking home from school alone.
Montclair.......yesterday ....... https://www.tapinto.net/towns/montclair/articles/update-2-attempted-abductions-reported-in-montcl
4catmom Montclair... 90 years ago...
On September 3, 1925, Harrison Noel, 20, shot and killed Raymond Pierce, of Newark, and stole his cab. He drove to the house (above) of Joseph A. Bower, vice-president of the New York Trust Company. Four children were playing on the lawn and Noel grabbed 6-year old Mary Daly, threw her into the car, and sped away. The Bower’s chauffeur set off in pursuit but the black sedan got away and was later found abandoned. Noel was picked up by police and during questioning admitted to studying the Leopold & Loeb case, asked for $4000 for Mary’s return, and led them to her shallow grave by a quarry in Little Falls; she was killed by two bullets fired into her head. Noel, a former asylum inmate, was convicted and sentenced to death, but the decision reversed to commitment in the State Hospital at Greystone Park.
ianimal I find it hard to believe a school would allow a child aged 3 or 4 to leave school unattended. First because that's considered pre school and not a regular school. Also the cops most definitely would look in it.
Natari Does anyone not remember John Wayne Gacy or any other abductor from beyond 40 years ago? This has happened the WHOLE time. For every victim of an abduction, there were probably thousands of other children who made it back home safe without issue that day. I'm not saying anything is undermine the severity of abductions, murders, etc. but seriously people, stop being helicopter parents to children who aren't yours.
I'm with the teach your children crowd but three or four years old? No way in hell! And to say that kidnappings have been happening and going to happen seems a cop out. What about taking away or lessening the risk? You know like when you say young ladies shouldn't get drunk around college boys because they're more likely to get raped? See in the one case you blame the victim for tempting fate and the other is oh well it happens anyway.
RAS Jerseywolf. You are correct. I remember asking my parents why we were allowed to ride our bikes two or three towns over. His direct response was "we didn't have the media to scare us half to death and that abductions were probably way worse than. We are scared parents now but at least alert with the news and social media. I haven't checked the stats but I bet crimes against kids other than familie issues is way down from the earlier years.
Mr Happy 3 or 4 years old????
The OP stated that the police told him that they were aware and all they can do is keep an eye on the kid/kids. I doubt if these kids are 3 or 4 that would be the response of the police. Perhaps these are different kids....
School age kids are walking in a walking district........I would mind my own business and just raise MY kids the way I want to and except that others will raise their kids the way they want to.
IF I saw a 3 or 4 year old walking by themselves I would do something immediately like go to the child to see if they were lost, ect and id be calling the police at the same time. I would be afraid of a child that age just running into the street, or being lost or just plain wondering away from home without a parent being aware. I'd be very surprised if at age 3 or 4 a parent is allowing this......I
littlelu As a guy I would probably call the police and get a woman to assist me so that there was no appearance of impropriety- sad as that sounds
skippy totally agree littlelu - having directed child care centers for many years and then taught both pre-k and kindergarten in public school - I can vouch that any child under at least 6 is not capable of making safe decisions or observations in the described situation - that said we don't have a clue how old the kids are..........
Statistics: The most recent study published by the Department of Justice, from 2002, reported that of the 797,500 children reported missing in a one-year period, 203,900 were abducted by family members and 58,200 were abducted by non-relatives. 115 were classified as being taken by a stranger.May 8, 2015 CNN
I'm saying there are more crazies now.
But back in 1935 , my mother was 3 and was out front of the house playing. No supervision. My grandma was just checking on her by looking out the window. When she looked the last tine, a man was walking up the street, holding my mothers hand. My grandfather ran out and the guy took off running. The world is going to help in a hand basket.
Natari, please add this to your stats
. The vast majority of these cases are resolved within hours
What 3 or 4 year old is even going to school, let alone walking from one?
Yes, I know there is Pre-school, but those kids do not get to leave unless picked up by a Parent, Guardian, or predetermined Adult.
This is the same Form that will jump on a parent for not working, yet if a parent is working and not able to sit in their car in front of the school waiting for the kids to come out they are still bashed. My Daughter from 5th grade on came home by herself, to an empty house, until her WORKING PARENTS came home some 2 hours later. Did we like it? No, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
Instead of complaining here on HL or calling the Police, stand outside ( kind of like a neighborhood watch dog) and make sure the kids are safe. No words need to be spoken to the kids, just 2 open and aware eyes.
Things aren't always what they seem. There is a story and a reason behind everything.
Clyde Potts I would of course monitor the situation but would act if It was readily apparent a child was outside the scope of supervisory control
CBGB
Sorry I didn't research in depth and I'm only quoting from one source, You are correct most cases are sorted out. I don't post much on here much because it does tend to get out of control.
I certainly did not stop to ask the child her age. I believe the child was between 5-7 and was a girl. She was walking alone with no one else. As I said, I did contact the police and if I knew where she lived exactly, i would absolutely call dyfus. I've also witnessed a small child, probably around the age Concernedneighbor mentioned, by the crosswalk at Dominos. Little kid ran right across the crosswalk, nearly getting hit. Her parent/guardian just stood in the apartment door like nothing was wrong.
Simplify,
I wasn't implying that it was abuse. I'm saying that if the OP was really concerned about the children he/she would call the hotline instead of posting the location of the child and her parents on a public forum.
OP did not day they were walking home from school (preschool through 4th requires a parent or adult to pick up)just walking home (from where I don't know). Funny how people change the story as it goes along, like playing the telephone game!
I've seen young children out, daytime and nighttime, alone, walking along Main Street as well. It's a shame that they're not as protected as they should be.
tripsy Here is an accurate breakdown of the statistics for missing children.
In 2016 National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) assisted law enforcement and families with more than 20,500 cases of missing children.
Out of 20,500 Cases
Case type:
•90 percent endangered runaways.
•6 percent family abductions.
•1 percent lost, injured or otherwise missing children.
•1 percent nonfamily abductions.
•2 percent critically missing young adults, ages 18 to 20.
Of the more than 18,500 endangered runaways reported to NCMEC in 2016, one in six were likely victims of child sex trafficking. Of those, 86 percent were in the care of social services when they went missing.
Now everyone thinks 1% isn't that much and yes those are Vegas odds. However, we aren't just dealing with widgets, we are dealing with children. That 1% represents 205 children that were abducted for disturbing reasons in 2016 alone. I know this is a big country but 205 is still high for my comfort level.
I am a working parent and am fortunate enough to be able to pick my son up from school but there have been times where he has had to walk home (fortunately with a buddy) and stay home alone for a short period of time. He is very responsible but it's not him I'm ever worried about.
Jazzykatt On several different occasions I see very young kids walking home by themselves! They're not with any other kids. They live in the rentals above the buildings on Main Street and down the road from the new CVS. I'm not sure their parents understand that they need to supervise their children. I contacted Hackettstown police and they said they were fully aware of the situation and can only keep an eye out for them.
FredFinger
Since you seem to know where they live, unless you followed them home, which begs the question WHY? Then to me when you saw them they were safely entering their homes. Then when the thread didn't go in the direction in which you wanted or thought it would go, you said you didn't know where she lived. But in your OP you said she/they lived in the rentals above the buildings on Main Street and down the road from the new CVS. Then you tried to bring in another incident to see if that would work. Why would you call Dyfus? Because a kid was walking home from school in a town that doesn't have buses and is a walking district?
Or was there some other motive behind all this?
I always believed in the saying it takes a village to raise a child. If we all help each other out and keep an eye out it helps. Just the other day a small child came walking out of a store right across the parking lot to her family's car. Years ago I wouldn't have thought twice, and would have went took her hand and brought her back in the store. But today so many people attack when you help. So instead I kept an eye on her, watched traffic and tried to get someone's attention from inside, all while not getting to close to the girl. Finally when her father realized she was not next to him, he saw me and I waved him out said and said she's ok. He ran buy me and got her and off they went. Not even a word to me, which is ok, he was in shock. She was safe that's all that mattered. I am glad I was there cause many others just walked by her not wanting to help. I even asked one guy if he could go in and find her parents and he just looked at me and got in his car and left. I will always protect a child. She was so tiny, she could have easily been hit if she walked back across the street. If we all helped each other life would be better.
Sunshine It's not dyfus people.. it was DYFS..its now DCPP... without an actual address we wouldn't take the case
H-town Mama Thank you H-town Mama, I was just going to comment on the use of "dyfus"
and WHAT??? Clyde Potts is now the voice of reason and reasoning for HL, oi vey and egad Hacketstown is going to..........what is that saying?? hmmm...oh yeah
"help in a hand basket"
HeeHaw
so if someone sees a child being abused (not that this is abuse) and cant provide an address it gets ignored?
Yes Sunshine that is how it's done. You are a good Samaritan. If we all took a page from your book, yes life would be better.
auntiel Clyde Potts, you must have forgotten to take your medicine. Take a few deep breaths. I don't know the exact address for the child because I didn't follow the child. I'm leaving out specific details because of creepy people like you. I saw the very young child walking by the CVS, and by the time I came out of the store saw her going into the apartments down the road from there. I see you feel that if the child was home safely, it's ok that she was walking alone, unattended. In that case, please do us a favor and never reproduce.
As I said, the police are aware and seem to be monitoring the situation. As was pointed out, DCPP, sorry I wasn't up on the current acronym, can't do anything without a specific address. I'm sure the police will work with them and act accordingly.
Correct! No address, nothing can be done.. the police would be the people you would want to contact so they could come right away
They would then call DCPP and it would be investigated further once an address was obtained
Document the times and dates. Take photos. Call police. Then call DYFS.
and if you see the "mother" put your phone on record, and confront this person.
If you confronted ME about the way I raise my child, all you would get on your recording is a lot of four-letter words. You're not smarter than me. You're not better than me. You're not a better parent than me. You're just more self-righteous than me.
I guess you think you are also the Big Bad Wolf "I'll huff and I'll puff and I will use four letter words"
http://family-studies.org/the-irony-of-the-overprotected-child/
anyhow, I found this article to be interesting. Highlighted by this passage.
There’s an irony in parents’ flawed perceptions, and their very real consequences: at the same time parents significantly limit the freedom and autonomy of their kids, they also want their kids to “think for themselves” and be independent. The same parents that won’t let their child out of their sight want her to be independent, make her own decisions, and think for herself. Parents value autonomy and independence, but they’re reluctant and frightened to give much of it.
I can't guarantee you 3/4 year old isn't waking home from preschool alone. You live in a walking district and so will see children walking home from school.. Be vigilant and kind and give help when asked but otherwise, it's not your business.
Hackettstowner There is not a preschool in town that would allow a 3/4 year old to walk home. All require a parent /guardian to be at pick up and would not release a child without one. Same with our two elementary schools.
Only the middle school and high school allow kids to walk to/from school without an adult.
Jim L My son is 17 and I was not allowed to have him get off buss without a parent waiting for him. That was Elemenetry School.... Not sure about after that, as they walked home unattended.
Dex Jim, finally a voice of reason. Schools most certainly do not want the liability and/or the accountability. Therefore they will not release a young child to walk home by themselves.
positive Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...
The dead rising from the grave!
Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!
Just another day on HackettstownLife.
LeRoy Grimace LeRoy some people just don't have common sense on here. As others have said, no 5 year olds are walking home from the elementary schools... Quit spreading falsehoods Fred...
Metsman I work in Morris Plains and see middle school age kids walking from school all the time, crossing Route 202 and local roads. I am not talking about 1 or 2, I am talking about many, many kids. Younger kids are bused to and from school. Also kids of all ages freely walk and ride bikes during summer and breaks going to friend's houses or to library and sport fields. Not a big deal at all. And I should mention that traffic in Morris Plains on any road is much worse than in Hackettstown.
Lena Beautiful Ghostbusters reference LeRoy!
I recall walking to and from school as young as kindergarten, in Bloomsbury, 15min outside Phillipsburg. I even had to cross train tracks (gasp).
tfulp Ok first of all the girl we are seeing is a preschool girl and is not walking home from school alone. They way I understood the situation , she's watched by her aunt/friend of her mom and tries to walk back home up 46 , crossing 46 alone.
I called the cops. Not bc I thought she would be taken but bc I was afraid she would get hit by a car! What surprised me more then anything is, from the time I saw her , turned my car around , tried to talk to her and figure out where she belongs , calling the cops it took at least 15 /20min. And nobody was missing her! The cops new exactly where she belongs and yes it was not the first time. I'm all for my kids being independent and my 12 year old goes once a month out to eat with one of her friends, - alone. Mostly on Main Street and checking out the shops alone, texting me when she's done.
I'm not a helicopter mom but
seeing a 3 ,4 year old child walking alone up a busy road will worry me.
My mother never had a car so I walked to and from school starting at age 5 in kindergarten. I also walked to and from brownies (which in the winter ended in the dark at 7 pm) and I walked to the store to pick up milk and bread for my mom when we ran out. Funny how DYFS was never called and I am still alive.
This helicoptering of our youth has to stop. I believe this is why these kids can't take care of themselves or anything else until their in their freaking 30's. Geez, my sister was babysitting at the age of 11 - now people won't even let their kids walk home from school until they are 12 or 14!
Heidi Thank you Concernedneighbor. The girl you mentioned is most likely the same I'm talking about.
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