I got myself ready for school, walked 12 blocks to school and back home every day and stayed home until my mom got home when I was in second grade. 7 years old. When I was 12 I took care of my brother and sister who were twins while my mom and stepdad went out (which was alot). I don't think with me that it's so much being overprotective as just not wanting to put that kind of pressure on my kid to grow up so fast. My son is 10 and I let him out of my site, but not all day like it used to be for kids. My 4 year old daughter needs to stay where she can hear me holler for her and there's no room for discussion there (no matter what she thinks). I think most of us navigate this parenting thing the best we can and need to step back with the judgement. Perhaps some parents are overprotective and some are too lenient according to my standards, but who am I to say? I think most of us know our own kids and what they are capable of better than strangers who look down their noses at our choices.