That’s the question raised by a recent call to the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office in Lucasville.
Deputies responded after a caller reported that two children had been left alone at a playground while their parents walked down to the Briar Patch convenience store.
According to the report, deputies checked on the children and then located the parents at the nearby store.
The children were eventually reunited with their parents, and deputies advised the adults that children should be supervised while using playground equipment.
No charges were filed.
The report does not identify which playground was involved. However, there is a playground located roughly 375 feet from the Briar Patch at a nearby apartment complex.
So… Is It Okay?
That answer will probably depend on who you ask.
Some parents grew up in an era when children rode bicycles all over town, walked to parks alone, and came home when the streetlights turned on. Others believe children should never be left unsupervised, even briefly.
Legally, there isn’t a specific Ohio law that says a parent cannot leave a child alone at a playground for a few minutes. Instead, authorities generally look at factors such as:
- The age of the children
- Whether they were capable of caring for themselves
- How far away the adults were
- How long the children were left alone
- Any dangers present at the location
In this case, deputies apparently felt the situation warranted a warning and a conversation about supervision, but not criminal charges.
Why Police Take These Calls Seriously
Even when a playground is close to where parents are standing, a lot can happen in just a few minutes.
Children can:
- Wander away
- Get injured on equipment
- Encounter strangers
- Become involved in fights with other children
- Leave the playground without adults realizing it
Those concerns are why law enforcement generally encourages direct supervision whenever possible.
What Do You Think?
If the playground is only a short walk away and still within sight, is it okay to leave children there for a few minutes while running into a store?
Or should kids always have an adult present at a playground?
That’s a debate that seems likely to continue long after this Lucasville call is forgotten.