I regularly have conversations with my daughter on how old she thinks she should be for thing X to happen (date, ride the bus by herself, walk to the local grocery store, go to the farther away playgrounds, etc.) She regularly says an older age than I do. Our kids are picking up that we think the world is a terrifying place, even when it isn't.

This. My parents were extremely over-protective of me, but all I wanted was to take the short public bus ride from across the street from our house and walk a few blocks to my school. In, btw, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in New York City.

I can't imagine being ten and not chaffing for more freedom.

Do parents let their 16-year-olds go on spring break trips on their own anymore? I wasn't allowed to go to Cancun like some of my friends, but a group of my friends and I went to DC for the weekend.