'Free-range' parents cleared in one of two child neglect cases


It seems that one Maryland couple hasn’t learned their lesson.

"Free-range" parents of Silver Springs, Md., were cleared for one of two child neglect charges from Child Protective Services from an incident that occurred in December, when their children walked alone from a playground a mile away from their home, CNN reports.

But parents Danielle and Alexander Meitiv are not out of the woods yet. They are still under investigation for another incident that occurred on April 12 where their children, ages 6 and 10, were found walking home alone again from a different park. They were turned into CPS by police officers and put into custody for five hours, according to Today.com.

Their case has grabbed national attention for their different approach to parenting. They were given the name "free-range" parents because of their support for a campaign that stresses independent and explorative parenting styles, Today.com reports.

The Meitivs plan to file a lawsuit against Montgomery County Police and Child Protective Services for the April incident because it “violated the rights of the Meitivs and their children,” said Matthew Dowd, the couple’s attorney, to CNN.

Danielle Meitiv told Today.com she hopes the CPS decision on their last case will remain the same for their current one and is concerned that unnecessary policies are set in place by the government agency.

“We fear that our family and other Maryland families will be subject to further investigations … simply because our and their children have been taught how to walk safely in their neighborhood,” Danielle Meitiv told CNN.

Read the full story at CNN.com and Today.com.

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