Lots of generalizations being thrown around by lots of folks in this thread. It seems that our society has gotten so impersonal (electronic this that and the other) that everyone is them except us, and there aren't many of us! (And of course this reply is starting to look a lot like the pot calling the kettle black ).

Trying to get back on point. Parents are responsible for their kids. That does not mean responsible for sheltering and protecting them (though that is a part of it). It means push them, get them to grow, let them grow, let them fail (within reason).

Most kids do have short attention spans, but these are the same creatures who can memorize tons of lyrics, and lots of obscure facts about dinosaurs. I think it is reasonable to expect most kids old enough to ride the bus to know their stop and how to get home if they are at least dropped off in the right neighborhood.

If the weather is horrible and my kid is on the bus - I'd better be at the stop waiting for them or have someone else I trust be there if I have any doubts at all about my kid knowing what to do. Depending on circumstances this may be a great learning opportunity as well, but only if the parents are around to treat it as such.

- Eric