I let my 8-year-old son roam the neighborhood freely. Other parents nearby are starting to let their kids do the same.

The author's son rides his bike around the neighborhood without parental supervision. Tatsiana Volkava/Getty Images When my son was 5 years old, I left him home alone for the first time. At 8, I now let him roam the neighborhood freely on bikes with his friends. As more families in the neighborhood allow their kids to roam, we are creating a better community. I was nervous the first time we let our son stay home alone. He was 5 years old, and we were gone for less than an hour, taking a wal...