If the latter is now considered unusual, we have some big problems!!

it is, and we do:

https://www.offthegridnews.com/current-events/mom-charged-wi...

https://reason.com/2025/08/09/child-protective-services-inve...

https://reason.com/2026/01/16/she-let-her-6-year-old-ride-to...

https://edition.cnn.com/2014/07/31/living/florida-mom-arrest...

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/parents-investig...

https://nationalpost.com/news/growing-up-independent-is-ille...

https://www.todaysparent.com/blogs/mom-arrested-leaving-daug...

https://legalclarity.org/is-it-illegal-to-let-your-kid-play-...

those are all from the first page of a search for "parents charged for letting kids alone on the playground"

there are probably many more such stories.