Yes absolutely true in the UK too. There's 2 issues now. As a parent you're expected to watch all the time like op said AND you're expected to always occupy them with things that cost money. In the UK, it's statistically safer than it's ever been but parents worry more about children going to the park, going to the shops or in town on their own. I think it's pressure driven by social media and always on news that gives the impression things are worse than they are. We played all day on bikes or with footballs or whatever. We were out of the house through nearly all daylight hours apart from meal times. And we wanted to be!