The more I think of it, there's so much that could have factored into how this little girl appeared at the park. There are generational and cultural variations in the meaning of "let kids be kids."
In the 1980s, we played without the presence of adults but we never appeared to have no place else to go. We were hanging out and playing. We were never sitting around a park solo and looking lonely or in need of something to do (I'm not saying this little girl was). I liken it to how truant or runaway children look when they hang out instead of going to school or going home. They are clearly staying for extended periods of time to avoid going someplace else.
Also, when we were kids, in the off chance an adult asked us where our parents were or where we lived (if we felt obligated to answer) we would be able to comfortably say that our parents know we are hanging out. We wouldn't be reluctant to answer from fear of getting our parents in trouble.
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