UT
Utah Senate Bill SCR002

Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah Senate Bill SCR002 Compare Versions

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1-Enrolled Copy S.C.R. 2
1+01-27 12:11 S.C.R. 2
22 1
33 Concurrent Resolution Encouraging Practices that Promote Child Independence
44 2025 GENERAL SESSION
55 STATE OF UTAH
66 Chief Sponsor: Lincoln Fillmore
7-House Sponsor: Troy Shelley
7+House Sponsor:
88 2
99
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1111 LONG TITLE
1212 4
1313 General Description:
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1515 This resolution encourages practices that promote child independence.
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1717 Highlighted Provisions:
1818 7
1919 This resolution:
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2121 ▸ highlights the importance of free play and child independence;
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2323 ▸ supports children engaging in independent activities;
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2525 ▸ encourages school districts, school administrators, and teachers to utilize the Let Grow
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2727 school program to help build independence;
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2929 ▸ encourages the State Board of Education to incorporate childhood independence
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3131 throughout the core standards for Utah public schools; and
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3333 ▸ urges local governments and school districts to enact practices that encourage children to
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3535 be able to explore, play, wander, and build independence.
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3737 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
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3939 None
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4141 Other Special Clauses:
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4343 None
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4545
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4747 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
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4949 WHEREAS, levels of anxiety and depression are increasing in children and young adults;
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5151 WHEREAS, constant supervision thwarts a child's ability to develop important qualities,
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5353 such as resourcefulness, self-awareness, and perseverance;
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5555 WHEREAS, there is ample research to suggest that children are safer when unsupervised
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5757 today than they were in previous generations, yet play that allows children to take appropriate
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59-risks has declined; S.C.R. 2 Enrolled Copy
59+risks has declined;
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6161 WHEREAS, children are not fragile but rather resilient and capable individuals;
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63- WHEREAS, parents stepping back, where developmentally appropriate, allows children to
63+ WHEREAS, parents stepping back Ŝ→ , ←Ŝ Ŝ→ where developmentally appropriate, ←Ŝ allows
64+children to
65+ S.C.R. 2 S.C.R. 2 01-27 12:11
66+29a
67+step up;
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65-step up;
69+ WHEREAS, children who are allowed to take risks and figure things out themselves at
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67- WHEREAS, children who are allowed to take risks and figure things out themselves at
71+home will have more grit and determination at school;
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69-home will have more grit and determination at school;
73+ WHEREAS, engaging in independent activities promotes resilience and encourages the
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71- WHEREAS, engaging in independent activities promotes resilience and encourages the
75+development of coping mechanisms in children;
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73-development of coping mechanisms in children;
77+ WHEREAS, when children are able to improvise without an adult present they learn that Ŝ→
78+34a
79+they ←Ŝ
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75- WHEREAS, when children are able to improvise without an adult present they learn that
81+are capable;
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77-they are capable;
83+ WHEREAS, independent children feel confident and hopeful;
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79- WHEREAS, independent children feel confident and hopeful;
85+ WHEREAS, independent play can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression;
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81- WHEREAS, independent play can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression;
87+ WHEREAS, play is crucial for healthy child development and learning the skills to be an
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83- WHEREAS, play is crucial for healthy child development and learning the skills to be an
89+adult;
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85-adult;
91+ WHEREAS, self-directed kids make better learners;
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87- WHEREAS, self-directed kids make better learners;
93+ WHEREAS, school culture becomes more supportive and inclusive when students may
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89- WHEREAS, school culture becomes more supportive and inclusive when students may
95+interact with each other and solve their own challenges without premature adult intervention;
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91-interact with each other and solve their own challenges without premature adult intervention;
97+ WHEREAS, children learn creativity and to celebrate their peers' unique skills and interests
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93- WHEREAS, children learn creativity and to celebrate their peers' unique skills and interests
99+when allowed to direct their own play;
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95-when allowed to direct their own play;
101+ WHEREAS, mixed-age play benefits all age groups, as younger children learn executive
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97- WHEREAS, mixed-age play benefits all age groups, as younger children learn executive
103+functioning skills trying to emulate older children and older children develop responsibility
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99-functioning skills trying to emulate older children and older children develop responsibility
105+and empathy as they interact with younger children;
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101-and empathy as they interact with younger children;
107+ WHEREAS, children learn social skills and problem-solving during self-organized play
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103- WHEREAS, children learn social skills and problem-solving during self-organized play
109+without an adult stepping in to immediately solve problems;
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105-without an adult stepping in to immediately solve problems;
111+ WHEREAS, children deserve time and space to explore, play, and wander;
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107- WHEREAS, children deserve time and space to explore, play, and wander;
113+ WHEREAS, experts in childhood independence have created the Let Grow school program
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109- WHEREAS, experts in childhood independence have created the Let Grow school program
115+to provide guidance and curriculum for parents and educators to engage in, promote, and build
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111-to provide guidance and curriculum for parents and educators to engage in, promote, and build
117+childhood independence; and
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113-childhood independence; and
119+ WHEREAS, Let Grow supports empathy and helps develop a child's agency,
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115- WHEREAS, Let Grow supports empathy and helps develop a child's agency,
121+self-confidence, creativity, communication, cooperation, resilience, and problem-solving skills:
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117-self-confidence, creativity, communication, cooperation, resilience, and problem-solving skills:
123+ NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
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119- NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
125+Governor concurring therein, supports children who are of sufficient age and maturity to avoid
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121-Governor concurring therein, supports children who are of sufficient age and maturity to avoid
127+harm or unreasonable risk of harm to engage in independent activities, including traveling to
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123-harm or unreasonable risk of harm to engage in independent activities, including traveling to
129+and from school, traveling to and from nearby commercial or recreational facilities, engaging
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125-and from school, traveling to and from nearby commercial or recreational facilities, engaging
131+in outdoor play, remaining at home unattended, or engaging in a similar independent activity.
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127-in outdoor play, remaining at home unattended, or engaging in a similar independent activity.
128-- 2 - Enrolled Copy S.C.R. 2
133+ BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor
134+- 2 - 01-27 12:11 S.C.R. 2
129135 62
136+concurring therein, encourages school districts, school administrators, and teachers to utilize
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138+the Let Grow school program to promote and build independence in children.
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130140 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor
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132-concurring therein, encourages school districts, school administrators, and teachers to utilize
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134-the Let Grow school program to promote and build independence in children.
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142+concurring therein, encourages the State Board of Education to look for ways to incorporate
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144+childhood independence throughout the core standards for Utah public schools.
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136146 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor
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138-concurring therein, encourages the State Board of Education to look for ways to incorporate
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140-childhood independence throughout the core standards for Utah public schools.
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142- BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor
148+concurring therein, encourages local governments and school districts to enact practices that
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144-concurring therein, encourages local governments and school districts to enact practices that
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146150 encourage children to be able to explore, play, wander, and build independence.
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