Unique Upbringing: Embracing Trial and Error

Unlike many of their friends, the speaker and their sibling were raised with fewer rules and a belief that they would learn about the world through trial and error. This unconventional approach gave them a sense of independence and can-do attitude, even though it led to experiences like eating candy until feeling sick. The speaker's research into childhood independence revealed a 2015 study that showed Japan has one of the highest rates of independent mobility for children, allowing them to travel and play in their local neighborhoods without adult supervision.