Probably safer. I mean, I played in trash dumps with my brothers and friends that had broken glass and hazardous chemicals, but where you could find cool stuff.
I applaud your efforts. They are not wasted. People thought I was crazy because I sent my daughter to the end of the street alone to wait for the school bus. I used to tell her to go ride her bike around and see what she could see. I chewed my nails to the quick but I knew it was right. She turned out all right. She built her own life and is very resilient as an adult.
It must be much harder now because of the greater ubiquity of screens. I sure don't envy the parents of the present day.