I just wanted to add, in case this family or their friends end up on this site, that I am quite sure all our comments are based on the very limited (and perhaps not even accurate)information presented in the article, which is certainly not telling the whole story.
I am sure I speak for all of us when I say that just because I probably wouldn't do X or Y with my kid, that that doesn't mean I think it is wrong for another kid. If I have learned one thing hanging out here, it is how different each child and situation is. Just when I think I have all the answers up comes another story to make me wonder about even that!
