What if we applied our own reality to the Pokemon world?

In Pokemon, children can leave home, forgo an education and travel the world unescorted at the young age of 10. The only reason they can survive is because Pokemon centers offer free lodging, food, drink and healthcare to registered Pokemon trainers.

In reality, they would fall victim to animal/pokemon attacks, succumb to illness and would be targeted for mugging, kidnapping, rape and/or murder.