I don't think Regina thought about the kids at all. They were pawns in her game of chess with Emma.
About the kids, though, as per Henry and Henry's explanation, they're allowed to leave given that it's certain they'll have to return. Henry left, but he was never going to hop a bus to Vegas and set up camp starring with Sigfried and Roy.
Regina's ploy was all against Emma, a way to remind Emma exactly who's boss.
"You might be making friends here and you might be the sheriff, you might even be winning my son's heart, but I own you and you will do what I say. Look at me, I can make you do the very thing that hurts you, Miss Swan, breaking promises to little kids and abandoning them to a harsh foster system. I'm making you the bad guy in all of this, forcing you to do the dirty work whilst admitting that there is nothing. you. can. do. There is no good guy, no one to save these kids. I'm forcing you to do the one thing that will make my son's admiration of you falter. And you can't stop me, all you can do is smile through your teeth and say 'yes, Madam Mayor' and obey. So DANCE, PUPPET, DANCE!"
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About the kids, though, as per Henry and Henry's explanation, they're allowed to leave given that it's certain they'll have to return. Henry left, but he was never going to hop a bus to Vegas and set up camp starring with Sigfried and Roy.
Regina's ploy was all against Emma, a way to remind Emma exactly who's boss.
"You might be making friends here and you might be the sheriff, you might even be winning my son's heart, but I own you and you will do what I say. Look at me, I can make you do the very thing that hurts you, Miss Swan, breaking promises to little kids and abandoning them to a harsh foster system. I'm making you the bad guy in all of this, forcing you to do the dirty work whilst admitting that there is nothing. you. can. do. There is no good guy, no one to save these kids. I'm forcing you to do the one thing that will make my son's admiration of you falter. And you can't stop me, all you can do is smile through your teeth and say 'yes, Madam Mayor' and obey. So DANCE, PUPPET, DANCE!"