FREE-RANGE KIDS PRESENTS THE 2010 GOLDEN HELICOPTER PARENTING AWARDS FOR GREAT MOMENTS IN OVER-PARENTING And Media Fear-mongering About Kids PRESENTED BY LENORE SKENAZY, FOUNDER OF “FREE-RANGE KIDS” (www.freerangekids.com) Free-Range Kids is the book, blog and movement dedicated to giving kids back the fun and freedom of childhood — the kind of childhood that makes kids [...]

Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Breaking news, Child Protective Services, Crazy Parents, Eek! A Male! (and Stranger Danger), GOOD News, Marketing Madness and Gadgets, Media Madness | 57 Comments »

Hi Readers! While we’re on the topic of crib recalls, as well as when parenting intervention is called for and all that, I just had to link to this phenomenal essay from The Economist: “Not All Tragedies are Preventable.” As it says in the opening paragraph: LEGISLATION that bears the name of a victim of [...]

Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Marketing Madness and Gadgets, Media Madness | 47 Comments »

Readers — I think I need a Valium. Read this. A mom is ticketed for letting her 5.5 year old son walk home from school. Even though she BEGGED the school to let him take the bus. Even though she went to city council meetings and BEGGED the town to put in crossing guards. Even [...]

Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Child Protective Services, Walk to School / Stay Home Alone / Wait in Car | 131 Comments »

Hi Readers — I’m going to be blunt: The ban on the sale, resale and manufacture of all drop-side cribs does not make sense. Here’s why: Over the past nine years, 32 children have died in these cribs. That is tragic. My heart sinks thinking about it.  But — and yes, there IS a but, [...]

Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Insurance repercussions, Uber Safety | 252 Comments »

Hi Readers — Here’s a cautionary tale for parents whose kids sometimes do dumb things. But that can’t be many of us, right? Dear Free-Range Kids: We are devout Free-Range parents and our 8-year-old son walks to and from school nearly every day alone.  We gave him a pre-paid cell phone so he can check in [...]

Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Insurance repercussions, School and Zero Tolerance and Bullies, Sex Offender Issues | 73 Comments »

Oh Readers — Remember when this was not a subversive, watch out, don’t EVER let this happen to your children video? When kids could ride around, get lost, ask for help, talk to strangers and have adventures without anyone accusing the parents (or PBS) of being negligent, crazy, or worse? [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqPcQeMEnFc]

Filed under: Other Places Other Eras | 44 Comments »

Hi Readers — Here’s a note that made me happy, and, as it is gifting time, I figured it might inspire a few more Free-range Kids books (just $10.17!) under a tree: Dear Free-Range Kids: For or against? Definitely for! I just finished the book and wish I’d known about it sooner.  Then maybe I wouldn’t [...]

Filed under: GOOD News, Guest Post, Helicopter Effect on Kids | 12 Comments »

Hi Readers! You know you’re making an impact when marketers start to try to make a buck off you, as did this one. A friend who runs a parenting magazine got this public relations pitch: Dear _______: There has been a lot of discussion about “free range parenting” — letting your kids wander to the [...]

Filed under: Marketing Madness and Gadgets | 84 Comments »

Hi Readers! This is a story that’ll give you heart! Over in England, in Gloucester, there’s a cathedral. In this cathedral, a group of about 60 ladies volunteer as flower arrangers. They make the place beautiful. But, apparently, just by being HUMAN, they also make the place DANGEROUS. According to The Telegraph: At issue seems [...]

Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Eek! A Male! (and Stranger Danger), GOOD News | 51 Comments »

Readers — Either I am not getting the joke, or this is a REAL article about why parents should REALLY worry about letting their kids watch “scary” movies like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and (I kid you not — unless she’s kidding us ALL), “Miracle on 34th Street.” Anybody? It it a joke or not? [...]

Filed under: Uncategorized | 82 Comments »