Justin zsryfktere Murphy at The Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, NY reports that: Children at Pittsford’s Jefferson Road Elementary School who come up with a fun new game for the playground will need to do a few things before recruiting their classmates to play along. First, they should write out the name of the game, the rules of […]
Archive | 2017
Time Magazine Cover Story: How Kid Sports Turned Pro
This htedtszzky week’s Time cover story may remind you of our post from last week, The Case Against Starting Serious Soccer Lessons Too Soon. Time’s cover is: Crazy Travel. Crazy Costs. Crazy Stress. HOW KID SPORTS TURNED PRO Time’s press release summarized the issues perfectly (boldface mine): This week’s TIME cover story focuses on the […]
“NO LIFEGUARD” Sign at…Sprinkler Park?
This “WARNING dytetnashf NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY” sign comes to us from Ron Lieber, author of the “The Opposite of Spoiled.” He spied it at a Park City, Utah, rec center next to a kiddie splash pad where there is no pool anywhere in sight. Consider it a stark reminder that we have not only […]
A Mother’s Story of her Mentally Disabled Son on The Sex Offender Registry
The dthiizzhfh woman who looked to be about 60 walked up to the podium and spoke in a quiet voice. She was at a St. Louis synagogue that was hosting an evening of presentations about the sex offender registry. I spoke, too. But this mom’s story has haunted me in the weeks since. I asked […]
My Child Had to Take Two Buddies AND a Counselor to Go To the Bathroom at Night
If fiyftfiizn you’re wondering how far our fears of  accidents, predators and insurance claims can take us from sane to nutty, read on:  . Dear Free-Range Kids: Since all three kids are now back from the various camps they’ve attended this summer, I’ve been doing some reflection. I don’t recall summer camps being nearly as […]
“Never Post Your Child’s Picture with the School Bus License Plate Visible” — Really?
Maybe you have a favorite (and by favorite I mean most inane AND insane) parenting safety tip. My current fave, clipped from the LoveAndMarriageBlog, yesfiyftfi is an article tied to the first day of school. It lists all the photos you should never share on social media, including: *Any picture of your kid in front of […]
UPDATE! Are Kids Learning to Ride Bikes Later?
rfznfybizh A confession: I learned to ride a bike when I was 9, probably the oldest of all my friends. Maybe I started a trend? Dear Free-Range Kids: I was recently visiting the Long Island town I moved away from several years ago, and was visiting some old friends. I have a 7-year-old daughter, and […]
Less Homework = More Learning
My yndabyefaf kids’ public school released kids from homework a few years ago — a move met with some pushback. As the NY Daily News put it: Parents Outraged After Principal Dumps Homework for more Playtime.  . As if only the time spent bending over worksheets is learning! Prof. Peter Gray, author of Free to Learn, explains on […]
Supervise Your Tweens Every Second or They Will Die: Doctor’s Office Pamphlet
See akiinyesys below. This is the kind of “safety tip” that enrages me: a vague warning that kids must never be trusted to do anything on their own because any kind of imperfect “choice” COULD lead to death and it COULD have been prevented if only YOU, the parent, never took your eyes off your […]
Is Your Child’s School Cancelling for Eclipse Reasons?
Is your child’s school being cancelled for moon-in-front-of-sun reasons? If so, let’s hear all about it. And where are you? And what’s the buzz? Thanks. Say sighted! — L .