Folks — As much as I literally feel my heart pounding every time I hear a story about crazy fear-mongering, or outrageous overreaction to a very small threat, I realize that there is more to life — and even this blog — than just shouting, “But they’re WRONG!” (Even though they are! They’re wrong! I [...]

Filed under: Creating Community, Fun, Miscellaneous, Zingers and retorts | 221 Comments »

Hey Readers — As I prepare to speak Thursday night as kickoff for the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood’s conference in Boston (public invited!), here’s some toy research I can get behind. It comes to us by way of Fred Schueler & Aleta Karstad, who describe themselves as an “unemployable naturalist couple, whose unschooled daughter [...]

Filed under: Fun, Marketing Madness and Gadgets, Miscellaneous | 40 Comments »

As one meme forum added: “Counselors will be available for all traumatized students.” Phew!    

Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Fun, Miscellaneous, School and Zero Tolerance and Bullies | 20 Comments »

First fun of the day: Over at Overlawyered.com, there’s a doormat you will LOVE. Wish I had written these warnings, including, “Do not taunt mat.” Check it out here! – L. Woman teaches bad doormat a lesson

Filed under: Fun, Miscellaneous | 5 Comments »

Hi Readers! Normally I write about how we should avoid Worst-First Thinking — thinking up the WORST case scenario FIRST and proceeding as if it’s likely to happen, immediately. But in this case, I was wrong! Look at what happened to this reader’s family just last night! Dear Free-Range Kids: There’s a jolly stranger sneaking in [...]

Filed under: Eek! A Male! (and Stranger Danger), Fun, Miscellaneous | 29 Comments »

Hi Folks! This cartoon comes to us from Russia, which apparently has some similar issues to the United States, when it comes to authorities deciding whether parents are “good” enough. Small world! – L.   Knock knock.  

Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Child Protective Services, Fun, Miscellaneous, Other Places Other Eras | 19 Comments »

Hey Readers! Kindly allow me to interrupt this blog to advertise for a moment. It’s gift-giving season, so why not think Free-Range, as in the book itself, just $11.53! Lots of laughs, tips and a look at how we got so scared. It’s got a 4.6 outta 5 rating in 118 reviews on Amazon. Not [...]

Filed under: Fun, Miscellaneous | 40 Comments »

Hi Readers! Let’s help Bree! – L. Dear fellow Free-Rangers, I am thrilled to tell you that my daughter’s school is re-vamping recess to make it… FUN! That’s right, after years of cracking down on things like tag (no touching, someone might get hurt or feel violated), cartwheels (someone might get kicked), touch football (someone [...]

Filed under: Fun, GOOD News, Helicopter Effect on Kids, Miscellaneous, Parks, Playing and Playgrounds | 140 Comments »

Hi Folks! My “I Won’t Supervise Your Kids” class begins today (Weds., Sept. 12) at 3:45 in Central Park. We’ll meet at 85th and Fifth Avenue. Any parents present will sign a waiver, “I don’t expect anyone — much less Lenore — to supervise my kids.” And then they leave, and so do I, and [...]

Filed under: Breaking news, Creating Community, Fun, Helicopter Effect on Kids, Insurance repercussions, Miscellaneous, Parks, Playing and Playgrounds | 17 Comments »

Hi Folks — Let me state upfront that I agree with this, uh, guy: Teach your kids never to go off with   stranger. But is there anyone stranger than this blue-haired, baby-tawking clown who keeps showing up out of nowhere?  The lesson he seems intent on teaching kids: Never go anywhere without a possibly [...]

Filed under: Eek! A Male! (and Stranger Danger), Fun, Stupid Advice | 20 Comments »