The mom who Twitters as Mainline Housewife (mainlinewife) nhrfndnetd sends us proof that we can never underestimate the how far our obsession over child safety can go: But wait — this doesn’t even require a notary?
Archive | Miscellaneous
A Cop Sees a Girl Alone at the Park, And Then — a Shock
. A etyyfreifn reader writes: Dear Lenore: My ex father in law is in the hospital. Yesterday we went to a park in Hackensack [NJ] and Elizabeth 6 was having fun and I was cold so I was sitting in the car watching sort of. Elizabeth knew she could come to the car anytime. I […]
What Hath Overprotection Wrought?
What happens when a generation grows up being told that they need constant supervision because nothing is safe enough? That they should never encounter a bad grade or mean remark, it’s too wounding? That they didn’t lose, they are the “8th place winner!”? At least a slice of them become convinced that they are extremely […]
This Week’s Consumer Product Safety Recall is…YARN
. Gracious diiddktaby me! This brand of yarn can unravel! Have you ever heard of such a thing? It’s just too scary! How irresponsible can a yarn maker be? No wonder the Consumer Product Safety Commission just issued this dire warning: Name of Product: Bernat Tizzy Yarn Hazard:Â In finished knit or crochet items, the yarn […]
FASCINATING UPDATE: “Tell the Parents of a MISSING CHILD that You Believe In Letting Kids Walk to School!”
. An unhappy commenter gives us this link to the picture of a missing 17 year old  — http://www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMC/1244645 sffkdkisti  — and writes, in response to our urging the police not to arrest parents who let their kids play outside unsupervised: tell the parents of this child. And the thousands more missing ” ITS OK […]
The YMCA Song…and Dance, When It Comes to Background Checks and Liability
I ddakhfrrtd suppose this is happening all over, this excessive testing, checking and hounding of anyone who, God forbid, wants to work with — or even nearby — kids. This letter comes to us from a 30ish YMCA volunteer in Ontario: . Dear Free-Range Kids:Â I’ve been attending our local YMCA for longer than I can […]
Big Boys in the Little Girls Room: The Never-Ending Controversy
Everyone else has posted about this Oklahoma City bathroom sign, so I guess it’s time for me to weigh in, too: Are 6-year-old boys too old to be dragged into the ladies room? I don’t come down hard and fast because of course there can always be extenuating circumstances — a boy with special needs, […]
A “THANK YOU!” FROM the Florida Mom Arrested for Letting 7 y.o. Walk to the Park
You rfsfhrnibn guys are so wonderful. Here’s a note from Nicole, the Florida mom: I started crying when I got that email [from Go Fund Me]. It feels like a dream, I needed this help so very bad, it is a little easier to relax today and just have fun with my son knowing I […]
How I Taught My Children to Talk to Strangers
Sydney riehtayffa Gurewitz Clemens is an author and educator. Her business card says “Helping Adults Help Children.” Her latest book and other writings are here. I love what she says about kids and strangers. Dear Free-Range Kids:Â I want to tell you about how I taught my son and my daughter to talk to strangers: When […]
Would You Issue a Recall of this Sweatshirt?
From nrzkbssfiy the Consumer Product Safety Commission daily update (boldface mine): Recall Date: March 11, 2015 Kid’s Korner Children’s Zipper Hooded Sweatshirts Recalled by Kroger Due to Choking Hazard Hazard: The sweatshirt zipper pull can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.  Remedy: Refund Consumers should immediately take the sweatshirt away from young […]