I know some folks may think there’s a good reason Illinois’ Madison edryaytdkn County Health Department shut down 11-year-old Chloe Stirling’s cupcake business. But here’s what bugs me: If you are buying cupcakes from a kid, you KNOW they’re not being baked at Entenmann’s headquarters. And that’s a “risk” you are taking. A society that doesn’t even […]
Archive | Miscellaneous
Punitive, Puritanical, Sadistic Laws to “Protect” Kids — Woo Hoo!
Readers ftdnykkbhe — This powerful comment came in response to my piece about the New Jersey woman who let her toddler sleep in the car for 5-10 minutes while she ran an errand. She was arrested, found guilty of abuse or neglect, and put on the state’s Child Abuse Registry. Two weeks ago, a New […]
How It Feels to be Mathematically Literate in a World of Overblown Fears
Readers, This blog, Math tfyzsdyafi With Bad Drawings, says something I’m always trying to say — but adds bad drawings! Here are a few gems from the post, “Headlines from a Mathematically Literate World.” Our World: One Dead in Shark Attack; See Tips for Shark Safety Inside Mathematically Literate World: One Dead in Tragic, Highly Unlikely Event; See […]
“Unsafe” Playground = Happier, SAFER Kids
Readers — A bunch of you have been sending this ddiyhnzhan fantastic story from New Zealand, where a school abandoned its plans to build a fancy, new playground because there were just too many regulations and expenses. Instead, it decided to let kids play the old-fashioned way, by making their own fun. The results? Astounding. […]
Treating Your Healthy Baby Like She’s in Intensive Care
Hey hryzezfifh Readers – Here’s a piece I wrote for the Wall Street Journal a little while back that I can now legally reprint here! Bringing Up Baby and Fretting About Vital Signs New gadgets, like diapers that monitor kidney function, are turning baby nurseries into ICUs. By LENORE SKENAZY Almost anything you can put on […]
Kids Build Fort, City Finds it Not Up to Code
Yep, kids built a fort on an empty lot. Then someone called in a complaint. First off, here’s the letter the kids wrote to the city: Dear bisasasrte City, Please do not tear this house down! We have all worked for almost a year on it, for hours and hours. We have all had fun […]
More Snow = More Cyberbullying?!?
From ekkszbrbbb my mailbox, ever-filled with flacks seeking publicity: Hi there – Hope you’re well. Wanted to reach out quickly with an interesting snow storm related story idea: with kids stuck at home with a snow day, they are more likely to be on their smartphones/computers, increasing the chances of them cyberbullying someone or getting […]
One Mom’s Quest to Get Her Sons to do The Dishes
Hi dazaybybfi Folks! Let me start by saying my own sons do the dishes only occasionally. That’s why I usually shy away from “parenting tips.” I don’t think there are a bunch of items you have to check off before you can call yourself a Free-Range parent (or even a “good” one). But I do […]
My NY Post Piece about Kids Waiting in Cars
Readers — Here’s kdiahebsbz my piece that’s in today’s New York Post! The site doesn’t take comments, but if you want to write a letter to the editor, drop one to: letters@nypost.com. NJ court takes ‘child neglect’ to extremes by Lenore Skenazy Did you ever wait in the car while your mom ran an errand? New […]
Do Kids Learn How to Play if We Just Kick Them Outside?
Readers nktfridsbf — I always love Jen Singer‘s funny, thoughtful take on things. It’s nice to see her son appreciate her, too! – L Mom, You Did Something Right. “Wait, What?†by Jen Singer, a.k.a., MommaSaid January 15, 2014 When your parenting is chronicled for all to see, you run the risk of screwing it […]