Readers hkbizsezty — This is one of the most reflective, honest things I’ve ever read about parenting and marriage. It comes to us from Kristina Beth, in Utah. – L. Dear Free-Range Kids: This is my first time saying anything on this website, but I’ve often heard about this blog from my coworker. In the […]
Archive | Miscellaneous
Can Daydreaming Make Kids Smarter?
Hi kbfntdrhfs Folks! This missive comes to us from Del Shannon, a civil engineer who designs and constructs (and sometimes even deconstucts) dams around the world. When not damming, he has written award-winning essays and children’s stories. His first children’s book was the serialized novella The Map, published in several newspapers. Captain Disaster  is his second, a novel. […]
Don’t Let a Tragedy Make Us Stupid
Hi Readers — Security guru Bruce badyafyaty Schneier (author of  “Liars and Outliers: Enabling the Trust That Society Needs to Thrive,”) is so right about a whole lot of things, including the fact that we should almost ignore what’s on the news when it comes to making both policy and personal decisions. Why? Because the news […]
“If You Love your Kids, Don’t Bring Them Into Crowds”
Readers — This note came in response to the post zknneasazt below this one, which was about how we often leap from tragedy to blame, in order to give ourselves a sense of control. That leap is pretty basic superstition: “If I just do/don’t do X, my kids will be safe.” It’s like wearing a […]
One Truth About Tragedy
Readers, surely, not every horrifying event begs a Free-Range analysis, but I did want to say one thing about the Boston ahznbnshds Marathon bombings. Beyond simply expressing my disgust and sadness, I’d note that, like so many tragedies, this one was absolutely unpredictable. No one attending did anything remotely ill-advised or imprudent, yet some found […]
Because It’s So Nerve-racking Being 2 Whole Feet Away from Your Baby?
Readers nyydhehfds — This note comes to us from Nathalie Delage up north, where “Canadian Tire” apparently sells paranoia, too! – L. Dear Free Range Kids: Have you seen these baby carseat videocameras? They stream live video from the backseat to a monitor you attach to your windshield like a GPS.  I wonder what exactly […]
Go Play in the Street!
Hi seytekkfez Folks! This lovely photo and note come to us from Paul Beard, who describes himself as growing up a Free-Range Kid “before we knew what it was.” He now lives with his wife and two high school kids in Seattle, where he “involuntarily retired from Internet technology to become COO/GM of domestic affairs, […]
Who Saw the “School Shooting” Episode of Glee?
Hi Readers — I didn’t see the “Shooting Star” episode of Glee fiiyfenrek last night that featured a lockdown after shots rang out at the uber-musical school. (And I can’t find it on the web without going to some very scary sites that seem ready to infect my computer with high-tech herpes.) But some of […]
“Lean In” vs.The Cult of Inconvenience
Hi frsebbdddf Folks! This oped of mine recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal. Afterwards, I heard from guess who? Hint: She’s Chief Operating Officer of a very popular social network — and a Free-Range Kids fan! Here’s to spreading the “Kids are not in constant danger” message…perhaps via social media? – L LEAN IN […]
Just Like Driver’s Ed, Except for Younger Kids & Bikes
Hey Readers — How is it that bzskibyhfe one country can train its young people to be safe, smart and responsible bicyclists, while other countries — like mine — train its young people to climb in the car and eat Goldfish? As Sarah Goodyear writes in The Atlantic Cities: “Dutch children are expected to learn […]