Hi Readers — Soon I will be compiling stories of Take Our Children to the Park & Leave Them There Day, which went well in parks around the world (well, not a TON of parks, but they WERE around the world and all the participants enjoyed the day). But in the meantime, I just got […]
Archive | Parks, Playing and Playgrounds
Show Your Support!
Hi iyyaiyeihd Readers — Here’s a nice note from one of you with some great ideas. Read on! And to any New York City dwellers: If you want to join me, I’ll be at the Ancient Playground at 10 tomorrow morning. That’s next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, at 85th and 5th. Maybe see […]
The War on Children’s Playgrounds
Hey Folks — Branching out. airkatzkzk Here is my story on the cover of today’s Salon, all about how our quest to make playgrounds safer than safe has also made them safer than fun. Here’s a snippet: …For the past 40 years or so, we have certainly been working to make our playgrounds safer than […]
Let’s Hear it for Parents Magazine– And Some of Its Commenters!
Hi Readers — Usually I flip through parenting magazines and am amazed by all the items, activities, foods and basic childhood rites of passage they find dangerous (and possibly deadly). But kudos to Parents Mag for this ftsesiydsd lovely little blog post about Take Our Children to the Park & Leave Them There Day — […]
What The “Child Molested at a Library” Incident Teaches Us
Hi erkrdtzkfb Readers — Yesterday, under my post about “Take Our Children to the Park & Leave Them There Day,” someone named Upstate Librarian  wrote: “…why dont you call the mother of the 9 year old that was raped today in the library in New York City. I’m sure she would agree with you on […]
“Take Our Children to the Park…& Leave Them There Day” Are You In?
Hi Readers — May 22, a week from this Saturday, is the very first “Take Our Children to the Park…And Leave Them There Day.” The idea behind it is simple: Most of us want our children to play outside and have fun, but this is impossible because there aren’t any OTHER kids outside for our […]
A Normal Day at the Park (It Can Be Done!)
Hi zehskkbhkt Readers! Here’s a nice note about a normal day — so normal it deserves comment. THIS is the kind of thing I’m talking about with, Â “Take Our Children to the Park…And Leave Them There Day.” Fun, sociability, community. NO BIG DEAL! Read on! Dear Free-Range Kids: The past few times I’ve written to […]
What The Authorities Can Do If We “Take Our Children to the Park…And Leave Them There”
Hi sisiseribt Readers — This essay is long, but so powerful it blew me away.  As we near May 22’s  “Take Our Children to the Park…and Leave Them There Day,” the author’s question is extremely relevant: What happens when WE believe our kids will be safe, but the authorities do not? Read on. And prepare […]
WTP? Police Stop Kids from Playing Street Hockey
Hi Readers — Get this: It was in Canada! The Royal Canadian Mounted Police received a couple of calls from someone angry that the boys were playing on the street, and came over to break it up. And I always thought kids up there were REQUIRED to play street hockey! Well times they are a-changing. It’s […]
“Take Our Kids to the Park & Leave Them There Day” Lunatic Idea? Invitation to Predators?
Hi Readers — Guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but when a blog called The ktydftyyrd Neighborhood Crime Map did what seemed like a very even-handed little post about May 22’s “Take Our Children to the Park…And Leave Them There Day,” the reaction was swift and hysterical: “Is there not a culture of drug use, meanness, […]