Hi febirfadzk Readers. Here’s the latest kids-in-car/mom-arrested story. Â I know it seems like I’ve posted a flood of these cases lately and I’ll pause for a bit after this one, but this woman is asking for support and I’d like to provide some. As you’ll see, it’s strange that somehow her 3-year-old got out of […]
Archive | Walk to School / Stay Home Alone / Wait in Car
N.Y. State Senate Passes Bill Outlawing Kids Under 8 Waiting in Cars
Hi idsesihasf Readers — My very own state — New York — just passed an overprotective, unnecessary, parental-decision-damning bill. Here’s the scoop, according to the Queens Chronicle: In order to better ensure child safety, the state Senate unanimously passed a bill on Feb. 29 that would make it illegal for parents or guardians to leave […]
Children: Please Remember, The Library Is No Place for You
Hi Readers! This poster comes to us from Ann Sattley, author of  the book and blog Technically, iatfhhbaan That’s Illegal. In case you can’t read the fine print, it says, “Please remember that the library, though a fun and entertaining place to be, is a busy public facility and all public places do present hazards for […]
Letting a Child Stay Home Alone, But Haunted by “What If?”s
Hi yansbskryb Readers! Sometimes I hear from Free-Range parents who feel alone and judged when they let their kids rise to some occasion. Here’s just such a mom in Australia. To her and everyone else trying to buck our fear-everyone/everything/all-the-time culture, I say: We are with you and support you! – L. Dear Free-Range Kids:Â Â I […]
Victory! 5th Graders Allowed to Enjoy Unsupervised Afternoons Again!
Hey Readers!! Here’s sarsadbeke great news! The school in Davidson, N.C., that had suddenly prohibited fifth graders from leaving the school on Fridays to walk down to the village green has reversed itself! On Friday, even as a big bunch of kids and some parents marched to “Occupy the Green,” the new principal (not the […]
Ugh! Now 5th Graders “Can” Go Play — Once a Month, If Chaperoned
Hi Readers! In a rdeihryszb post earlier this week we were discussing a great tradition: Fifth graders in Davidson, N.C., who leave school on Friday afternoons and proceed to the town green for an an afternoon of just being kids. This was abruptly declared “unsafe” and ended. Here’s why, according to Davidsonnews.net: Ms. Nivens [the […]
More Outrage! 5th Graders Can No Longer Play Outside “Alone”
Hi adadfhkyfe Readers! The other day my brother-in-law asked me if I ever got really “down” about our culture. I told him that usually I don’t — I get so mad about ridiculous rules and outlandish fears that I just blog in a blind fury and feel better. But this story, sent by the folks at […]
Reprint: “Walking to Kindergarten Should Be Child’s Play”
Hi zktetdrtyr Folks! One of you sent me this wonderful oped from the Sydney Morning Herald. Then I got in touch with its author, Karen Malone, and found out she is an academic studying, among other things, how to make cities more child-friendly. Which is exactly what I’m going to be talking about in Bendigo, […]
Help Save Safe Routes to School & Public Transit!
Hi Readers: This just in from the Safe Routes folks! – L. Double ehsezekdes Your Impact—Act Now on Key Senate and House Transportation Votes Next Tuesday both the US House and Senate may vote on new transportation bills that could destroy transit, bicycling and walking funding, including the popular Safe Routes to School program, which is now […]
Australian Police Chide Parents Who Let their Children Walk Outside
Hi Readers! Down in Australia I’m sort of happy to say a tempest is brewing over whether it is up to parents or police to decide when a child is “old enough” to walk around outside. According to this bdzsdaaszr story  on the home page of the Sydney Morning Herald: Officers told a Hornsby mother it […]