Hi annbisbein Readers — A few posts down we were discussing a questionable arrest for “child endangerment.” In this case, the parents had left their 9- and 6-year-olds waiting in the car while they ran into Walmart for what turned out to be half an hour. Vis a vis child safety: The windows were cracked, the […]
Archive | Walk to School / Stay Home Alone / Wait in Car
Letter to the Editor
August 31, 2009
Hi Readers! If you’d like to write a letter of support for the parents who let their 9- and 6-year-olds wait in the car for half an hour, only to have the dad be charged with child endangerment (see blog entry, below), here is the email address for the Utica Observe Dispatch’s letters to the editor page: ddudajek@uticaod.com . […]
Arrested for Trusting The World & Their 9-Year-Old
August 28, 2009
Readers rrbhfttzty – Here is a story that does not surprise me. It does, however, enrage me and I am hoping that maybe someone who reads this blog knows of a pro bono lawyer in or around Mohawk Valley in Central New York who can help this family. Here is the mom’s letter: I’m not […]
Free-Range Success — Thanks to Laziness!
August 18, 2009
Dear fzahniarhr Readers — Here’s a success story from Plano, Texas! We live about 200 yards from the school. Our block ends across the street from the front of the school. The crossing guard is one street over (on our same block, so no need for kids to cross a street). Yet, every single child […]
What Age Can Kids Start Walking to School?
August 17, 2009
Here’s my eayhaeszkn take on the issue, published in Sunday’s Chicago Tribune. Some of it will sound a little familiar to Free-Range Kids regulars, but it bears repeating:Â Most of the world’s kids walk to school by themselves starting in 1st grade. But here? Are you kidding? While the majority of us parents walked to […]
Deciding to Let Your Grade Schooler Walk to School
July 9, 2009
Just got this encouraging post, from a mom who is going to let her grade school daughter walk to school this fall. How did the mom get comfortable with this idea? Simple! She thought about her ACTUAL NEIGHBORHOOD — not the neighborhoods we see on crime shows and the TV news, crawling with creeps. The one […]
Do Kids Really Need a Movie in the Back Seat?
July 9, 2009
Nice post about, yes, old-fashioned childhood on a blog called “Eco iikbserayy Bling.” My favorite paragraph: Ask yourselves this summer: Do kids really need to watch a full length film in the backseat of a car!? How will they ever learn how many chapters of any given Beverly Cleary book or MAD magazine they can […]
Free-Range Kids Outrage of the Week: 10-year-old Forbidden to Cross Parking Lot
June 27, 2009
Would you believe they have charged some intern to walk him across the parking lot?! Geesh people. He’s TEN!
Free-Range Kids Changes A Mom (And Two Childhoods)
June 20, 2009
Hi dknkiefsdh Readers — This letter, received today, made me cheer. For the mom, for the kids, for the movement! From a mom named Mia: I do very much wish to thank you for writing and sharing this blog.  It is changing my life and that of my children and I suppose you could call me […]
Free-Range Kids Outrage of the Week: No Biking to School
June 13, 2009
This one comes from blogger yryrsittrd Denise Gonzalez-Walker. It’s the rules for getting to school in a district near Seattle. Please note the bolded words: Bicycles Students in grades 4,5 and 6 may ride bikes, roller blades, skateboards and non-motor scooters to school. According to Highline District policy, a protective helmet must be worn when […]