Posted on May 24th, 2013 by lskenazy
Hi Readers — I give you today’s “Ask Amy” column titled, “Kids, Like Chicken, Should Be Free-Range.” THANK YOU, AMY! Read her sage advice and then take the Free-Range Kids Challenge of the Weekend: Dear Amy:My wife and I think it might be a good idea to let our 10-year-old son explore the city in which we [...]
Filed under: GOOD News, Helicopter Effect on Kids, Miscellaneous, Zingers and retorts | 14 Comments »
Posted on May 6th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers – Here’s a sit-up-and-go-yikes oped by Thomas Friedman of the The New York Times. Friedman sort of specializes in these, but this one talks in particular about how we are facing a “401k future.” That is: Unlike the salad days of long-term jobs and pensions, we’re in a new era of morphing and even [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, Miscellaneous, Other Places Other Eras, Zingers and retorts | 24 Comments »
Posted on April 30th, 2013 by lskenazy
Folks — As much as I literally feel my heart pounding every time I hear a story about crazy fear-mongering, or outrageous overreaction to a very small threat, I realize that there is more to life — and even this blog — than just shouting, “But they’re WRONG!” (Even though they are! They’re wrong! I [...]
Filed under: Creating Community, Fun, Miscellaneous, Zingers and retorts | 221 Comments »
Posted on April 2nd, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers — As many of you know, when I’m not busy posting, I am often off to give a keynote. It’s how I make my living. (Not by blogging? No. Not by blogging.) I’ve spoken everywhere from Microsoft, to the Sydney Opera House, to the Yale Child Study Center (twice!). In the next two months [...]
Filed under: GOOD News, Helicopter Effect on Kids, Infantilizing young folk, Marketing Madness and Gadgets, Miscellaneous, Zingers and retorts | 12 Comments »
Posted on March 19th, 2013 by lskenazy
Hi Folks – A reader named Jaimie sent in this story, noting that “These kids wouldn’t have been able to help if they weren’t outside, or if they were afraid to talk to a woman they didn’t know!” What happened? An Atlanta-area mom named Susanna Rohm was in her living room when she noticed her [...]
Filed under: Breaking news, GOOD News, Miscellaneous, Parks, Playing and Playgrounds, Zingers and retorts | 36 Comments »
Posted on March 7th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers, once in a while – if you ignore the school safety drills involving real helicopters and the school boy suspensions involving imaginary guns – you can feel like things are going in exactly the right direction. This is one of those moments. Look at this article, “Call to Ditch Red Tape on Playtime Safety”: [...]
Filed under: Bad Laws, Rules and Verdicts, Creating Community, GOOD News, Helicopter Effect on Kids, Insurance repercussions, Miscellaneous, Parks, Playing and Playgrounds, School and Zero Tolerance and Bullies, Zingers and retorts | 19 Comments »
Posted on February 22nd, 2013 by lskenazy
Hi Readers! A couple of you sent in this provocative piece, “Three Huge Mistakes We Make Leading Kids…And How to Correct Them.” It’s by Tim Elmore, a writer/speaker specializing in leadership. His philosophy about what kids require to become confident, competent and, well, leaders dovetails remarkably with Free-Range Kids’. After warning parents that children need [...]
Filed under: Crazy Parents, Helicopter Effect on Kids, Infantilizing young folk, Miscellaneous, Zingers and retorts | 80 Comments »
Posted on February 15th, 2013 by lskenazy
Readers — Here’s a great letter by George Mason economist Alex Tabarrok that he graciously allowed me to lift from his blog, Marginal Revolution. – L. Dear Principal _____, Thank you for requesting feedback about the installation of interior cameras at the high school. I am against the use of cameras. I visited the school recently [...]
Filed under: Helicopter Effect on Kids, Miscellaneous, Photography issues, School and Zero Tolerance and Bullies, Sex Offender Issues, Uber Safety, Zingers and retorts | 127 Comments »
Posted on February 8th, 2013 by lskenazy
Hi Readers! This came in response to the post about a mom who unexpectedly left her 3-year-old alone at a table at Taco Bell for two minutes and got screamed at by the woman at the next table for “endangering” the child. “Please tell me I didn’t do something crazy,” wrote the mom. Most of [...]
Filed under: Crazy Parents, Helicopter Effect on Kids, Miscellaneous, Stupid Advice, Worst-First Thinking, Zingers and retorts | 64 Comments »
Posted on February 6th, 2013 by lskenazy
Hi Readers — Can you EVER leave your child unattended for a few minutes in a public place? That’s today’s big question. – L. . Dear Free-Range Kids: Last night I took my 5-year-old son and almost 3-year-old daughter to Taco Bell. High class, I know. The restaurant was pretty busy, about five full tables [...]
Filed under: Child Protective Services, Crazy Parents, Eek! A Male! (and Stranger Danger), Miscellaneous, Stupid Advice, Worst-First Thinking, Zingers and retorts | 185 Comments »
