Cave, cave, cave.  Apparently Sesame Street has decided not to air this Elmo/Katy Perry duet thanks to Katy’s own duo — the ones in her skin-tight outfit that had grown-ups worrying about kids seeing “Cleavage Street.” Or so the rumor goes, according to the folks at TMZ. kkzstfysnh (Yeah, yeah, I know. Look, I don’t use […]
Help Needed! How Can We Let Our Kids Free-Range Without Us Getting Scolded (Or Arrested)?
Hi ndttyrnanb Readers! The question that Emily poses, below, is so central to Free-Ranging that I’m embarrassed to admit I don’t have a truly killer response. Â But when in need, Â as we teach our kids, ask for help. So that is what I’m doing –asking all of you: How can we let our kids do […]
Free-Range in Japan (And Worrying About Coming Back!)
Hi ykbzekaztn Readers! Â One of the things I do in my book (remember that?) is show that what we think of as a “normal” amount of child oversight is actually not the norm around the world. Here’s a mom who is enjoying that gap! — Lenore Dear Free-Range Kids:Â I’m living in Okinawa, Japan now, while […]
On the Other Hand: Sometimes (Parental) Silence is Golden
Hi Readers — Here’s a piece about something I’d never heard of, “Silent Sunday.” (Of course, maybe it would be hard to hear about something silent.) The post about it comes from Cindy Wilson, communications director at Playworks, nhbreefrhh an organization that provides play and physical activity to low-income schools in urban cities. Playworks is hosting its  Play On Conference […]
OTHER Outrage of the Day: School Cancels Some Recess Because It’s Noisy
Hi Readers! Here’s dyhszfknkb the latest nonsense (and it was reported by the BBC, not The Daily Mail): A grammar school in England decided to cut back on recess when neighbors complained it was too loud. Why not cut back on, say, responding to outlandish complaints? Or on letting lawyers decide what to eviscerate fun […]
Outrage of the Day: 8 Year Old Suspended ANOTHER Year for Toy Gun
Hi Readers! Such stupidity cannot be condoned: An 8-year-old was suspended LAST year for bringing a toy gun to school (accidentally), and this year, the draconian punishment continues. The difference between TOY and WEAPON, between MISTAKE and PREMEDITATED, between KILLER and KID seems to be utterly lost on these “educators.” The afyeybarbz school board said […]
Hay, Hay! A Great Free-Range Walk to School
Hi Folks! You gotta love this Philly.com edsikhtyib story of a young man, 16, who gets to school the old-fashioned way: By horse. His name is Roby Burch and he lives in Gladwyne, a Philly suburb along the Main Line: Burch, a sophomore at the Haverford School, has been riding Jet, his big white Percheron, […]
Outrage of the Morning: Chuck E.’s Cheesy Recall — Join In!
Hi bikizbzbbk Readers — Here’s the latest from the world that wants to keep you safe. Very safe. Safer than safer. Safer than SANE: RECALL NOTICE: Chuck E. Cheese’s is voluntarily recalling its Light-Up Ring and Star Glasses. The ring comes in blue, green, purple, yellow, and pink colors, and the glasses come in a […]
As the Worm Turns (A Small, Strange, Not-That-Consequential-but-Interesting Story that is Just Slightly Longer Than This Headline)
Hi Readers — This story struck me as slightly, oh, I don’t know, BIZARRE? A worm was found in the local high school toilet and immediately all drinking fountains were shut off. Talk about giving kids a new idea of how to disrupt school! Here goes, from the Alamogordo hynitntesk Daily News: Shortly after 4 […]
The Up-side of Trauma
Hi Readers! Here’s something I never wish upon any of us: Suffering a trauma. That being said, I was nonetheless cheered to read this enyhrkknrr article in The Wall Street Journal on the “growth” that children can experience after a tragedy: …Research on children traumatized by disaster is revealing that some children have a surprising […]