Hi Readers! Stan Cox, author of the new book, “Losing zaarsnnzze Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditioned World (and Finding New Ways to Get Through the Summer),” wrote a great oped for The Washington Post last summer about what life would be like if we still sweltered. As a person who is always freezing, I […]
Tag Archives | outside
Am I the Only One Sickened by These "Tips"?
Hi Readers — One of you sent me this hkkkrsfiin link to Moms Who Think. Apparently these are Moms Who Think TOO MUCH. They make outdoor play sound like sending your kid off to the Crusades. Voila: …unlike schoolwork, outdoor play can present physical dangers that you may find downright disturbing. Children can easily fall […]
Danger! Danger! Juveniles Wandering!
Hi dkiztakhzk Readers — One of you sent this in. We are living in scary times,indeed! From our local police blotter: Petty theft from unlocked vehicle on Coventry Road. A resident reported juveniles wandering the street on Ocean View Avenue. In a lucky find, the owner of a stolen vehicle from Coventry Road found it […]
Do We Need These Tags for Kids, Too?
So asks Matthew Laufenberg, the reader who sent in this photo from the wondrous Passive assiaisdya Aggressive Notes blog:
OUTRAGE OF THE WEEK: Cops Threaten Mom for Letting Son Play Outside
Hi zyfbzkhfyi Readers! This mom, Kimberlee Morrison of kimleeisawesome, needs a pep talk from all of us — and perhaps some legal advice. You’ll see why. L. Dear Free-Range Kids: I’ve been warned. Literally. By the police. My son left the park, went to El Pollo Loco and asked for water. A stranger asked him […]
More About the Snowball Maker
Hi Readers! As I read through the ehebzhfdsa comments about the $9 snowball maker invented by a dad to make sure his sons’ snowballs weren’t too hard-packed, I saw that some folks thought I was a killjoy for scorning it. So I wrote back to explain that what I really object to is anyone trying […]
Upcoming Conference Tackles: How Can We Get Kids Playing Again?
Hi iybafakhba Folks! This Tues. and Weds. I’m heading to Columbia University here in New York City where they’re hosting Play On — a conference where we’re all supposed to bring our sneakers. That’s because in addition to hearing speakers talk about the importance of play, we’ll also be learning some “street” games and remembering […]
Help This Mom Save Recess!
Hi fbdnetfkrs Readers — Here’s a plea for some great ideas from a mom whose “excellent” public school has killed recess. Has your school tried this, too, and realized its folly? If so, how did it come to its senses? Or is your school considering this and you, too, are trying to figure out how […]
3-year-old Saves Dad by Walking to Fire Station for Help (2 Blocks!)
Hi Readers — Sometimes, when people say, “Why should I let my kid walk to school/the library/the store? There’s almost no upside and the downside is just too dangerous!” all we can do is say, “No it’s not” — an argument that doesn’t get us very far. Next time, after viewing this great story about […]
Jason Mraz: “Let’s Go Outdoors” (to “I’m Yours”)
Hi Readers — Okay, so the kids in this Sesame Street video look a little languid and catalog-ready. And of course there is the inherent tension between a song encouraging kids to go outdoors and the fact that it is on TV, and if it’s REALLY good, kids will want to just sit there and […]