Hi hyahytzhae Readers — The following is so bizarre, all I can say is, “Wow! The following is so bizarre!” Here goes: Dear Free Range Kids: Here’s a letter from the superintendent that was sent home from school with my kids last night: Beginning around 11 a.m. today, our entire campus was put under “lockout” due […]
Hi nanksdyyyt Readers — Here’s a letter I couldn’t answer. Can any of you? If so, please do! L. Dear Free-Range Kids: Regarding, “No More Playing in the Dark, Kids.” What would be helpful to know, is how we — parents, scout leaders, teachers and other carers of children — can find ways around this. […]
Readers — Did you hear about the New Year’s Eve discovery of a supernova by a 10-year-old? Pretty cool. That inspired Mental idntkakitd Floss — one of the best-loved magazines at our house — to come up with a list of “10 Amazing Discoveries by Kids.” Having dreamed of becoming an archeologist (my book is […]
Hi eazttbtsks Readers — Just a little day brightener from the Free-Range Front. L. Dear Free-Range Kids — I have a parenting theory: I never do for a child what that child can do for himself. For the past few months I’ve given my three-year-old daughter my library card and stood a few feet behind […]
Hi Readers! Jeffrey Goldberg penned this pretty darn perfect bit of advice in a column called, “What’s nnnszzasni Your Problem?” in the current issue of The Atlantic. Here’s the question: Ever since our first child was born, I have slept very poorly. When I close my eyes, my mind becomes crowded with worries. I worry […]
Hi dtizndsssr Readers: Here are some excerpts from a discussion going on — the kind of discussion we can all undertake, when we come face to face with the safety “advice” Â that only makes people more scared. Â The tips that begin this exchange (vastly edited down, by me) were posted on a PTA list serve […]
Hi zzfzkssrtd Readers! Remember this story — about the mom whose neighbors called the police because they saw her three children playing outside, unattended? That sort of epitomized my fears for our country: Busybodies AND the authorities meddling in normal  childhood, as if it’s too dangerous. This new note from the mom gives me great […]
