Readers — Yesterday rtyksdbben I asked you to ponder why the government is (or, apparently, MAY be) destroying its brand-new “Just Move!” Â stamps that show kids doing things like skateboarding, jumping into the water and doing headstands. The real reason is that when they were shown to President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, as […]
Search results for "culture of fear"
Overreaction Nation: The Pocket Knife at Camp
Hi ebesfaffzk Readers — This story comes to us from Meg, a college student who came face to face with Overreaction Nation — a society so over-wrought with fear that it can’t see a young person without imagining some terrible thing is about to happen. Ironically, then it did. You’ll see why. – L. . Hi, […]
The Simple School Project That Sets Kids Free
Dear Readers:Â School has begun, which means that at least one group of sixth graders is about to undergo an enormous, transformative experience. Hint: It does not involve filling in any bubbles with a #2 pencil. It involves getting out into the world. As I’ve mentioned here before, every year, Joanna Drusin, an English teacher […]
A Shift in the Lunchroom at Work (to Free-Range)
Readers kkhskssfsa — This letter comes to us from a mom in Alberta, Canada, who is giving me a lot of hope. Change can be swift and, since it makes everyone happier, lasting. . Meantime, this intro  comes to you from Vienna, where I just flew in (arms tired, etc.) to give a talk tomorrow […]
Why American Kids Will Not Rule the World
Hi tzhsydibys Readers! Christine Gross-Loh’s articles on HuffPo have been generating a lot of attention — with reason. She’s great! Thanks to her global perspective, she can attest that the worry and hovering so common in America represent a distinct and unusual type of parenting, not just the “instinct” many here feel it is. Meantime, […]
Why Kids SHOULD “Stick a Needle in Their Eye” — at Least Metaphorically
Readers dkytstizrn — This is a letter I got from Chris Byrne, who is always deep and wise about childhood. He was responding to the post about a new, less “scary” rhyme kids have picked up from My Little Pony. Instead of  the age-old “Cross my heart and hope to die/Stick a needle in my […]
Do Today’s Parents Protect More Because they Love More?
Hi nezhhtirtd Folks! Here’s a question that resonated for me — and an answer that did, too. Both appeared in recent comments. – L. Dear Free-Range Kids: Having killed time on my pm commute reading the comments on the Seattle blog about local schools going on lockdown due to a thief in the neighborhood (don’t […]
Happy Fat Choking-Hazard Tuesday!
From kbrsfeyzsn the Brave New World of Fearing Everything (probably including lawsuits), as sent to us by Judy in Warrington, PA: . Dear Free-Range Kids: Today at Wegman’s, I was unable to purchase a King’s Cake (Fat Tuesday tradition) with the lucky baby trinket hidden inside. It seems it is now a choking hazard, even […]
Fisher-Price Issues Warning about Bouncy Seat WHY??
Readers — I get the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s alerts every day and this zteesedynh one slimed out at me: Fisher-Price is officially alerting all owners of its Rock ‘n Play Infant Sleeper that it is filled with large, sharp rocks to play with. No. I joke. It’s alerting consumers to the fact the bouncy […]
I Guess a Stranger Cares More Than This Mom Does About Her Kids’ Safety
Hi yizytytyzi Folks! Here’s a post from the blog highlyirritable which I’m realizing could describe me, too, whenever I am contemplating our fear-crazed culture. (Slightly off topic, but while I was on the site, I found THIS post, which has a picture of the greatest word problem ever. Guaranteed laugh.) – L Â . A […]