Readers: Remember, whenever considering any childhood activity, no matter how innocuous, first think about how TERRIBLE you’d feel if it ended up a tragedy from which your children (if they survive) NEVER RECOVER. Then go ahead and decide if you think they should do it. Here’s a lovely example of that worst-first thinking, below. It’s from a blog called Frontline Moms & Dads. A similar post, “Why My Family Doesn’t Do Sleepovers” is going viral and appears here. I am often asked by parents about how to handle child sleepovers in their family. To even broach this subject can sometimes…
Author: lskenazy
Readers, in truth, I originally thought I had to boil tap water for my kids’ bottles. Then my pediatrician said nope — we live in the First World. Rejoice and let the kids guzzle. But since there is no easier dollar to extract than that from the wallet of a new parent, an Australian company is now peddling Bebi Infant Suitable Water, “quality, ready to drink baby water that can be stored at room temperature.” Water that doesn’t go bad at room temp? Imagine that! Bebi Infant Suitable Water offers you the same protection as boiling your water; but at…
Readers, I think we need some good news for this lovely summer weekend. So: Dear Free-Range Kids: I think the subject title says it all! Last year, I was despairing of a summer stuck to my son’s side because he wouldn’t leave our yard alone. This summer he has gone to 2 different parks within walking distance of our home… alone! He came home after an hour of playing and told me that he felt “so grown up!” The smile of pride on his face was worth the wait! While at the park, there was only a guy mowing…
Readers — I guess what’s good about the Internet is that we hear about all these crazy stories, including this one, wherein a Blanchester, OH, boy, 8, was supposed to get on the bus to church, but played hooky instead and was later found at the devil’s favorite stomping ground, the local Family Dollar. (I, too, cannot stay on the straight and narrow when seduced by $1 sponges, socks and hair doodads.) “Police were called,” says the story, and the boy, Justin Williamson, ostensibly claimed he didn’t know where he lived. Which sounds like an 8-year-old trying to forestall the…
Readers, This comes to us from Nancy McDermott, the brilliant essayist I often turn to when I feel some parenting advice seems weird but I can’t quite figure out why. She also sent along the video you’ll love, below. So here’s an idea: Instead of feeling guilty for not making every moment “teachable” in the school sense, let’s remember there’s a whole lot of interacting that is at least as valuable as another Berenstain Bear book. – L READ TO YOUR CHILD — FROM BIRTH! by Nancy McDermott Imagine, it’s your baby’s first check up. She spends most of her…
From “Let the Kids take Risks When They Play,” by Peter Gray (one of my heroes, author of the basic psych textbook used in colleges across the country, as well as the book Free to Learn) in The Boston Globe: …Over the past 60 years, we’ve seen a huge decline in children’s freedom and opportunity to play on their own. Over this same period, we’ve also seen a dramatic increase in the rates of depression and anxiety disorders among young people — five to eight times what they were in the 1950s, based on standard clinical questionnaires given to…
As a mom who did babyproof to a certain extent (no toilet locks!), I certainly don’t blame folks who do. But I certainly don’t blame folks who don’t, either. And since there are about a million levels of proofing, my advice is simple: Don’t judge! — L. Dear Free-Range Kids: I’d love to get your input on this!I recently mentioned to an acquaintance who also has young children that my house isn’t baby-proofed. At all. And that I actually don’t really believe in it. She looked at me like I was a monster!I can remember when I made the…
Readers — A news story suggests that this case may possibly be something other than a father who tragically forgot his baby in the car when he went to work. If so and his actions were deliberate, then obviously, we are talking about murder. Murder darker than night. That does not change the reason for my earlier post with the facts as originally presented, which was to ask for legal leniency and human compassion when a parent makes a terrible mistake that he will regret forever, and punishing him will do no one any good. — L. Readers — This…
Readers — Here’s the letter. All I took out was the name of her town: Hello Lenore! I’m a 13 year old living in a suburb . I have a problem and I wish to see the viewpoint of a free-range advocate. Basically, my mother signed me up for academic programs over the summer. I am three days into these programs (four days into summer) and I am already dreading them. I don’t want to brag or anything, but I don’t feel as if I need them since I am in the ninety-ninth percentile in my grade. One of the…
Readers — If you wonder why kids aren’t outside as much anymore, maybe it’s time to consider all the helpful safety tips we get. Here are some from the New Jersey’s Star Ledger’s “46 Ways to Have a Safer NJ Summer.” (For more, see my piece at Reason.) “If you see a bear while out hiking, do not feed or approach it.” Aw, gee — not even if it’s one of those cute cubs, out with its mama? “Avoid forests.” Swear to God, the list says to avoid God’s gift. After all, you could get ticks. “Don’t dig too deep.”…