Readers — This story is getting a lot of attention: A woman in North Dakota has declared she is going to give out letters, not treats, to kids she considers “moderately obese.” She feels it’s her job to bring their weight to their attention, and she’s mad at the parents for letting them forage for candy. My take? Aside from the fact that pointing out someone’s weight is both rude and pointless (does heaping shame ever change anyone…for the better?), Halloween is the often the one night of the year kids get to discover how fun it is to leave…
Author: lskenazy
Readers — Howl with me at the rules imposed on the town of Waynesboro, Georgia’s trick or treaters: Rules for Trick or Treating are as follows: 1. “Trick or Treaters” are restricted to 12 years old and under, in a costume and accompanied by a parent, guardian or adult 21 years of age or older. 2. “Trick or Treating” will conclude at 8 p.m. 3. Residents wishing not to participate will leave their porch lights off and will be by passed by the “Trick or Treaters.” In the video below, several adults welcome these rules, as if this generation of…
Hi Folks! I’ll be doing a couple of talks that are free and open to the public in California next week. Sunday night, Nov. 3, I’ll be at the Hillview School, 1100 Elder Ave, in Menlo Park, CA. The talk is at 6:30. Thursday night, Nov. 7, I will be at the Prospect Sierra School at 960 Avis Dr., El Cerrito, CA. Here’s a bit about it. The talk is at 7. If you come, please introduce yourselves! For more info on my talks, which I give all over the world (including, last summer, Bulgaria), please see my Speaking Engagements…
Readers — Once again we have evidence that our world has gone nuts. Does this “incident” seem to warrant police intervention to you? Doesn’t it sound like COMPLETELY NORMAL LIFE? Police Report: Young girl left alone on Plaza Posted on October 17, 2013 by Sun News Observant Plaza-goers grew concerned on Friday afternoon, October 4, when it became clear that a seven-year-old girl had been left at the playground without supervision. The youngster was playing happily with other kids and was not scared, police. In fact, she told them that her foster mom usually sits in a parked car…
Readers — Spread this video! http://youtu.be/9OgP1zc5kZI Here are the facts about strangers poisoning candy. And yet, TRY to find a TV station or newspaper that doesn’t tell parents: “Always check your child’s candy and throw out any unwrapped items.” Meantime, many, many thanks to Ezra Horne who edited this video for us! Here’s his youtube channel and Twitter acct! – L.
In another era, this might not seem like a newsworthy letter. But now it is, and so allow me to present a note I got the other day: Dear Free-Range Kids: My name is Jessica. I’m a 17 year old that’s passionate about changing the things (laws, culture, rules, etc) our culture does to stifle the independence of our youth. If you have the time, I would appreciate your advice and guidance about what I can do to help and support the cause. I just moved out of Florida to New York City and am looking to branch out into…
Dad Shawn Dawson, of Albany, OR, came up with the perfect present for his littlest girl: Dear Free-Range Kids: My daughter had her birthday last weekend, and in the weeks leading up to it she has expressed an interest in both whittling and archery. Well figuring that at age 8 it was time she learned a bit more about safely handling a knife, one present I purchased for her was a very small, pink, swiss army knife. It’s quite small, but will serve the purpose of teaching her how a knife is a tool (it also has tweezers, scissors, nail…
Hey Readers — I got this very honest note today: Hey there. My name is J. and I am currently 16 so I’m a bit biased. I briefly skimmed the comments and would like to say that I love the Free-Range concept. All I know is that there is something wrong with the idea of a 16 year old (myself) not knowing how to take a bus. Forget the subway. I was never taught this and can’t bring myself to risk getting lost. To which I responded: Actually, it will be GREAT if you get lost. Then you’ll get yourself…
Readers — Right now it is a crime in Ohio to hire a kid under 14, without his/her parents’ permission, to do anything for you, including rake your lawn. The idea, as always, is to keep kids safe from evil adults. But the law smacks of zero tolerance, putting leaf work right up there with a striptease. According to Ohio Public Radio: Jason Romage ran afoul of that law in 2010 when he offered some kids quarters to move boxes into his Columbus apartment. The judge threw the case out, an appeals court agreed and the state went to the…
Wow, Readers — The Keller Youth Association’s football league in North Texas has made a decision of staggering proportions: It will no longer give out trophies to kids just for showing up! Its rationale? Trophies become meaningless when “everybody wins.” Moreover, kids get an unrealistic, indulgent idea of life when they seemingly “succeed” with or without putting in any effort. Some parents, at least in this interview, are upset because — as one says, “They need to be rewarded…at this young age. We want to keep them coming back.” “We” want to keep “them” coming back? Does it get more…