Folks — This was a comment made under a piece by me in The Wall Street Journal about how we are criminalizing parents who let their kids wait in the car while they run an errand. The commenter is named Pushpita Prasad and I salute her! — L. Pushpita Prasad: Here’s another very common scenario that plays out daily across America. Drop off at schools/daycares/pre-schools. You pull into the parking with the kid you actually need to drop of and their younger sibling — who often falls asleep during the drive. It could be raining/snowing/cold/hot outside. Your car in…
Author: lskenazy
Hi Readers — This just in from Anna Gonzalez, a social media producer for Headline News, the channel running a special, “Would Your Kids Pass the Predator Test?” I commented on it yesterday, saying specials like these only reinforce the idea that predators are everywhere. Anna’s note: Thanks for the blog about the segment. I think something that Kyra Phillips said can help provide some insight into the special Friday: “As a mom, my child’s safety is my number one concern. And my greatest fear is abduction. So not only do I take this special personally, I think every family…
“Would Your Kids Pass the Predator Test?” is the name of a special Headline News is presenting tomorrow. It’s not surprising that they would do a show like this — when you’re in the headline business, every day is predator day, because that’s the headline that reliably grabs people. The problem is that when we hear about predators all the time, we start to believe that children are in danger all the time. That’s why kids are so helicoptered today: There’s the perception that no child is ever safe without direct adult supervision. A show that “tests” whether kids can…
Dear Folks — Free-Range Kids is not a movement dedicated to nostalgia. Nonetheless, remembering the things we were allowed to do as kids reminds us that a reasonably safe childhood does not require constant supervision, the way folks believe it does today. Hence, this piece. It comes to us from Bree Ervin, a social justice advocate who blogs at thinkbannedthoughts. — L. Dear Free-Range Kids: Earlier you called for “I let my kids… and…” stories. Well, this summer we decided the kids were ready to go to Blockbuster on their own (about 3/4 of a mile away). We prepared for…
Readers — This Facebook post by Luc Perreault in Sudbury, Ontario was sent to us by a guy named Michael Cattle and I believe is destined to become a country song, a poster, or a wildly viral post. At least I hope so. You read it here second! — Lenore To the family in the red SUV at Tim Horton’s today,, Yes I am a big 280 lbs guy with motorcycles and full of tattoos, I am a welder, I am loud, I drink beer, I swear and I look like I would eat your soul if you stare at…
Readers — The idea that our kids are only safe if they are under literally constant supervision is one that subtly but surely keeps changing childhood. Watch it at work in suburban Seattle: Dear Free-Range Kids: Hello! I want to share, but I really feel the need to stay anonymous, because clearly Free-Range children are not the norm, even if they should be. This Tuesday my 6 (nearly 7) year old daughter held a lemonade stand. She planned it very carefully, making mock-up signs until her spelling was perfect, making a list of supplies and arranging to purchase, borrow, or…
Readers — Just a little bit of infuriation (is that a word?) to leave you with till I compose an actual post. Read it and grrrrr. Yes, yes, the kid was not supposed to bring candy to camp. But the administrators weren’t supposed to OPEN HER SEALED LETTER to READ about the candy either. It’s like the NSA at Camp Sweets-B-Gone.- L Got contraband?
Hi Folks! Since to the marketing world I am an “influential mommy blogger,” I hear from a ton of companies pitching their products. Sometimes, they’re peddling something sensible. Usually, they’re peddling the idea that kids today are so fragile and needy, they absolutely cannot live without…whatever. It’s part of the pernicious idea that we have to buy, buy, buy and do, do, do more for our kids than ever before. To counter that trend, I’m introducing The Hall of Ridiculousness. It will highlight silly and/or unnecessary products peddled as necessities. So here’s our first entry, edited down from an email…
Readers — This story is so bizarre, I have to share it so I don’t explode: While kids were napping at a Florida day care center last week, their teacher smelled smoke and went to investigate. Sure enough, she says, some chicken nuggets had caught fire in the oven. She tried to put it out but when the fire alarm went off, she ran back to get the kids out of the building. After a second check for kids, she went back to the kitchen, saw the fire was small, and put it out. The owner of the center fired…
Readers — If this is the land of the free, why are cops treating happy-go-lucky kids like escaped convicts? When did giving kids an old-fashioned summer become a crime? — L. Dear Free-Range Kids: This just happened to me. My six year old daughter and her friend went for a walk on their own and now we are getting a fine. The cop wasn’t at all interested in what we had to say just said we were getting a fine in the MAIL. In PA there are no laws regarding what age to leave your child alone, this cop…