Readers — 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 at the international Velo-City conference. Guten tag! — L Dear Free-Range Kids: I started a new job about 2 years ago at a small non-profit with about 20 employees. Most of my coworkers were from a suburb that is known for being….well a bit uppity and above…
Author: lskenazy
Readers — A school in Hayward, Ca is offering a “toy gun buyback” to its students, modeled on the buybacks of real guns at real police stations. While I don’t have a big opinion about the idea — on the one hand, sometimes people mistake toy guns for real ones, which is tragic; on the other hand, laws based on one-in-a-million odds are usually over-reaching — I am appalled by the reasoning of the principal: “Playing with toys guns, saying ‘I’m going to shoot you,’ desensitizes them, so as they get older, it’s easier for them to use a real…
Readers — An area of Alexandria, VA, a suburb of D.C., is debating whether to allow a hostel to open near, among other things, some day care centers. As the reader who sent us this news story wrote, “To hear some of the comments, you’d think they were planning to build a gun store/brothel/drug den!” Notes the article, citing the local parents’ concerns: The business fronts, doorsteps and play areas of the concerned would all be traversed by the hostel’s travelers if it is approved by City Council later this month. My favorite comment from one of the folks quoted…
Just a reminder of what education can be. Happy weekend! L. Kids Microadventure from Alastair Humphreys on Vimeo.
Readers — Here’s what happens when we panic, whether about security or about bumbling the security: Dear Free-Range Kids: Something that happened this weekend made me think of you. My husband, our almost 3-year-old son and I have been going to the Indianapolis 500 since 2011, when the little one was only 9 months old. My husband loves cars (he’s an automotive engineer), and the 500 is a big day of fun. Every year (until this one) we’ve been thrilled with the sense of camaraderie we feel with the 300,000 fans at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and everyone has been…
From my mailbag…straight to my stomach, which is knotted in fear and anger: . Hi Lenore, my name is Christina Moon. I am a 32 year old mom of two girls, ages 7 and 4. A few weeks ago I had to make a return at a jcpenney near our home in Michigan. My four year old begged me to let her wait in the car and watch her movie so I let her, I left the car running with the ac on and the doors locked. I parked my car in front near the handicap spots. It took a…
Readers — Before you read this, let me say that I am eagerly awaiting a call later today from a lawyer whose organization fights for parents’ rights to raise their kids as they see fit, so long as they aren’t hurting them. In the meantime, here’s why we need a group like that: Dear Free-Range Kids: I’m having a hard day, and wanted to touch base with you. I still send my kids to the playground down the street regularly (for the record, it is 350 meters from my house… not exactly far). Nothing around here has changed. Unfortunately,…
Readers — This little note serves up a perfect slice of our fear-steeped society! . Dear Free-Range Kids: I live in NJ so I was listening to the local FM station, 101.5 FM. (Btw, here is the spiel they actually announce as they introduce new segmants:) . “Not New York! Not Philadelphia! ALL New Jersey..!” . That’s the best they can do??! That’s all they can say about NJ? That it’s not NY?” PS- we know that already…. . Anyway as I listened I heard the following stories in the span of 3 minutes: . “NJ…
Readers — It is time to update the term “Kafka-esque,” which seems to suggest bureaucratic madness belonged to another time and continent. That madness is alive and well, even in Dallas, TX, as you’re about to read. This piece comes from a Facebook post by my speaking engagement agent, Judy Safern at Leading Thinkers. – L. I was delighted when my son’s fifth grade teacher asked me if I would accompany their class downtown on a field trip to the art museum. My son was, too. The night before the trip he texted me: “Goodnight!! I love you!! I can’t…
Hint: The old version of this vehicle used to have a seat, handlebars and three wheels, period. I can’t figure out if I’m more distressed by the safety equipment that seems better designed for the Turbo Drop, or the fact that we don’t seem capable of doing anything for more than two minutes without a drink at hand.-L The website copy says: Designed for babies, toddlers and beginning riders, this attractive Pink/Purple, 3-in-1 Trike grows with your child! Features: Stage 1-Parent Push Trike-When the pink waist bar is installed the child will be unable to turn the wheel Stage 2-Parent…