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…
Author: lskenazy
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…
Folks — This story comes to us a mom named Erica who lives in a converted warehouse in Oakland, CA, with her husband, two daughters, and her now-retired father. The event happened about eight years ago, when her younger daughter was six. Here’s a crime map of her nabe, and a crime comparison chart. Her note came as a response to my call for “Nothing bad happened when my kid…” stories. (But sort of goes beyond them!) L Dear Free-Range Kids: Call this, “My kid discovered absolutely terrifying levels of freedom that no sane parent would consciously allow… and still,…
Folks — Read this one and gird your loins for a similar battle. Not that I’m quite sure how to gird any loins, and not sure it’s a thing that women can even do. But — forgetting loins for the moment (I said FORGET THEM!), let’s get ready to convince our schools that WE should be allowed to determine how our kids get there. — L . As we gear up for a new school year, and I have yet another kindergartener starting a new phase in life, I am preparing for the inevitable Walk to School Battle that will…
Readers, here’s a look at two world views. Free-Range Kids received both last week: IT’S ABOUT TIME! I was raised in the 60s & it was nothing for me to take the subway or bus to the N.Y. World’s Fair. I was 8 at the time, & knew enough to be home by dinnertime. Nowadays way too many kids are hovered over & as adults lack the simple skills to be social & accountable in public settings. Summertime saw me, along with MOST of my friends, earning money cutting lawns, washing cars, etc., & as time went on we all…