Hi Folks! It’s time for more mainstream media examining the idea that maybe our kids don’t need quite as much hovering as the mainstream media had been recommending. The segment will air sometime after 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. So if you’re not waiting in line at Toys R Us, tune in! (Or sleep in! I’m sure we’ll find a copy of it somewhere.) — Lenore
Author: lskenazy
Oprah visits “the happiest people in the world” and finds out. Guess where their kids nap? (First two minutes of 8 minute vid.) [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QS8dROjKNY&feature=relatedwo] And meantime: HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Give thanks we live in a time when kids are safer than ever before…even if it’s hard to convince anyone of this fact. — Lenore
So. Anyone out there who has both cable and TiVO who can figure out how to tape the re-broadcast of the Campbell Brown show on CNN that I was just on and maybe even send me a link, or post it on YouTube, if that is not hidesouly illegal? The show re-airs at 4 a.m. Eastern Time. And if this the FCC reading this, just kidding!
Hi Folks! I’ll be on CNN tonight at about 8:30 Eastern Time discussing “overparenting.” I feel a little bad for helicopter parents because overnight they’ve been knocked off their perch, even after it was society that hounded them into doing and buying and fretting in the first place. That darn pop culture! So hard to pin down. — L.
Hi Readers #151; Here’s a happy holiday gift: Santa sanity from the child-overprotecting world. You may recall last week’s story about the closing of the North Pole Santa effort for fear of pedophiles mailing themselves to unsuspecting tots. (Or whatever the exact, irrational “rationale” was.) Enjoy this well-written post about how it all turned out, from the blog Strollerderby. #151; Lenore
Hi Readers — A bunch of you have been digging (har har) this story about how much protection our kids get from DIRT. This explains my philosophy of housekeeping! Er…I mean: This explains my philosophy of childrearing. Anyway, here’s a bit of the article, by Murrray Wardrop, in The Telegraph. (For some reason this story got more play in Britain than the U.S.): Scientists have discovered that bacteria on the surface of the skin play an important role in combating inflammation when we get hurt. The bugs dampen down overactive immune responses, which can lead to rashes or cause cuts…
This is a very weird story, but it does prove one thing I’ve been saying for a while: Kids are not snatched willy-nilly from the New York City subways. On the other hand, they’re not noticed for days and days either. Hmmm. — Lenore
If Zits comics aren’t cut out and affixed to your refrigerator yet, it’s only because your kids are still young. Otherwise, you couldn’t resist. That’s why I’m glad a reader sent in this one to stick on the collective Free-Range Kids Fridge. For more Zits, click here!
There’s something to that idea, according to the Motherlode parenting blog in The New York Times: Take our cue from The Dog Whisperer and give our kids plenty of affection, discipline and time outside with a bone. Well, time outside, anyway.
At least it is in Canada, where one family’s actual contract with their school — “We the undersigned shall do no homework, nor shall it be assigned” (or words to that effect) is roiling the country. Editorials are jumping in on the anti-homework, pro-play, pro-down-time, pro-music, sports and outdoors side! Right on! Here’s an overview , from the great blog, stophomework.com.