A young man writes to tell us — and the world. Basically, it feels like you’re trapped, distrusted and infantilized. Read his words!
Author: lskenazy
You might not be ready to let your 4-year-old go out and meet the world, but developmentally, they’re ready to do just that, writes Let Grow co-founder Peter Gray, here. In earlier eras, they started crossing the street at that age, and playing outside with their friends. It’s not ancient history!
Can a kid, almost 10, work as a “mother’s helper” for a few hours a week, doing stuff like folding clothes or feeding a baby? One homeschooling mom was excited to let her responsible child start doing this. She placed a local ad. Neighbors called the cops. If you’d like to join the conversation, it’s over at Let Grow!
The New York Times article on the relentless demands on parents drew over 1400 comments. The Times then printed 4 letters in its print edition — including one from us! Read it here, along with more wisdom on turning the tide on helicopter parenting.
If the expectation is for moms to breastfeed exclusively, make their own baby food and always be playing with, reading to, or watching their kids, something is wrong. Not with those activities, with the expectation. Discuss! (Here, at Let Grow.) . . Photo from Unsplash by Oleg Sergeichik@kpebedko_o.
Katharina Nuss, visited by child protective services for trusting her kids out of her line of sight for 3 minutes in their own neighborhood, has vowed to change the laws that make this a parenting offense. Here’s her story.
The idea of school shootings seems to have unhinged a Florida sheriff who put an entire high school on “Code Red” — barricade the doors, hide in the closets — without mentioning it was a drill. We declare that child abuse. Read about it here.
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School kids forbidden to touch snow, college students forbidden to hike in the woods, a mom investigated for letting her 8-year-old walk the dog — check out the Top 10 Worsts of 2018 — and the one SHINING LIGHT over at Let Grow! (While they can’t roam outside, Penn State college students in the “Outing Club” ARE allowed to watch outdoorsy movies.)
A Florida company has started selling electronic ankle monitors to the parents of teens. The monitors cannot be removed. “Hardened criminals who try to cut it off have ended up in the ER,” brags marketer. Somehow this is legal. Is it moral? Is it ever a good idea? Join the discussion at Let Grow.