Hi aeseekhthn Folks! Got this the other day and had to pass it along. I agree with the writer: yoga and such can be good for kids. But there are time-honored alternatives, too.  — L. Dear Free-Range Kids: Oh lordie, you’re never going to believe this.  Just saw this posting and had to share. Now, […]
Archive | Marketing Madness and Gadgets
A Child-Carrier for Kids Up to 7 Years Old???
Readers, I saw this arrnakbbhz the other day — a back brace that allows you to carry your child on your back literally up to age 7 and 60 pounds — and had been too stunned to sum up my feelings…till now. But here they are: This is embarrassing. I’m sure the carrier may be […]
Will This Toy Get My Kid into Harvard?
Hi seedttzfna Readers! Here’s my piece from today’s Wall Street Journal: PARENTS ARE TAKING THE FUN OUT OF TOYS by Lenore Skenazy Remember when a ball was just a ball? Now it is a tactile stimulating sensory aid that helps develop gross motor skills. Really. Strolling through the international Toy Fair at the Javits Center […]
“Anti-Aging Makeup” — for 8-year-olds?
Hi Readers! Remember when kids wanted to look grown UP? Â Not anymore, I guess. According to this bbrfaeztzf piece in The Independent, Wal-Mart is introducing GeoGirl “natural” makeup for girls age 8 and up. As revolting as I find that idea, the fact that it is touted as “anti-aging” has me holding my head together […]
Because Crawling is Just Too Hard
Hi Readers — When I go around giving my Free-Range Kids lectures, at some point I hold up a pair of little knit things that look like mini sweat bands and I ask the audience, “What are these?” And when I finally inform them, “Baby knee pads,” they shriek in disbelief. (At least, the ones […]
THE 2010 “GOLDEN HELICOPTER PARENTING AWARDS”
FREE-RANGE nsfdhdsfkd KIDS PRESENTS THE 2010 GOLDEN HELICOPTER PARENTING AWARDS FOR GREAT MOMENTS IN OVER-PARENTING And Media Fear-mongering About Kids PRESENTED BY LENORE SKENAZY, FOUNDER OF “FREE-RANGE KIDS†(www.freerangekids.com) Free-Range Kids is the book, blog and movement dedicated to giving kids back the fun and freedom of childhood — the kind of childhood that makes […]
Not All Tragedies are Preventable
Hi Readers! While we’re on the topic of crib recalls, as well as when parenting intervention is called for and all that, I just had to link to this efynzafskh phenomenal essay from The Economist: “Not All Tragedies are Preventable.” As it says in the opening paragraph: LEGISLATION that bears the name of a victim […]
You Know You’re Making an Impact When…
Hi tfzdastsnr Readers! You know you’re making an impact when marketers start to try to make a buck off you, as did this one. A friend who runs a parenting magazine got this public relations pitch: Dear _______: There has been a lot of discussion about “free range parenting” — letting your kids wander to […]
Spread the Joy of the Season with “Toothprints!”
Good zbabykrsyd Morning, Readers: Wondering what to get those parents on your list? Dear Free-Range Kids: I thought you might be interested to see this. A local dentist was advertising this service. http://www.yoursafechild.com/parents-toothprintsr.html Now if your child’s body is found but so decomposed that it can’t be identified visually, you can use “toothprints” to record his/her […]
Weather.com You Are Part of the Problem!
Hi Readers — I went to check the forecast on weather.com zsfedysztb this morning and up popped an app, unbidden: “Mom’s Daily Planner.” How the site KNEW I’m a mom I won’t even speculate. But here are the day parts it broke the day down into: Lunchtime PM Bus Stop Evening Activity Excuse me — […]