Archive | Miscellaneous

Honey, can you go to the store for me? (And not shoot anyone on the way?)

Sending a 6-year-old to the Store, Alone, in New York City

. As we say in our house all the time, “Go Dog, Go!” as in hooray and carry on: Dear znbersdyit Lenore, I was newly married but still childless when my little brother sent me the article you wrote about letting your son ride the subway alone.  I was living in my home state of Montana, […]

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Wouldn't you like your kids to be doing this tomorrow? With a lot of other kids?

Without Some Risk, Playgrounds Bore Kids

. How do you get kids back outside — and, incidentally, revitalize narcoleptic neighborhoods? You bring in risk. This zktriizthe New Zealand playground was designed to give kids a lot more “wheee” — or maybe “aghhh!” — for the buck. More than 6000 children contributed to the early stages of the playground’s development through the BNZ […]

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You're never alone, with a phone.

It Used to be Lonely for Kids INSIDE. Now It’s the Reverse

. This post comes from Mollie Shaw, a friend, frequent commenter, and Free-Ranger who is a writer and marketing consultant in British Columbia. Maybe it will resonate for you the way it did for me: Dear idhenrhyeh Free-Range Kids: I can remember feeling lonely as a young child in the 1970s.  I have vivid recollections of […]

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Playing! What a waste of time!

Finland’s Genius Idea: More Free Time for Kids

. If you look back on your childhood and what you did in your free time, the thing that you LOVED to do just may still be part of your life. In fact, please tell us stories of that — the thread from your childhood interest or obsession to your current work (or obsession). Me, […]

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