Readers rtybtdbadn — I didn’t know what to suggest to this dad, so please weigh in! – L. Dear Free-Range Kids: I’m writing to share what happened to my daughter and me last night and to ask you and/or your readers for suggestions on how to handle this situation if it happens again. I’m a […]
Archive | Miscellaneous
How to Get Kids Outside in Your Neighborhood
Readers — This yhhsdbfahr is an incredibly heartening story from England where, about five years ago, Alice Ferguson and her neighbor Amy Rose  petitioned to close off a local street for three hours one evening.  Guardian reporter Sarah Lewis Hammond quotes Ferguson saying: “It was as if it was something they did every day. The adults […]
All Parents to be Supervised by State-Appointed Guardians in Scotland
Readers — As I write on the Reason blog today, Scotland is beginning to assign every child, from birth to 18, a “named person” — that is, a state-appointed guardian. The program will be nationwide by 2016. Each “named person” will be privy to the child’s health, school and other records. If they don’t like what […]
Are Sleepovers Too Dangerous to Allow Anymore?
Readers: nrfirydbif Remember, whenever considering any childhood activity, no matter how innocuous, first think about how TERRIBLE you’d feel if it ended up a tragedy from which your children (if they survive) NEVER RECOVER. Then go ahead and decide if you think they should do it. Here’s a lovely example of that worst-first thinking, below. It’s from […]
At Last! Water for Infants!
Readers, in truth, I originally thought I had to boil tap water for my kids’ bottles. Then my pediatrician said nope — we live in the First World. Rejoice and let the kids guzzle. But since there is no easier dollar to extract than that from the wallet of a new parent, an Australian company […]
My 8 Year Old Went to the Park Alone!
Readers, nrekkdffhn I think we need some good news for this lovely summer weekend. So: Dear Free-Range Kids: IÂ think the subject title says it all! Â Last year, I was despairing of a summer stuck to my son’s side because he wouldn’t leave our yard alone. Â This summer he has gone to 2 different parks within […]
Kid, 8, Skips Church to Play. Dad Arrested.
Readers — I guess what’s good about the Internet is that we hear about all these crazy stories, including fsfsinktbh this one, wherein a Blanchester, OH, boy, 8, was supposed to get on the bus to church, but played hooky instead and was later found at the devil’s favorite stomping ground, the local Family Dollar. […]
Do We Really Have to Read to Our INFANTS?
Readers, ynnkrebnef This comes to us from Nancy McDermott, the brilliant essayist  I often turn to when I feel some parenting advice seems weird but I can’t quite figure out why. She also sent along the video you’ll  love, below. So here’s an idea: Instead of feeling guilty for not making every moment “teachable” in […]
Play Time Down, Anxiety Up. Hmm.
From rkbzfryiiz “Let the Kids take Risks When They Play,” by Peter Gray (one of my heroes, author of the basic psych textbook used in colleges across the country, as well as the book Free to Learn) in The Boston Globe: …Over the past 60 years, we’ve seen a huge decline in children’s freedom and opportunity […]
The Decision Not to Babyproof
As yheiiftssf a mom who did babyproof to a certain extent (no toilet locks!), I certainly don’t blame folks who do. But I certainly don’t blame folks who don’t, either. And since there are about a million levels of proofing, my advice is simple: Don’t judge! – L. Dear Free-Range Kids: I’d love to get […]