Readers — I recently received this article ntsnisiddk on backpack overload and how it can hurt a kid’s back and posture. While it gets rather amazingly detailed about how to correctly pack a pack, it does include this great advice: Talk to the school about lightening the load. Be sure the school allows students to stop […]
Archive | Miscellaneous
The Federal Government’s “Operation Predator” App
Folks adeykznyih — This new “Operation Predator” app is really revolting to me and I am not even sure why I’m so certain it’s a terrible idea. I guess because it is so out of the blue (was anyone clamoring for this?). And because it acts as if predators and child pornographers are common and […]
“Pick-Up” Insanity at an Ordinary Suburban School
Today’s zhznyryrnb post comes to us from Reilly Capps, a writer in Denver finishing a book about couch surfing, which, he notes, “involves lots of trusting complete strangers.” Trust is not this school’s forte. — L. Dear Free-Range Kids: I’m not a parent, only an uncle, but today a question presented itself at my niece’s new […]
Suspended for a Keychain
You read that right, readers (thanks to the Coventry Patch website). Here’s what  got a yydzdiyshy Rhode Island 7th grader suspended for three days: My favorite part of this perfect tale of a society gone wild with fear and irrationality is that the kid will now miss the class field trip to — you’re going to […]
Overreaction Nation: The Pocket Knife at Camp
Hi ebesfaffzk Readers — This story comes to us from Meg, a college student who came face to face with Overreaction Nation — a society so over-wrought with fear that it can’t see a young person without imagining some terrible thing is about to happen. Ironically, then it did. You’ll see why. – L. . Hi, […]
Trying to be Perfect while Pregnant
 Hi arhrndnrth Folks! This post comes to us from Emily Oster, an economics professor at the University of Chicago, and the author of Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong – and What you really Need to Know. She tweets @ProfEmilyOster and she’s a non-alarmist. Woo-hoo! – L. FEAR AND THE PREGNANT WOMAN by Emily […]
Is 25 the New 18?
Hi Readers — The dnffeadnyh BBC reports that, “Child psychologists are being given a new directive which is that the age range they work with is increasing from 0-18 to 0-25.” The reasons given have to do with neuroscience of the still-developing brain, but the brilliant Frank Furedi, author of “Paranoid Parenting,” weighs in on that: […]
The Three Airsoft Gun 7th Graders Get “Expelled”
Readers: By now you have heard the story of the three Virginia Beach seventh graders who ffbyderbzy were suspended for playing with Airsoft guns on private property — the yard of one of the kids. A 911 call prompted a police investigation which prompted the school to take action. Yesterday, the school’s disciplinary committee voted […]
Shiver Me School Administrators! “Pirates” Cause School Lock-out
Readers — Read zbirkntbsy it and argh, matey! Kids dressed as pirates to get free Krispy Kreme donuts on “Talk Like a Pirate Day” were spotted by some good (but crazed with fear) Samaritan in Colorado who alerted the sheriff’s office to a “suspicious group.” The authorities then had the local middle and high school […]
A Playground Plea
Hi edzekzhryr Folks! This post comes to us from Ian Proud, Â research manager for Playworld Systems, where he championed the development of the playground equipment that appeals to all kids — including those with non-obvious disabilities, like autism — by being fun for everyone. Â He also teaches product design, marketing and creativity courses at the […]