Folks iyykbhenyh — This was a comment made under a piece by me in The Wall Street Journal about how we are criminalizing parents who let their kids wait in the car while they run an errand. The commenter is named Pushpita Prasad and I salute her! – L. Pushpita Prasad: Here’s another very common […]
Archive | Miscellaneous
Headline News Responds About “Predator Test” Special
Hi Readers — This just in from Anna Gonzalez, a social media producer for Headline News, the channel running a special, “Would rfykdyhrzi Your Kids Pass the Predator Test?” I commented on it yesterday, saying specials like these only reinforce the idea that predators are everywhere. Anna’s note: Thanks for the blog about the segment. […]
Would Your Kids Pass the Predator Test?
“Would ykhayiftnd Your Kids Pass the Predator Test?” is the name of a special Headline News is presenting tomorrow. It’s not surprising that they would do a show like this — when you’re in the headline business, every day is predator day, because that’s the headline that reliably grabs people. The problem is that when we hear […]
“When I Was My Daughter’s Age”
Dear nazdyribfb Folks — Free-Range Kids is not a movement dedicated to nostalgia. Nonetheless, remembering the things we were allowed to do as kids reminds us that a reasonably safe childhood does not require constant supervision, the way folks believe it does today. Hence, this piece. It comes to us from Bree Ervin, a social […]
To the Family in the Red SUV at Tim Horton’s Today…
Readers atibtyerzh — This Facebook post by Luc Perreault in Sudbury, Ontario was sent to us by a guy named Michael Cattle and I believe is destined to become a country song, a poster, or a wildly viral post. At least I hope so. You read it here second! Â – Lenore To the family in […]
A Girl and Her Lemonade Stand (And the Cops)
Readers kbkznbzbnh — The idea that our kids are only safe if they are under literally constant supervision is one that subtly but surely keeps changing childhood. Watch it at work in suburban Seattle: Dear Free-Range Kids: Hello! I want to share, but I really feel the need to stay anonymous, because clearly Free-Range children […]
Kid Sent Packing for Candy Bar at Camp
Readers — Just a errfiztbhd little bit of infuriation (is that a word?) to leave you with till I compose an actual post. Read it and grrrrr. Yes, yes, the kid was not supposed to bring candy to camp. But the administrators weren’t supposed to OPEN HER SEALED LETTER to READ about the candy either. It’s […]
Introducing: The Hall of Ridiculousness
Hi Folks! Since to the marketing world I am an “influential mommy blogger,” I hear from a ton of companies pitching their products. Sometimes, they’re peddling something sensible. Usually, they’re peddling the idea that kids today are so fragile and needy, they absolutely cannot live without…whatever. It’s part of the pernicious idea that we have […]
Day Care Teacher Puts Out Fire, Loses Job
Readers — This deennadssn story is so bizarre, I have to share it so I don’t explode: While kids were napping at a Florida day care center last week, their teacher smelled smoke and went to investigate. Sure enough, she says, some chicken nuggets had caught fire in the oven. She tried to put it out […]
Mom Fined for Letting 6-y.o. Walk 2 Blocks with a Friend
Readers bnnnebfhiz — If this is the land of the free, why are cops treating happy-go-lucky kids like escaped convicts?  When did giving kids an old-fashioned summer become a crime? – L. Dear Free-Range Kids: This just happened to me. My six year old daughter and her friend went for a walk on their own […]