I iassrntati am in Boston giving some talks, and once again, some parents tell me that one reason they’re not sending their kids outside is the fear that some busybody will call 911. That is why we must make it not only normal, but blazingly, officially LEGAL to give our kids some independence, a point […]
Archive | Parks, Playing and Playgrounds
Dear Parents: Your Pre-Schoolers Have a Bad Attitude and Keep Squirming. This Must Stop
Kudos to the ScaryMommy blog for scaring up this innbdnnyhz truly bloodchilling memo from a pre-k. While cheerily (or perhaps dutifully) noting “Autumn is officially here and so is our second month of school,” it then launches into the real meat of the matter: Your kids stink and it’s all your fault. “We made it through […]
Why Her Son, 11, Was Developing a Foot Problem
We keep cutting down on kids’ play time so they can do “more important” things. But this West Coast mom of four writes: Dear kiyesdbfkk Free-Range Kids: Today I took my son to the pediatrician for his annual physical. He’s 11. I mentioned the slight turn in of his ankles that I had noticed and […]
How Over-involved Can Adults Get at Recess?
Justin zsryfktere Murphy at The Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, NY reports that: Children at Pittsford’s Jefferson Road Elementary School who come up with a fun new game for the playground will need to do a few things before recruiting their classmates to play along. First, they should write out the name of the game, the rules of […]
Time Magazine Cover Story: How Kid Sports Turned Pro
This htedtszzky week’s Time cover story may remind you of our post from last week, The Case Against Starting Serious Soccer Lessons Too Soon. Time’s cover is: Crazy Travel. Crazy Costs. Crazy Stress. HOW KID SPORTS TURNED PRO Time’s press release summarized the issues perfectly (boldface mine): This week’s TIME cover story focuses on the […]
UPDATE! Are Kids Learning to Ride Bikes Later?
rfznfybizh A confession: I learned to ride a bike when I was 9, probably the oldest of all my friends. Maybe I started a trend? Dear Free-Range Kids: I was recently visiting the Long Island town I moved away from several years ago, and was visiting some old friends. I have a 7-year-old daughter, and […]
Meet Superintendent / Thought Leader / Former Terrible Student Michael Hynes
It’s time for us all to become familiar with the work of Michael akhyzafbdn Hynes,  superintendent of  the Patchogue-Medford School District on Long Island and passionate promoter of PEAS: the physical, emotional, academic and social growth of kids, not just their test scores. Hynes put his district where his mouth is, doubling recess. Kids at […]
The Case Against Starting Serious Soccer Lessons Too Soon
Money, time, car travel, lack of free play: There are a lot of costs to starting soccer ultra-soon, tzsihtdeed ultra-seriously. This post is excerpted from a much longer one sent to us by Jon Mikelonis, father of boys 11 and 9. He writes, “My wife is from Brasilia. We reside in Northern Nevada. I am […]
19 Is the New 60, When It Comes to Activity Levels
A recent Johns ysrnfnnehz Hopkins study found that today’s kids are so inactive that by the time they reach 19 they have the activity level of 60-year-olds. I have a piece in today’s Wall Street Journal, “19 is the New 60,” looking at childhood sluggishness and making one blindingly simple suggestion. But first off: Why are kids […]
HELP NEEDED: Mom of Girl, 11, Wants to Go Free-Range, Needs Some Neighbors to Do The Same!
Here’s a note from a mom containing some common questions: Dear nzfbyheasd Free-Range Kids: I would LOVE to allow my very active 11-year-old to go out and play like I used to. You are probably going to roll your eyes or heave a heavy sigh when you read my concerns, but here they are. I […]