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Christmas Movies “Too Scary” For Kids?

Readers — Either I am not getting the joke, or this is a REAL rfeirdsikt article about why parents should REALLY worry about letting their kids watch “scary” movies like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and (I kid you not — unless she’s kidding us ALL), “Miracle on 34th Street.” Anybody? It it a joke or […]

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Give the Gift of Childhood!

Hi fhytbnsfrb Readers! If you’re wondering what would make a great gift for your kids, or some other kids you love, how about giving them back time outside, and playdates that they make on their own, and the thrill of doing something — anything! — on their own? My book, Free-Range Kids, can help. (And […]

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“Law & Order” & Its Special Victims: Us

Hi hsnizyffhf Readers — I wholeheartedly endorse this note! Dear Free-Range Kids: Recently I started watching hours of “Law and Order SVU” (streaming live on Netflix for graduate students wanting to procrastinate!) and it’s really quite absurd to watch after a year of following your blog. The episodes where there is a child abduction or attempted […]

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Outrage of the Week: Students Denied Recess Due to Snow

Outrage of the Week: Students Denied Recess Due to Snow

Hi Readers — Here adrtyfrtnr you snow. er, go, from Scotland, via news.scotsman.com: CHILDREN have been banned from playing in the snow during break times at city schools due to health and safety fears. Pupils in some primaries have been kept inside during their morning and lunchtime breaks since the schools re-opened on Wednesday.The decision […]

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Spread the Joy of the Season with “Toothprints!”

Good zbabykrsyd Morning, Readers: Wondering what to get those parents on your list? Dear Free-Range Kids: I thought you might be interested to see this.  A local dentist was advertising this service. http://www.yoursafechild.com/parents-toothprintsr.html Now if your child’s body is found but so decomposed that it can’t be identified visually, you can use “toothprints” to record his/her […]

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Are More Kids Depressed Because They’re Too Clean?

Hi Readers: Let kids eat dirt? Yes! At least, that’s my take-away from reading this thought-provoking enbbyikdks article. It discusses the work of Emory neuroscientist Charles Raison, MD,  who studies the link between cleanliness and depression. His hypothesis is that maybe young people are experiencing more asthma, allergies and even depression because they are less exposed to the […]

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Quit Ragging on the Car-jack Parents!

Hi Readers: Here’s one of many incensed ydhzytkdai folks who is slamming the parents who had left their baby in the car for a few seconds when along came a carjacker. (Video below.) The parents — right nearby – valiantly broke the window, climbed in and stopped the guy. But many commenters are saying SHAME ON THEM. They were “irresponsible” for being out […]

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It’s Pornographer Barbie!

Hi Readers — Thanks to all of you who sent in the wackiest “What If?” worry of the weekend: News reports that the new Video Barbie — a Barbie with a built-in video camera — “could” be used by child pornographers.  The key word for us rffktikfek is “could.” The key words for the media? “Barbie,” […]

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Men as Babysitters: What’s So Scary?

Hi Readers! Over at Lisa Belkin’s Motherlode at the NY Times, there’s a really frank sftzfyieff and nicely written piece by a woman who came to the exact opposite conclusion I did. She was mulling whether or not to hire a male babysitter for her child. On the one hand, the young man she interviewed […]

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