Hi Readers! Today is officially “Take Our Sons & Daughters to Work Day.” And here is an official memo from one reader’s employer: Parents itdnsazyab are cautioned to be mindful of the safety of their children and limit their exposure at work to job-shadowing which could include: permitting the young observers to attend a meeting, […]
Only Perverts Talk to Kids
Hi Readers! Just got this wonderful little clip from The Big Bang Theory (which happens to be my older son’s favorite show. Yes, even Free-Rangers end up watching some TV.) It’s all about what happens when a stranger talks to a kid. Sheldon, the main character, is — as you will soon see — socially […]
WTP? Police Stop Kids from Playing Street Hockey
Hi Readers — Get this: It was in Canada! The Royal Canadian Mounted Police received a couple of calls from someone angry that the boys were playing on the street, and came over to break it up. And I always thought kids up there were REQUIRED to play street hockey! Well times they are a-changing. It’s […]
“Take Our Kids to the Park & Leave Them There Day” Lunatic Idea? Invitation to Predators?
Hi Readers — Guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but when a blog called The ktydftyyrd Neighborhood Crime Map did what seemed like a very even-handed little post about May 22’s “Take Our Children to the Park…And Leave Them There Day,” the reaction was swift and hysterical: “Is there not a culture of drug use, meanness, […]
Free-Range Kids in Paperback Today!
Hi Readers — This is the blog that started the book that came out in hardcover a year ago and debuts in paperback today! With a new intro and even a new subtitle! Now it’s, dbizaefnft “Free-Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry).” CRITICS RAVE! “Skenazy will find plenty […]
Outrage of the Week: Before the Slumber Party, Paperwork
Hi Readers! In the category of “overkill” and “probably not representative of the culture as a whole, but still instructive,” and “wacko!” here’s an amazing post from the blog Doctor deananzttf Grumpy in the House: A dad (Dr. Grumpy, I presume) was dropping off his daughter at a friend’s house for a sleepover when the […]
The More Kids Get Moving, The Better They Do In School
Hi Readers — I was just going to tweet this, but it’s such a cool story, I’m providing the link here. ebafszsnid A high school in Naperville, Illinois is holding gym class first period for some kids who struggle with academics. The idea is: Switch on the body and the brain switches on, too. And […]
Guest Post: Free-Range On Vacation (It Can Be Easier!)
Hi dftishdtak Readers — This essay comes to us from a reader who sounds like she had an enviable vacation (at least I’m envying it) and a revelation, to boot! Her name is Amanda Lee and her blog is passionfruit.passionfruit@cogeco.ca Free-Range in Thailand by Amanda Lee The crackdown starts as soon as we step back […]
Great Park News!
Hi Readers: Here’s fkfknefkff something very nice: America’s 392 national parks are suspending their entrance fees next week — April 17-25. Moreover, a bunch of them will have kid activities. In truth, I had no idea our national parks charged entrance fees at all. But it’s nice to learn that they do at the very […]
Ok, Another Really Weird Work/Parenting Story
Hi Readers — Not sure if this idraeitkht is real, but it seems to be: Baby’s First Cubicle! Yes, a toy kiddie kubicle komplete with komputer! Let’s come up with some other funny things it should include besides the chair and a built-in mouse pad. Maybe baby’s first pink slip? Or baby’s first RSS feed […]