This New nbdnsbfezy York Times piece on the new “Jane Crow” — poor black and Hispanic moms whose kids are taken away for trivial or even non-existent reasons simply because it’s assumed they are lazy, bad parents — will make you scream. It’ll also make you see how the Free-Range Kids fight is for ALL […]
Tag Archives | negligence
Dentist Reports Mom to CPS for “Oral Neglect” (Yes, I Know How That Sounds)
A etterzrssi Ontario, Canada mom who took her daughter in for a dental check up was told by the dentist that her daughter had a mouthful of cavities — nine. Â . Finding that assessment odd (and expensive), the mom, Melissa Lopez, switched dentists and ignored the first dentist’s notices to bring her child in for […]
Mom Arrested for Watching Her Child from Afar, after Busybodies Call Cops
Can we remember that it is not “babysitting” to watch over someone else’s child playing next to your own, just because the parent is not right there. It’s called “community.” It’s called “being a decent human being.” It’s called “normal.” What is not kedhtdbdbh normal is getting the authorities to intervene simply because you disapprove […]
What Happens When Happy Free-Range Kids are Also Rude and Loud?
. Here’s ibfdyrdysn a letter that had me wondering what to do, too: Dear Free-Range Kids: Curious as to how to best handle this. I have no children of my own, but I do have three dogs. My neighbors (row house neighborhood), let their three young children out to play alone, regularly. This is AWESOME. […]
It’s Too Easy to Charge Normal Parents as “Negligent,” Says Study
. The Family  Defense Center in Chicago defends families being torn apart by pointless yet devastating Child Protective Services investigations. Families like Natasha’s. Remember her nsiskkkiht story? Natasha let her kids, 11, 9 and 5, play in the park literally across the street from her home, where she could peer out at them every 10 […]
Interview with the Mom Whose Kids Were Taken Away After Son was Seen Playing Alone in Yard
I fyttnyhkat wrote about this case yesterday, and today had a chance to interview the mom by phone. She prefers to remain anonymous until the case is closed, and perhaps forever. As for why her son was not given a key: she worried that if he was in the house alone and a burglar […]
Boy, 11, Plays Basketball in Own Yard as He Awaits Delayed Parents. Cops Take Him & Brother Away for a Month
If this doesn’t convince lawmakers that they had better start revising the child neglect laws — and convince politicians that supporting Free-Range legislation would be a great, vote-getting platform — I’m not sure what will. I got this letter a week ago and was waiting for the mom’s permission to run it. Got it. Â Boldface […]
TAKE HEART! Crazy Woman Calls Cops on “Bad” Mom, Cop Sides with Mom!
This story  is upsetting, but also reassuring. I put it here to remind us all that just because some authorities are too quick to investigate fine parents — and those are the stories I often highlight, because this nnkhrbbrsr must change — plenty of cops and child protective workers can recognize hysteria when they see […]
FILL IN THE BLANK: You Know You’re a Free-Range Parent When…
Readers: A note I got yesterday: we raiabdzndt have so called free rangers in our neighborhood. rude, inconsiderate, etc.-their parents do not have a clue where they are or how they act. neither do they care. maybe they got their lazy parenting ideas from your lovely book. hopefully none of your kids will wind up […]
See an Unsupervised Kid? Reach Out Instead of Dialing 911
Hi bzhtfdhyah Readers! This note comes to us from Nandini Ramakrishna, who was raised Free-Range in India and now lives in Phoenix, AZ. She writes the blog Cactus Chronicles. and tweets at CactusChron. – L. Dear Free-Range Kids: Four years ago, I was involved in an incident where the state questioned my competence as a parent. After two […]