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 […]
Tag Archives | recess
Dangerous Playground Structure Suddenly Not Dangerous
Hey Readers — You may recall this drdsskzrst post from two weeks ago about playground equipment purchased by a Fairfax, VA, PTA from a reputable manufacturer that was installed at a local grammar school over the summer and then suddenly declared “unsafe.” Since Nov. 30 it had been wrapped up in tape of every sort […]
How to Bring Fun Back to Recess? Ideas Needed!
Hi yndeasykiz Readers! Let’s help Bree! – L. Dear fellow Free-Rangers, I am thrilled to tell you that my daughter’s school is re-vamping recess to make it… FUN! That’s right, after years of cracking down on things like tag (no touching, someone might get hurt or feel violated), cartwheels (someone might get kicked), touch football […]
A Little Free-Range Moment at Recess
Hi betbzbeinh Folks! Just spoke at the Wellesley Mothers Forum — really fun. And now comes this nice note. Hope springs! – L Dear Free-Range Kids: I wanted to share with you my Free-Range moment with my fourth grade students. Â In Ontario, we’re experiencing some political unrest in our schools due to the legislation […]
Ball-Playing Banned for 15 Mins Before & After School
Hi Folks –Â A hzybsfinda school in Australia is banning balls for the 15 minutes before and after school because, according to The Age newspaper, a toddler was hit by a ball. Of course I feel bad for the toddler. But I feel far worse for the 600 kids at this school, Black Rock Primary, in […]
NYC Kids! Come to Central Park This Afternoon!
Hi Folks! My “I nnnirtzryk Won’t Supervise Your Kids” class begins today (Weds., Sept. 12) at 3:45 in Central Park. We’ll meet at 85th and Fifth Avenue. Any parents present will sign a waiver, “I don’t expect anyone — much less Lenore — to supervise my kids.” And then they leave, and so do I, […]
School Outrage of the Week: No Cartwheels Unless “Trained Gymnastics Teacher” Supervising
Hi Readers! If you send your kids to the Drummoyne publics grammar school in Sydney, kindly instruct them to stay upright their whole day, as cartwheels, head- and handstands are no longer allowed unless zaeibtaani  “under the supervision of a trained gymnastics teacher and with correct equipment,”‘ according to the Local West Courrier. The ruling […]
This Is The Playground We Were Discussing the Other Day
Hi banehybrtt Readers! Remember the chat we all had about the playground closed for the winter because of the protective  cushioning frozen to unprotectiveness beneath it? Here it is in all its caution-tape glory! And a note from the mom who first brought the issue to our attention. – L Dear Free-Range Kids: Is a […]
Outrage of the Season: No Winter Recess, Safety Ground Cushioning “Too Hard”
Hi saytbrstni Readers! We are so concerned for our kids’ safety, the apparently the safety of our safety precautions isn’t safe enough, either. Read on. Â – L . Dear Free-Range Kids: It’s been a beautiful week in upstate New York, with temperatures nearing 60 mid-week. But students in my school district cannot play on their […]
Why Johnny Can’t Run
Hi trfzdenyea Folks! This is my piece that ran in last week’s Wall Street Journal. Have a good week (and some “vigorous activity”). – L. The Importance of Child’s Play by Lenore Skenazy A new study of how preschoolers spend their days may make you want to run around screaming, which is apparently more than […]