Farewell to a Home-Baked Friend

More bake sale news. This time, a goodbye to all homemade treats at a Long Island school — complete with a farewell cake. Maybe instead of selling cupcakes, kids in afterschool clubs can sell their blood? — Lenore

Not to Worry!

Hi Readers — Here’s a great article from Parade Magazine by the Freakonomics folks, all about how we fear the wrong things. Allow us to quote one particularly salient paragraph (or two, actually): There are any number of topics about which our fears run far out of proportion to reality. For instance, whom are you [...]

Not Every Country Bubblewraps Its Kids

Hi Readers — It’s hard to believe, but the rest of the world is not exactly like America except with different condiments at McDonald’s. Here’s a note from far away: Dear Free-Range Kids: We have definitely tried to embrace as much of the Free-Rangeness as possible into our kids’ life. One twist we have is that [...]

Are TSA Employees Really Molesting Our Babies?

Folks, this is one of those stories where I am appalled by both sides and, for good measure, by a lot of the reactions, too. Long story short: A mom went through airport security with her baby. The baby’s pacifier clip set off the alarm. But rather than just saying , “These things happen,” and re-sending [...]

Kid Streaks at Football Game, Now Could Be “Sex Offender”

Hi Readers: Yes, one of two kids who streaked at his local high school football game could now be required to register as a sex offender. Same list you’d find Jaycee Dugard’s rapist on. But, hey, it’s only for 10 years! Only 10 years of not being allowed to live near a school or park. [...]

Our Kids Get Lessons on Every Danger, And Yet…

Hi Readers — Here’s a comment that got me thinking.   Dear Free-Range Kids: My sons came home from school the other day with a letter informing parents that there would a Healthy Eating talk given to all groups. This comes less than a month after a talk on the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases that [...]

A Repulsive Ad About “Child Safety”

This ad isn’t new, but I just have to say: It is repulsive. Repulsive in that it reinforces the belief that if you do so much as to turn around for a sec to get something out of the stroller, your child could be abducted. Repulsive in that, in order to sell batteries, Duracell is happy [...]

Good News! About A Girl & A Bike!

Sometimes, things go the RIGHT way.  Here’s a story about a girl who wondered why she couldn’t bike to school. When her mom told her it was because the city needed sidewalks, she got to work!

Support the Eagle Scout Suspended for Pen Knife

Earlier today I posted about the the Eagle Scout suspended from school because he kept his grandpa’s  pen knife in his car.  I’d asked if someone more technie than me could start a petition and voila! You folks came through! Sign away! In case you need it to pass along — please do! – here is [...]

Aieee! Worse Than Cub Scout/Utensil Story!

Oh my my my.  This story hits me in the pit of my stomach and I’d love someone more tech-savvy than me to start a “HELPMATTHEW.COM” site like the one the mom started for her son Zachary, who was suspended for 45 days for bringing his Cub Scout eating utensil to school. This story is [...]