The Fear That Crept ‘Round the World

Hi Readers — Here’s a letter from Korea (where my book was just published in translation!). What’s upsetting is how parental paranoia seems to be creeping around the world, like a virus. — L. Dear Free-Range Kids: I’m an elementary/middle school English teacher in South Korea, arguably one of the safest countries in the world. Here, [...]

Let Counselors Hug Campers!

Hi Folks — Here’s my ParentDish column on the sexualization of hugging. Ugh!!

A Sweet, Simple Moment (That Nonetheless Made Me Cry)

Hey Readers — Just a nice summer note from a gal named Lynn: Dear Free-Range Kids: So, last week were were out camping at Chincoteague, VA, and my kids and a man with four kids ranging in age from about 5 to maybe 10 or 11 were in the pool.  The man with the four kids [...]

Free-Range Fracas in England!

Hi Readers — England has been in a tizzy about a Free-Range family since last week.  A family I support! Here, London’s Jennifer Howze weighs in. Jennifer is a partner in the online social network British Mummy Bloggers, and she’s lead blogger on the Times of London’s parenting blog Alpha Mummy . Free-Range in London: What’s a [...]

If A Tree Falls…

Hi Readers — Last week I wrote a piece on ParentDish about the tragedy that happened here in New York: A mom was holding her 6-month-old, posing for her husband to take a photo just outside the Central Park Zoo, when a tree branch fell killing the baby and seriously injuring the mom. Horrible. My [...]

Fight Fat with Free-Range?

Hey Readers — Take a look at this column by Glenn Cook in The Las Vegas Review Journal, “The Obesity Cure: Free Range Kids.” I know we are not all positive that there IS an obesity epidemic or, if there is, what its root causes are, but I think we can all agree that most kids [...]

Advice Needed: What to Do About Drugs at the Playground?

Hi Readers — Just got this letter today and what’s cool is that the writer, Aaron, is asking for your input, not just mine. That’s good because I don’t have a lot of advice for this fellow, except, “Alert the police.” So — let’s see what other great ideas are out there! — L. Dear [...]

A Free-Range Bundle of Joy!

Hi Readers — Here’s a cute letter from a new mom: Dear Free-Range Kids I”ve thought of your book often during this first month of parenthood.  Thought you might want to know that I have: 1) Left my baby in his Pack and Play while I…….stepped outside to get the mail!!!!! 2) Put my baby [...]

How Does A Free-Range Parent Deal with an Ex Who Isn’t?

Hi Free-Rangers: Do we have some advice for this fellow? If so, let’s share it! — L Dear FRK: I have embraced Free Range parenting.  Unfortunately my ex-wife and mother of our four children is afraid to let our 8-year-old out of her sight, and plays the “What if?” game: “What if he is attacked by [...]

Needed! NYC Parent Who’d Like A Free-Range Tutorial This Friday!

Hi Readers — I’m working on a project that may (or, alas, may not) involve me interacting with real world moms and dads and kids, giving some Free-Range tips and having fun (and drinking their coffee and eating their cookies). And guess what? The try-out phase is FRIDAY! Yes indeed, this Friday afternoon. So if [...]