Toddler Lost in Rough Neighborhood is Seized by A Man. Good!

Hi Readers — As disturbing as this story is, I love reader Tracey Rollison’s take on it. Voila:
Dear Free-Range Kids: I thought you might find this interesting: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/marion_county/Toddler-found-wandering-on-west-side .
A year-old child was found wandering around Saturday night near some corner stores.  This is in a rather rough area near downtown Indianapolis.  Strangers took care of her until police arrived and [...]

Zero Food Fight Tolerance

About two dozen eighth graders at a Chicago magnet school were arrested for cafeteria food fight.
I do love the idea of disciplining them for a food fight. Those fights are gross. But fingerprinting? A court date? Whatever happened to making them clean up and then good ol’ study hall for a week? Or have them tutor some [...]

“Supervision Doesn’t Mean Being Attached at the Hip”

Hi Readers — This comment,  from a gal named Elizabeth, puts things in perspective — especially when it comes to the current obsession with never letting go of our kids, ever. Not even for a minute. Literally.
Yes, free-range is about empowering children, no doubt. But it’s also about not living in fear and realizing that [...]

Defending Free-Range Parenting — in Divorce Court

Hi Readers — Allow me to introduce Rob, a dad headed for divorce court tomorrow. He sent this note asking whether I think what he did “proves” he is a bad dad, as claims his ex.
I have no idea who he is, why he got a divorce, or anything, really, other than the fact the [...]

A Baby, A Stranger, And Starbucks

Hi Readers! Want to know what happened?  Read on!
Dear  Free-Range Kids: It’s so inspiring to hear that there are others out there who refuse to freak out at every little thing.  I am a first time mom to a now 4-month-old and I don’t sterilize his pacifiers when he drops them on the ground, [...]

More Brilliance from Cracked

Hi Readers! I’m becoming a Cracked addict. (Har har. I’m sure NOBODY ever thought of that before.)
Anyway, here are the definitive, “7 Things Good Parents Do (That Screw Up Kids for Life).” I especially endorse the one about teaching kids about “stranger danger.” (The caption is still making me laugh.)  Enjoy! — Lenore

Hate to Say I Told You So…

Well, no I don’t. Secretly, I think we all love it. So, here’s a great article from CNN of all places (the network some dub the Child-Napping Network), all about how we have to get kids playing outside more, and schools have to give them more run-around time, too, instead of just more test prep. Otherwise [...]

Is It Really Wrong for A School Administrator to THINK?

Hi Readers — Here’s a fantastic article on the Cub Scout-with-a-spork story — the one where a 6-year-old was sentenced to 45 days in reform school for bringing his beloved fork/knife/spoon eating utensil to school. The article, by Mark Steyn (my former colleague when I worked at The New York Sun),  goes on to look [...]

Outrage of the Week: Maternity Ward Edition

Hi Readers! Here you go!
Dear Free-Range Kids: I just had my first child a couple of months ago and within a day had our first experience with extreme safety proponents. I was in the hospital and a friend had come to meet my son. We decided to go on a walk around the ward, just [...]

My Free-Range Lecture At Yale

Hi Readers!
This is an hour-long lecture I gave at Yale last month, about everything Free-Range. Just thought I’d put it up here. Looking at it has taught me a couple of things, perhaps most saliently:  My green jacket is way less cool than I thought it was. Also: Need haircut!
Anyway — here you go. (Somehow I [...]