Readers — As much as anything, this blog is dedicated to the idea that we MUST use our brains and compassion and not blindly follow orders that exist only to avoid liability or blame. So take a look at what happened to these girls at their school’s field day. (Warning: The pictures are painful!) The girls were kept out in the sun and severely burned, to the point where the adults at the school were noticing and commenting. Later, the principal explained her…what’s it called in a war when you don’t stand up and fight for justice? …her that. Her…
Author: lskenazy
Hi Folks! Here’s the lastest listing of Free-Range potluck picnics coming up this Saturday, June 23, with the newest ones on top. If you’d like to host one, just put the who/what/when/where/RSVP info in the comments and I’ll post one last blast before Saturday. – L. TORONTO – GTA WHERE: Oriole Park, Yonge & Davisville in Toronto DATE: Saturday June 23 TIME: Noonish until mid afternoon BRING: Kids ready to meet new friends, a picnic lunch for your family, bathing suits for anyone who wants to use the wading pool/splash pad. INFO/RSVP: Folks can email ebardon@gmail.com for questions and more…
Hi Folks! Just found this post buried in my “to put on blog” cue. Sorry it’s so long after the Time Mag cover (which cover? You KNOW which cover) and the “Take Our Kids to the Park…and Leave Them There Day” piece. Anyway — after the umpteenth question and comment about Free-Range “versus” Attachment Parenting, I wrote one commenter this note. He had asked, “Have you seen any correlation, either positive or negative, between Attachment Parenting and Free-Range? Or do the bubblewrap/helicopter parents you see tend to be the Attachment Parenting parents?” My answer . I have, thank goodness, no…
Hi Readers — Kids at an elementary school in England were all set for a big bang: The chief “starter” for the London Olympics agreed to kick off the races at their school with his official starting gun, according to The Telegraph. Then the local council said: Put the gun down and back off slowly. They deemed the noise from the gun would be too frightening for the kiddies. As an alternative, first they suggested a RECORDING of the gun be used instead. (Huh? Yeah. They did.) Then they settled on the starter using a Klaxon. Because Klaxons don’t kill…
Hi Folks! Here’s a heartfelt letter from a mom haunted by the horrible stories we hear all the time (sometimes decades later) of murdered children. Though she said in subsequent, very sweet notes to me that she doesn’t want any help, and is raising her kids the way she feels is right — as are we all! — I’m wondering if you have any kind words that might help her feel a little less pessimistic about strangers. Dear Free-Range Kids: I was a Free-Range Kid. I understand the theory behind letting your kids Free-Range. I even support and feel…
Hi Folks! Here’s a heartening letter from Susan in the Northwest, below. And, on another not: Not to worry — I’ll be blogging AND vlogging and figuring out new ways to get the Free Range message out. I’m always looking for ideas and suggestions and sometimes…help. For instance, if anyone wants to research a topic like comparing two schools — one with a “background check required” policy for volunteers and one without, to see if the checks make any REAL difference (Is the school safer? Do fewer parents volunteer?) — that would be great. Grad students? Sociologists? Anyone? Drop a…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp4yfHTR3Gc
youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBTlTS2rYoI?rel=0&w=560&h=315 Hey Readers — So I’m starting to “vlog.” Be gentle! Meantime, here’s the piece about the town that just voted to require background checks for those nefarious ice cream men, and here’s a note from the post about “If You are Male You are Under Suspicion” that shows how background check mania is spreading: My hubby who has been coaching our boys hockey for 16 years just received a letter from our police to come in and submit fingerprints in order for him to continue coaching. The new policy requires this. Fingerprinting!! Never mind that we already…
Hi Folks! In the interest of us starting to find each other AND have fun, Sat., June 23 is Free-Range Picnic Day! I’m hosting one in Monroe, New York (an hour and 20 mins from the city — reachable by car or bus), and some of YOU are hosting picnics, too! Below are the invites so far. If you would like to organize a picnic in YOUR neck of the woods — great. Just put the info in a comment, below. In a few days I’ll post about this again, with all the latest parties. Welcome summer! LENORE’S POTLUCK PICNIC:…
Hi Folks — Two letters I got, two days apart: Dear Free-Range Kids: I have always wanted to have something to share about my experience as a Free-Range Kid parent, but today I don’t get to do that. My story is of how the 9 or 10-year-old girl from down the street came over and said she can only play if my wife is at home. I said “Oh, really?” and marched her home and confronted her mom and sure enough, it’s not acceptable for me to be the only parent in the house when she over. “It’s to protect…