This video of John Stossel’s is going viral — as it should! It shows how crazy our country can sometimes be when an onlooker thinks all unsupervised kids are automatically in danger, no matter WHAT the actual circumstances. And then what can happen when the cops agree!
TWO BIG CAVEATS:
1 — This is still rare enough that it makes news. Yes, we are trying to change the laws so it NEVER happens, but thank goodness it is not an everyday thing. And of course, the more that kids play outside again, the more seeing a kid outside becomes renormalized!
2 – The piece does not mention LET GROW, but that is the nonprofit that grew out of Free-Range Kids and works tirelessly to change the culture of fear. I am its president — have been for 7 years! And I am its co-founder along with Jonathan Haidt, Daniel Shuchman and Peter Gray. Please visit us there to find out your local laws and how to work with us to change them, if need be!*
*NOTE: Texas, where Heather was arrested, is one of the states where we changed the Child Protective Services law (so her kids could not be taken away) but where we have not yet changed the Criminal Law (which is why she could be arrested). To support our legal efforts — it’s not easy to pass a law! — please consider a donation to Let Grow!