Free Range Kids and America's Worst Mother

Here's a new way to look at things. Lenora Skenazy, a columnist from the New York Sun, has initiated a movement against protectionism in parenthood. She calls it the Free Range Kids movement and it’s gathering some real momentum from the looks of thing. The free range philosophy supports the belief that we should spend less time coddling and more time letting go. Labeled “America’s Worst Mom” by some, I think she may be on to something. Check it out on her blog.

My favorite quote: “Children, like chickens, deserve a life outside the cage. The overprotected life is stunting and stifling, not to mention boring for all concerned.”

Via 43f

Comments

[isles]

I think this is great - a move away from the helicopter parent and the "safer than thou" superiority thing. Assuming a kid is ready, there is no substitute for being entrusted with real autonomy.

[Writing Military Mom]

Sure, but what about when she let her 9-year-old make his way home on the subway completely by himself with no cell phone? I think she is the worst mother, quite frankly. There is not helicopter parenting and then there is stupidity, quite frankly.