this is probably outdated by now, but I just came across the "free range kids" webpage. I remember growing up this way. I hope to do the same with ours. Is anyone using this philosophy?
as much as I can with a 4 year old. I love it! I don't want to be one of those moms whose kid is in college and still doesn't know how to do laundry or walk themselves to class.
Have you ever seen The Sand Lot? The mom has a great line:
"I want you to get out into the fresh air and make some friends.
Run around, scrape your knees, get dirty.
Climb trees, hop fences.
Get into trouble, for crying out loud.
Not too much, but some. You have my permission."
I think that sums it up!
She has a book too.
I am not sure what has snapped in parents these days. Yes bad things happen but they happen even when parents are watching their kids. Every one of my kids has always been allowed the freedom they have earned.
I read the other thread and some of those comments were insulting. It is not easier to let your kids have responsibility. It is much easier to hover around them, it may be more time consuming but definitely easier.
It was scary as heck the first time I let my kids walk to their friends house. It is only a couple blocks but I starred at that phone until it rang that they had made it.
My older two are now 21 and 23. They are shocked at how hard it is for their friends to think for themselves. They are always being asked to make decisions for them. They used to get so mad at me because I used to make them work out their own problems yet now that their friends come to them they do the same thing. Kinda sad that my kids are parenting their friends since their parents didn't bother to do the same.
The world is no more dangerous than it was a 100 years ago. The only thing that has changed is we know what is going on because of the news and the internet. Yeah cars are faster and people don't pay attention but all you have to do is teach your kids to stay the heck away from the streets. Riding a bike was the only thing I did not allow my children the same freedom I had but all things considered I think that was reasonable.
Does that mean - just let them play?
If so, YES!
Kids, go outside and play!
I try to be as much as possible. In fact my goal today is to sit on the couch as much a possible and make them figure things out for themsleves :)
If this means don't micromanage every second of your child's life, every molecule of air that goes into their lungs, every morsel of food that goes into there mouths, less structure, more free time, no stranglehold of control over who they turn out to be.....then yes, I do that too.
:)
I have not seen the site or read the books, but I do try to give my kids the freedom to just be kids. I am not as care free with it as my mom was, but I live in the city, when I was a kid I lived in the country. Once we are able to buy our land and get out of town my kids will be free range.
There was a thread on this exact topic just a few days ago. Try searching for it.
Not exactly, but plan on raising mine like my mom raised me. I think she did a great job and will emulate her as much as possible. I could ride my bike to the park about five blocks away to practice tennis on the back board or just to swing. We played in the road, rode bikes without helmets etc
I won't be letting 5year olds go down the road to a friends house by themselves though. Not at that age.
I do let my kids do as much as they can on their own and I try not to hover, but I'm not comfortable letting my kids play or bike alone in the street. Many of our neighbors do, but I'm just too nervous to let them. My oldest is only 5.5, but I'm not sure I'll even let her do it when she is 6 or 7. It seems like about twice every year there are reports in our local paper of adult men trying to get a child to get in the car with them. There are also drunk drivers and distracted drivers.... Maybe I'm sounding like 'one of those fearful parents.'?? We are in a semi urban area so maybe I'd feel differently if we were in the country. Other than allowing them to play in the street or wander the neighborhood alone, I try to let them take on social responsibilities, let them speak up for themselves in public and work out their own problems on the playground (with a little guidance if they really need it.)
Never heard of "free range kids." Can someone explain.
If you like this topic, check out the book "The Blessing of a Skinned Knee". It's all about how we are actually crippling our children b/c we don't let them experience the natural ebb and flow of life. It's a quick read and worth the afternoon on the deck!
