After Wrongful Diagnosis, Texas CPS Took This Baby Away
Thankfully, a judge reunited the Boatright family last week.
Free-Range Kids
Kids Are More Anxious. What If We Gave Them Independence?
Giving kids freedom doesn't just help children, says Lenore Skenazy, founder of the nonprofit Let Grow. It helps parents, too.
Mom Jailed for Letting 10-Year-Old Walk Alone to Town
"I was not panicking as I know the roads and know he is mature enough to walk there without incident," says Brittany Patterson.
This Mom Was Arrested and Jailed for Making Her Son Walk a Half-Mile Home
Media hysteria and overzealous governments have led many to believe that childhood independence is a form of abuse.
Kids Should Be Blindfolded and Dropped in the Woods at Night
In the Netherlands, kids grow up with more independence than in the United States.
British TV Star in Trouble With Child Services After Letting a 15-Year-Old Take a Trip
Kirstie Allsopp posted online about her teen son's trip around Europe. Then someone reported her to the government.
The Best of Reason: The Fragile Generation
Bad policy and paranoid parenting are making kids too safe to succeed.
Illinois Falsely Accused These Parents of Abusing Their Baby—and Now Won't Tell Them Who Actually Did It
"I never thought that this was even humanly possible," says Sabra Brucker.
Texas School Bans All-Black Clothing, Claims It's Associated With 'Mental Health Issues'
In a letter sent to parents, school officials say the clothing is more "associated with depression and mental health issues and/or criminality than with happy and healthy kids ready to learn."
Cops Threaten To Take Kids From Family Terrorized by Anti-Christian Reddit Group
Online trolls weaponized child protective services against J.D. and Britney Lott and their eight children.
Cops Called on 8-Year-Old Child for Being Outside
"Can a child not ride her bike on the street in this neighborhood anymore?"
'Independence Therapy' Could Revolutionize Treatment for Child Anxiety
A pilot study encouraged parents to let their kids go free-range.
Government Warns That Playground Equipment Gets Hot
Thanks for the heads up, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Elementary Schools Ban Tag, Football, and Fun During Recess
"It really feels as though maybe we've lost touch with what's developmentally appropriate," says one Montgomery County mom.
How Free-Range Kids Became an Answer on Jeopardy!
It took a lot of work to clear this quiz show milestone.
Do Schools Really Need To Give Parents Live Updates on Students' Performance?
This new school-to-parent pipeline allows parents to micromanage yet another aspect of their kids' lives.
Coddled Kids Become Depressed, Anti-Social College Students
Young people need independent play in order to become capable adults.
Parents Investigated for Letting 7-Year-Old Get a Cookie From the Store
"You just can't raise kids like that anymore—it isn't safe," the cops told the Widner family.
Iowa Court Clears Mom of Endangerment Charges After She Let Kids Babysit
"No parent can shield a child from all risks," the Iowa Supreme Court ruled.
Are Parents Too Involved in Their Adult Children's Lives?
A recent Pew survey says parents are "very involved in their young adult children's lives," but one might quibble with the definition of "very involved."
Toronto Schools Don't Want Children Harmed by the Solar Eclipse
More like total eclipse of the fun.
Even Canada Thinks the Nanny State Has Gone Too Far on Outlawing Fun
A new white paper from the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends more unstructured play time for kids.
Toronto Bans Tobogganing on 45 Hills, Puts Up Warning Signs
"The fear of liability is ruining modern childhood," says one mom.
Tim Carney: Why Aren't People Having More Kids?
Tim Carney discusses America's "baby bust" on the latest episode of Just Asking Questions.
10 Stories That Drove Free-Range Parents Crazy in 2023
And some good news, after all.
Take Care of Maya Verdict Could Help Mom Who Lost Kids After False Diagnosis
"People understand that these child abuse pediatricians have unlimited power," says Aaron Rapier, an attorney for the Kruegers.
How To Prepare Your College-Bound Kids for a Successful Launch
An excursion into Facebook groups for empty nesters shows many of them could use a hobby, a job, or even a straitjacket.
Kids at Oklahoma Football Games Must Sit With Their Parents
Students in four Oklahoma school districts are also required to wear their school ID on a lanyard and sit on their own team's side.
Just 15 Percent of Parents With Preteens Would Let Them Trick-or-Treat Alone
A new study shows the pervasiveness of helicopter parenting.
Teenage Trick-Or-Treaters Are Too Scary For These Cities
Across the country, ghoulish cities have outlawed teenage trick-or-treaters.
Meth-Laced Halloween Candy Is a Very Unlikely Danger for Kids
These kinds of poisonings are rare to nonexistent.
An 18-Year-Old Had Consensual Sex With a 16-Year-Old. He Went to Jail for 6 Years.
In her new book From Rage to Reason, Emily Horowitz explains what's wrong with the sex offense registry.
9-Year-Old Kidnapping Victim Charlotte Sena Recovered Safely
Let's celebrate her return without exaggerating the relevant dangers; stranger abductions are rare.
Town Closes Playground Due to Mouse Sighting
This could be just the tip of the (m)iceberg.
Playground Sign Outlaws 'Loitering at Slide Entry or Exit'
"This is literally a playground that's for 2- to 5-year-olds," says former preschool teacher Katie Courtney.
Momfluencer Sentenced to 90 Days in Jail Over False Kidnapping Report
"Nobody is abducting 1- and 4-year-old kids into sex trafficking," says the director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center.
Free-Range Kids in Virginia, Connecticut, and Illinois Celebrate a Very Special Independence Day
New reasonable childhood independence laws in these states will make it easier for parents to let children enjoy the holiday.
Resourceful Indigenous Kids Survive 40 Days in Amazon Jungle
In the U.S., we arrest parents who let their 8-year-olds walk half a mile.
Confused TikTok Mom Asks for Help When Random Child Comes Over To Play With Her Kid
"I don't know this kid, I don't know his mom, I don't know where he lives," she said in a viral video.
Review: Ash Ketchum Was a Free-Range Kid
In the Pokemon universe, there's no central government and vital social services are provided by informal clubs.
Court Clears Colorado Day Care Worker Accused of Child Abuse After Mundane Incident
"All I've been able to see for a little while was this trial," says Amy Lovato.
Teaching Kids To Swim Is a Great Way To Protect Them From Actual Danger
"Parents have told me that once their children learn to swim they have more confidence and self-esteem," says Joseph Brier, a swim instructor.
Even Kindergartners Should Be Allowed To Walk To School: Study
A new report finds that "most children benefit from some degree of independence by the time they are 5–6 years old."
Momfluencer Convicted of Falsely Reporting an Attempted Abduction of Her Kids
Her viral video received 4 million views—and the police's attention.
Mom Who Was Arrested for Letting 14-Year-Old Babysit Has Finally Been Cleared
"I didn't know if this would ever end," says Melissa Henderson. "I'm very relieved. A heaviness has lifted."
A 5-Year-Old Pulled Down a 3-Year-Old's Pants. The Preschool Workers Are on Trial.
"We are here because one preschooler pulled down another preschooler's pants," says defense attorney Jason Flores-Williams.
Flaco, New York City's Escaped Owl, Is a Flying Free-Range Metaphor
In just two weeks, he has learned to hunt and survive. There's a lesson there.
