Lenore Skenazy

"While showering my kindergartener last week, I reached in to rinse is hair, and he stopped my hand and said, 'No, Mommy. Let Grow. I can do it myself.'" -- Proud Mom Jill S. Right on, kid! #LetGrow!

Proud to be on this podcast with the man who made me understand the incredible value of free play -- and how much kids are learning even when not being "taught." That is, the inspirational Peter Gray: wayfaremagazine.org/p/raising-chil…

MODERN LIFE FOR PARENTS: "I get two different sets of weekly emails (one from the classroom teachers, one from the school), plus there’s a  PTO email list, an occasional announcement email list, an informal Whatsapp group, a formal Whatsapp group and at least one, maybe two, electronic portals I think I’m supposed to be checking." So long as no one sleeps there should be plenty of time to keep up!

And yet, poll released this week by American Home Shield found 59% of Americans won't let their kids play w/ neighborhood kids. Gee, I wonder why kids spend so much time online. Letgrow.org is trying to renormalize childhood. Including playing w/ neighbors.

There’s nothing wrong with girls’ preferring dance or music to sports. It’ll probably save them some injuries, writes @LindaFlanagan2 on.wsj.com/47X0O1j

LOVE this @Parents piece on worldwide parenting norms. "The American attitude that kids need to be monitored at all times would balk, but in Japan, kids get themselves to and from school—either by walking or by public transit—as young as 5." More here: bit.ly/4bSLbKF

Wow! I'm at the Henry Ford Museum's car safety exhibit. Read that caption! I swear I didn’t write it!

Friend just got a note from his kid's pre-k. With thunderstorm coming, a therapist was offering free Zoom session to help kids deal w/ stormy weather. Strike anyone else as emblematic of our era?

Join @FreeRangeKids and @DrCamiloOrtiz (co-developer of Independence Therapy for child anxiety) on Mar. 25 at 7PM EST for a Let Grow webinar on how giving kids more freedom can spark growth, confidence, and resilience for kids AND parents. Register now! bit.ly/4uz6cBp

In 2008, 62% of teachers said they were very satisfied with their job. In 2022, that dropped to 12%. We've got a serious problem brewing in education...

Eating grilled cheese with tomato soup and realizing: this is just pizza in another form.

Bravo, AI, which listened to an hour-long speech of mine and summed it up rather brilliantly, only missing a few points, which I added in CAPS. So: The speaker is an author, syndicated columnist, and co-founder of the nonprofit Let Grow. Known as "America's Worst Mom," the speaker gained national attention for allowing their nine-year-old son to navigate the New York City subway system alone. The central argument is that modern culture has dramatically curtailed childhood independence, which is negatively impacting children's development. Children have an innate need and capacity for unstructured, unsupervised "free play" [AND AUTONOMY], which allows them to build empathy, executive function, and the ability to navigate the world without adult intervention. Drivers of Parental Over-Supervision The speaker identifies four primary factors that contribute to the current climate of over-supervision: "Worst-First" Thinking: Parents often anticipate the worst-case scenario and treat it as a likely outcome, which keeps children from engaging in normal, independent activities. Media Influence: Constant exposure to the 24-hour news cycle and true-crime content drives irrational fear, making parents feel that children are in constant danger. Litigious Culture: Fear of lawsuits influences organizations, such as schools, to mitigate liability. Marketplace Exploitation: The economy often profits from parental anxiety by marketing unnecessary safety products—such as baby knee pads, and tracking devices—which reinforce the belief that children require constant protection and monitoring. [THAT WAS MY 4th REASON PARENTS ARE SO WORRIED: A BELIEF THAT WE **CAN** CONTROL EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO OUR KIDS.] The Impact on Families and Children Constant supervision can create a cycle where parents and children feel insecure, as adults monitor every aspect of a child's day. There is a clear correlation between the decrease in independent free play and the increase in anxiety and depression among children. When parents use tracking devices to constantly "check" on their children, they are essentially accommodating their own anxiety rather than building the trust muscle necessary to foster independence. The Let Grow Approach The speaker proposes two main strategies for restoring childhood independence: The Let Grow Experience: This school-based program gives children the assignment to perform one new, independent task outside the home {EVERY MONTH] with parental permission but without parental supervision. Encouraging Free Play: Parents can facilitate play clubs or neighborhood pacts that allow children to gather in public spaces—such as parks or courtyards—without adult interference, snacks, or structured activities. [SO CAN SCHOOLS!] The speaker emphasizes that while the initial shift toward independence can be scary for parents, it is the only way to move from fear to pride, as children successfully demonstrate their ability to manage their own lives. NOTE FROM REAL LENORE, NOT AI: HERE ARE THE **FREE** INDEPDENCE-and-FREE-PLAY-BUILDING SCHOOL PROGRAMS FROM LET GROW: letgrow.org/program/educat…

PARENTS of kids 5 - 13: Do you let your kids play with the other kids in the neighborhood, unsupervised?

Principal's note: “Here’s to warmer weather! Please remind students they should not arrive before 8:40 AM, as there is no supervision on the playground prior to that time." PLEASE REMIND PRINCIPAL THIS IS NUTS. Better idea: Start a Let Grow Play Club! letgrow.org/program/play-c…

The red tape strangling childhood: letgrow.org/why-kids-cant-…