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.
Free-Range Kids
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.
Cops Harass Parents Who Let 6-Year-Old Daughter Take a Walk Outside, Arrest Dad
He did "what any dad would—he went to hug his crying kid," says former town councilman Keith Kaplan.
Social Media Making Kids Depressed? Send Them Outside To Play
When society criminalizes outdoor independence, it makes smart phone addiction more likely.
Cop Orders Reporter To Leave a Park for Daring To Interview a Child
Normal human interaction should not automatically be considered creepy or criminal.
Connecticut Parents Arrested for Letting Kids, Ages 7 and 9, Walk to Dunkin' Donuts
"I have never felt threatened by a single person in this town until meeting those officers and the social worker."
Cops Question Connecticut Mom Who Let 7-Year-Old Walk a Mile
"She is way too young to be walking this distance by herself," said the cops.
Top 10 Attacks on Free-Range Parenting in 2022
Overbearing CDC guidance, pointless calls to the police, and more.
CPS: Mom Can't Let Her 3 Kids—Ages 6, 8, and 9—Play Outside by Themselves
Pearisburg, Virginia, social services says kids must be watched—at all times—until they turn 13.
Suburban Mom Handcuffed, Jailed for Making 8-Year-Old Son Walk Half a Mile Home
Heather Wallace plead guilty to child endangerment and can no longer work with kids.
Are We Still Awed by the Heavens?
A dimming sky and overprotective parents make it harder for today's kids to observe the great expanse.
Federal Government Still Tells Kids To Wear Masks on Halloween, For COVID-19 Safety
"Keep safe from COVID by following CDC advice to wear a mask."
Maryland Law Prohibits Grandmothers From Giving Bunk Beds to Foster Kids
"Where is she going to put the grandkids if she doesn't create a bunkbed situation?"
A School District Cancels A Beloved Halloween Parade Over Stranger-Danger Nonsense
School officials also cited concerns that the parade excludes children whose families do not celebrate Halloween, or whose parents cannot attend the event.
No, That Isn't 'Rainbow Fentanyl' in Your Kid's Candy Stash
"I'm skeptical that [dealers] would try to target children where there is not an existing market," says Sally Satel.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Warns About Unsafe 'Back-to-Schooling'
You're more likely to be struck by a meteor than to have your kid abducted by a stranger.
Mom Who Let Her 7-Year-Old Play at the Park Will Not Be Added to Arizona's Unfit Parent Registry
A Tucson mother who briefly left two kids alone while she ran an errand won a temporary reprieve in court.
A Mom Let Her 7-Year-Old Play in the Park. Arizona Arrested Her and Banned Her From Working With Kids.
Sarra's name was added to the government's official list of unfit caretakers after she briefly ran an errand without her kids in tow.
Does the Government Really Need To Help Parents Spy on Their Kids?
A robust market of monitoring technology already exists. There's no need to boost it further by government fiat.
NYC Has 98 Closed Playgrounds, Despite Mayor Eric Adams' Pledge
The mayor promised to reopen city playgrounds, but more of them are currently closed than before he took office.