President of Let Grow, the nonprofit promoting childhood independence and free play. Founder of the Free-Range Kids movement (and book!). Former New York Daily News reporter.
On yesterday's webinar, "Give the Gift of Independence," attendees came from Australia, Mexico, Canada, Kenya, Costa Rica, Holland, Brazil & Venezuela.
PARENTS AROUND THE WORLD want to let their kids start doing more on their own!
Here's our free guide: https://letgrow.org/four-weeks-guide/
.@JonHaidt & @Catherine_Price on @MorningJoe talking about their new book, The Amazing Generation. SO GOOD!
Goal is not DEPRIVING kids of phones. It's about OPENING THE DOOR and LETTING THEM HAVE FUN & MEANING IN REAL LIFE.
(@LetGrowOrg's goal, too!)
https://www.ms.now/morning-joe/watch/the-amazing-generation-is-a-guide-to-fun-and-freedom-in-a-screen-filled-world-2476612163960
"My 8-y.o. has been experimenting w/ tiny moments of independence. The look on his face says it all. I realized that independence is an important thing to teach my children." - @BusinessInsider
For help letting go, visit LetGrow.Org!
Bill Maher is singing the Free-Range Kids / Let Grow tune! Give kids back more independence, free play --
And acorns!
New legal troubles for dad convicted of a FELONY for letting his sons, 7 & 10, walk home from the store.
Younger one ran into street, died.
There but for the grace of God go any of us who have ever let our kids walk home.
Now dad faces new hearing:
https://reason.com/2025/12/04/new-legal-trouble-for-a-father-still-mourning-his-son/
How to Raise Confident Kids in an Age of Anxiety
My chat with @tedtalks' Whitney Pennington Rogers.
I know that lots of parents feel HAPPIER after hearing how we have been almost BRAINWASHED into excessive fear for our kids by a culture of catastrophizing:
Teach your kids to
TALK TO STRANGERS!
It'll make them SAFER, writes Kaili Colford in @TodaysParent:
https://www.todaysparent.com/family/i-let-my-kids-talk-to-strangers/
@LetGrowOrg
Fun listening! Me & Rusty Keeler @EarthPlay discuss:
"From bus stop debates to AirTag sneakers, the cultural shift from trust to tracking, and how we can turn it around. You’ll hear why every child deserves the chance to say, 'I did it myself!'”
BRILLIANT ARTICLE on what KIDS lose out on when we TRACK THEM:
"Is it really about their safety — or is it about protecting our own peace of mind at their expense?"
by
@KJezerMorton
https://thecut.com/article/kids-location-sharing-tracking-each-other.html?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email_acq&utm_campaign=helicopter_cut&ueid=88ea09ba12c5ff6d3bc694d6a8019867&utm_term=Secondary%20Marketing%20List:%20The%20Cut%20-%20Parenting%20Interest
Why was ONLINE SPORTS GAMBLING legalized?!
“Gambling today isn’t the occasional casino trip; it’s a high-speed, high-dopamine system on your phone. We’re seeing more people slip into addiction...because the platforms remove natural stopping points."
https://addictionresource.net/blog/common-behavioral-addictions/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Brilliant Dr. Samantha Boardman on "HOLIDAY STRESS"
"By constantly discussing & preparing for holiday stress, we’re TRAINING OURSELVES TO EXPERIENCE IT. We’ve created a script that tells us the holidays should be overwhelming, & then we dutifully perform our part."
. @JonHaidt and @BariWeiss discuss why kids don't need phones...but DO need independence!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-LYki9pABw&list=PL8RMFyRb2PguHhsO2iYsmzn5v-5SXRv3_
@LetGrowOrg
A 19 yo Reflects on How Her Let Grow/ Free-Range Childhood Made her Strong:
"Now, as someone on the cusp of being an adult, I do not doubt my abilities to travel freely as a young woman..."
https://letgrow.org/let-grow-success-story-magdalene/
#Occidental @LetGrowOrg
RESEARCHERS!
Jonathan Haidt and Yejin Park Roberts are hoping for more studies of the mental health impact of FREE PLAY! (As opposed to adult-run activities, like soccer.)
"In the meantime," they write, "if you are a parent, teacher, school administrator, or state legislator, we encourage you to visit Let Grow for simple, low-cost, low-risk ways to give kids more free play & independence. The research we have reviewed suggests it is likely to be beneficial."
https://www.afterbabel.com/p/free-play-and-mental-health-what
You will love this!
"I was so bored, I started a Play Club."
12 yo gets his friends together -- parents inside, kids outside -- and life gets BETTER!
https://letgrow.org/i-was-so-bored-i-started-a-play-club-guthrie-age-12/
Tnx to @LetGrowOrg
Honored to be the first "re-broadcast" ever, on pediatrician Dr. Jessica Hochman's "Your Child is Normal" podcast!
"Why Giving Kids More Freedom Makes Them Stronger"
Attn
@LetGrowOrg
GREAT, hope-giving, mind-opening piece by @DrCamiloOrtiz & Julia Martin Burch: A primer on how independence can inoculate kids against anxiety!
AND it makes life easier for PARENTS, too!
You can start doing it today!
Inspired by @LetGrowOrg!
Ask any 3rd grade teacher & they'll tell you "up to 1/4 of their kids can’t read at grade-level or share markers w/out a meltdown. Half [can be] flagged for behavior/reading/ADHD issues, maybe thanks to eliminating movement & play in favor of academics."
https://bit.ly/4hMiNvd
Since when do towns get to declare the HOURS (& DATE) of Halloween?!
It's not a state-sponsored activity. It's a TRADITION.
It can go past 6 p.m.!
It can occur ON THE 31st and not, for some reason, in some towns, only on Oct 26 from 1 to 3!
@LetGrowOrg
"Overbooked and Overwhelmed"
How a lack of PLAY time (not organized sports time) is stressing/depressing kids.
@LetGrowOrg co-founder Peter Gray is, of course, cited! So is Vanessa Elias of #BlockPartyUSA!
One week she counted 37 pick-up/drop-offs!