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CALM AND CONNECTED - EPISODE 166How do you encourage your kids to be more independent? When do you as a parent step back to give them the space to step up? Lenore Skenazy joins Janine today to discuss some of these questions. They discuss: The importance of play and how it relieves stressBodily reaction to fear and avoidance to fearPlaying across mixed age groupsThe skills you learn when you play The Let Grow ProgramSetting tasks for your kids to do on their own without a parent there Passive kids and problem solving Kids having the concierge lifeHow Lenore likes to rest and relax About The Guest - Lenore SkenazyAfter her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore got the nickname “America's Worst Mom.” (Google it!) She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement that says our kids are smarter, safer, and stronger than our culture gives them credit for! Lenore has lectured everywhere from DreamWorks to Microsoft to Harvard Med School, Yale Child Study Center -- and the Bulgarian Happiness Festival! (For real.) On TV, you may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show or her own reality show, World's Worst Mom. In 2017 Lenore co-founded Let Grow, the nonprofit promoting childhood independence, with three others, including Jonathan “The Anxious Generation” Haidt. She is its president. Lenore lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her children are gainfully employed. (Phew!) And, for the record, she used to write for Mad Magazine. Yep. MAD. But now she's so serious that here is her piece on "Independence as Therapy" in The New York Times. Website - https://letgrow.org/For parents: https://letgrow.org/program/parents-and-families/For schools/teachers/admins/counselors: https://letgrow.org/program/educators/For therapists: https://letgrow.org/program/independence-therapy/Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/759938234394061About The Host - Janine HalloranJanine Halloran is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, an author, a speaker, an entrepreneur and a mom. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Janine has been working primarily with children, adolescents, and their families for over 20 years. She is the Founder of 'Coping Skills for Kids', where she creates products and resources to help kids learn to cope with their feelings in safe and healthy ways. Janine also founded 'Encourage Play' which dedicated to helping kids learn and practice social skills in the most natural way - through play!If you're interested in learning more about how to teach kids coping skills, download your free Coping Skills Toolkit:https://copingskillsforkids.com/newsletterIf you're interested in joining the Coping Skills Community Hub, an ever-expanding resource library and community of families and professionals teaching kids how to cope, learn more at https://copingskillsforkids.com/hubIf you'd like to purchase Janine's products, including the Coping Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Skills for Teens Workbook, Social Skills for Kids Workbook, Coping Cue Cards, and more, visit https://store.copingskillsforkids.com or https://amazon.com/copingskillsforkidsConnect with Janine on Social MediaInstagram: @copingskillsforkidsFacebook: facebook.com/copingskillsforkids and facebook.com/encourageplayYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JanineHalloranEncouragePlay
Reserve your free ticket now: mirasee.fm/movie (Limited screenings available.) Lenore Skenazy is the accidental pioneer of the “free-range kids movement” and literally wrote the book on the subject. Following that, she co-founded Let Grow, a nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience.“The real problem is that our culture has insisted that adults always be supervising kids.” — Lenore SkenazyAfter her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore Skenazy got the nickname “America's Worst Mom.” (Google it!) She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement that basically says OUR KIDS ARE SMARTER AND SAFER THAN OUR CULTURE GIVES THEM CREDIT FOR!Lenore has lectured everywhere from DreamWorks to Microsoft to Harvard Med School, Yale Child Study Center — and the Bulgarian Happiness Festival! (For real.) On TV, you may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show, or her own reality show, World's Worst Mom. Now Lenore is co-founder and president of Let Grow, the nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience. She lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her children are gainfully employed. (Phew!) And for the record, she used to write for Mad Magazine. Yep. MAD. But now she's so serious that here is her piece on "Independence as Therapy" in The New York Times.Tom “Teacher Tom” Hobson is an early childhood educator, international speaker, education consultant, teacher of teachers, parent educator, and author. He is best known, however, for his namesake blog, Teacher Tom's Blog, where he has posted daily for over a decade, chronicling the life and times of his little preschool in the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest corner of the USA.For nearly two decades, Teacher Tom was the sole employee of the Woodland Park Cooperative School, a parent-owned and operated school knit together by Teacher Tom's democratic, progressive play-based pedagogy. Teacher Tom came into teaching through the backdoor, so to speak, having enrolled his own child in a cooperative preschool, where he began working daily in his daughter's classroom as an assistant teacher under the tutelage of veteran educators — although he'll be the first to tell you that most of what he learned came from the children themselves. When it was time for his daughter to move on, he “stayed behind.”Today, Teacher Tom shares his play-based pedagogy through online e-courses for early childhood educators; produces online early childhood conferences; consults with organizations about his "Family Schools" program; and inspires early-years audiences around the world (Greece, UK, Iceland, Australia, China, Vietnam, New Zealand, Canada, and across the US) both virtually and in-person with his engaging views on early childhood education, play, and pedagogy.He was pressured by his blog readers into authoring his first book, aptly named Teacher Tom's First Book, and is thrilled about the 2023 release of Teacher Tom's Second Book.Resources, people, and websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeTom's website: TeacherTomsWorld.comLenore's nonprofit, Let Grow: LetGrow.orgLenore's email: Lenore@LetGrow.orgFor show notes, visit Presenting Teacher Tom's Podcast (Lenore Skenazy)The Let Grow Experience (a free independence-building curriculum for teachers/schools): https://letgrow.org/program/experience/The Let Grow Play Club (free implementation guide for schools, homeschools, YMCAs, churches, synagogues, etc., to create a "free play" program for kids):https://letgrow.org/program/play-club/Independence Therapy Manual (free manual for therapists and counselors on how to use independence to combat or prevent childhood anxiety): https://letgrow.org/program/independence-therapy/Pledge of Independence (pledge parents can take to receive one activity a week for 10 weeks to help them get comfortable giving their kids more independence, free): https://letgrow.org/program/pledge/Let Grow Kid License (free "license" kids can carry around when out and about on their own that says, "I'm not lost or neglected!" and gives the parents' phone number): https://letgrow.org/printable/letgrowlicense/Free-Range Kids book: https://amzn.to/3FT7bEwFree-Range Kids book, free chapter for educators: https://letgrow.org/free-chapter/ Jonathan Haidt
Lenore Skenazy is the author of Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow and is President of Let Grow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting play and independence in children and adolesecence. Ms Skenazy created quite a sensation after her article "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone" and got labeled "America's Worst Mom". This lead her to start Let Grow which is an invaluable resource for helping schools and parents promote healthy growth promoting independence in children. Her approach has the benefit of simplicity and common sense. By encouraging independent activity, you are promoting confidence and decreasing anxiety in your child. And it also happens to be fun. Pair this interview with the one I did last year with Camillo Ortiz, PhD who developed an innovative approach to helping anxious children by givng them mega doses of independence. Ms. Skenazy also helped Jonthan Haidt in his recent book Anxious Generation write the recommendations about how to correct a "phone based childhood" and return it to a "play based childhood". Let Grow website https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrFEIxplh1mPrQWQyNXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1714424681/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fletgrow.org%2f/RK=2/RS=UD_aH_MXQEBH_BBxdrHFYlXabIM-
Lenore Skenazy is the accidental pioneer of the “free-range kids movement” and literally wrote the book on the subject. Following that, she co-founded Let Grow, a nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience.“The real problem is that our culture has insisted that adults always be supervising kids.” — Lenore SkenazyAfter her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore Skenazy got the nickname “America's Worst Mom.” (Google it!) She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement that basically says OUR KIDS ARE SMARTER AND SAFER THAN OUR CULTURE GIVES THEM CREDIT FOR!Lenore has lectured everywhere from DreamWorks to Microsoft to Harvard Med School, Yale Child Study Center — and the Bulgarian Happiness Festival! (For real.) On TV, you may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show, or her own reality show, World's Worst Mom.Now Lenore is co-founder and president of Let Grow, the nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience. She lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her children are gainfully employed. (Phew!) And for the record, she used to write for Mad Magazine. Yep. MAD. But now she's so serious that here is her piece on "Independence as Therapy" in The New York Times.“Teacher Tom” Hobson is an early childhood educator, international speaker, education consultant, teacher of teachers, parent educator, and author. He is best known, however, for his namesake blog, Teacher Tom's Blog, where he has posted daily for over a decade, chronicling the life and times of his little preschool in the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest corner of the USA.For nearly two decades, Teacher Tom was the sole employee of the Woodland Park Cooperative School, a parent-owned and operated school knit together by Teacher Tom's democratic, progressive play-based pedagogy. Teacher Tom came into teaching through the backdoor, so to speak, having enrolled his own child in a cooperative preschool, where he began working daily in his daughter's classroom as an assistant teacher under the tutelage of veteran educators — although he'll be the first to tell you that most of what he learned came from the children themselves. When it was time for his daughter to move on, he “stayed behind.”Today, Teacher Tom shares his play-based pedagogy through online e-courses for early childhood educators; produces online early childhood conferences; consults with organizations about his "Family Schools" program; and inspires early-years audiences around the world (Greece, UK, Iceland, Australia, China, Vietnam, New Zealand, Canada, and across the US) both virtually and in-person with his engaging views on early childhood education, play, and pedagogy.He was pressured by his blog readers into authoring his first book, aptly named Teacher Tom's First Book, and is thrilled about the 2023 release of Teacher Tom's Second Book.Resources, people, and websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeTeacher Tom's website: TeacherTomsWorld.comLenore's nonprofit, Let Grow: LetGrow.orgLenore's email: Lenore@LetGrow.orgFor show notes, visit Presenting Teacher Tom's Podcast (Lenore Skenazy)The Let Grow Experience (a free independence-building curriculum for teachers/schools): https://letgrow.org/program/experience/The Let Grow Play Club (free implementation guide for schools, homeschools, YMCAs, churches, synagogues, etc., to create a "free play" program for kids):https://letgrow.org/program/play-club/Independence Therapy Manual (free manual for therapists and counselors on how to use independence to combat or prevent childhood anxiety): https://letgrow.org/program/independence-therapy/Pledge of Independence (pledge parents can take to receive one activity a week for 10 weeks to help them get comfortable giving their kids more independence, free): https://letgrow.org/program/pledge/Let Grow Kid License (free "license" kids can carry around when out and about on their own that says, "I'm not lost or neglected!" and gives the parents' phone number): https://letgrow.org/printable/letgrowlicense/Free-Range Kids book: https://amzn.to/3FT7bEwFree-Range Kids book, free chapter for educators: https://letgrow.org/free-chapter/ Jonathan Haidt
When Lenore Skenazy's son was nine, he asked her repeatedly if she would let him have a solo adventure in their hometown of New York City. Her son had a specific plan for this adventure: he wanted her to take him somewhere new in the city and then let him find his own way home. Lenore took the leap of faith, and when her son burst into their apartment later, he was practically “levitating with pride and joy” at what he had accomplished.Lenore then wrote an article in the New York Sun called “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” — and a media firestorm ensued. We'll let Lenore share more about that particular time, but she realized then how radical and important an idea it was for modern parents to “let go.” In 2017, Jonathan Haidt, co-author of The Coddling of the American Mind reached out to Lenore with two others, all of whom shared concerns about the increasing fragility they're seeing in young people in America, and the poor outcomes that follow. They went on to launch Let Grow, a non-profit organization that promotes childhood independence.Lenore's message is that parents can sometimes become compulsive about protecting children from every possible danger, but blind to the trade-offs: decreased independence, resilience, social skills, and creativity, and increased anxiety and depression.But this message also has broader implications for our lives and our faith: while we often tend to try to micromanage everything with the mistaken belief that we can prevent anything bad from happening, deep faith can help us see that there's Something Bigger going on — and we don't always need to be in control.We found Lenore to be delightful—she's sharp, funny, and has profoundly important things to say for anyone interested in helping our next generations to be resilient and happy. We really hope you enjoy this conversation with Lenore Skenazy.———Subscribe to Wayfare here: wayfaremagazine.org
Welcome to Teacher Tom's Podcast, which is all about taking play seriously. In each episode, Teacher Tom supports early childhood educators, parents, and other listeners with information, techniques, and best practices to provide children with an authentic play-filled childhood.Lenore Skenazy is the accidental pioneer of the “free-range kids movement” and literally wrote the book on the subject. Following that, she co-founded Let Grow, a nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience.“The real problem is that our culture has insisted that adults always be supervising kids.” — Lenore SkenazyAfter her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore Skenazy got the nickname “America's Worst Mom.” (Google it!) She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement that basically says OUR KIDS ARE SMARTER AND SAFER THAN OUR CULTURE GIVES THEM CREDIT FOR!Lenore has lectured everywhere from DreamWorks to Microsoft to Harvard Med School, Yale Child Study Center — and the Bulgarian Happiness Festival! (For real.) On TV, you may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show, or her own reality show, World's Worst Mom. Now Lenore is co-founder and president of Let Grow, the nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience. She lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her children are gainfully employed. (Phew!) And for the record, she used to write for Mad Magazine. Yep. MAD. But now she's so serious that here is her piece on "Independence as Therapy" in The New York Times.“Teacher Tom” Hobson is an early childhood educator, international speaker, education consultant, teacher of teachers, parent educator, and author. He is best known, however, for his namesake blog, Teacher Tom's Blog, where he has posted daily for over a decade, chronicling the life and times of his little preschool in the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest corner of the USA.For nearly two decades, Teacher Tom was the sole employee of the Woodland Park Cooperative School, a parent-owned and operated school knit together by Teacher Tom's democratic, progressive play-based pedagogy. Teacher Tom came into teaching through the backdoor, so to speak, having enrolled his own child in a cooperative preschool, where he began working daily in his daughter's classroom as an assistant teacher under the tutelage of veteran educators — although he'll be the first to tell you that most of what he learned came from the children themselves. When it was time for his daughter to move on, he “stayed behind.”Today, Teacher Tom shares his play-based pedagogy through online e-courses for early childhood educators; produces online early childhood conferences; consults with organizations about his “Family Schools” program; and inspires early-years audiences around the world (Greece, UK, Iceland, Australia, China, Vietnam, New Zealand, Canada, and across the US) both virtually and in-person with his engaging views on early childhood education, play, and pedagogy.He was pressured by his blog readers into authoring his first book, aptly named Teacher Tom's First Book, and is thrilled about the 2023 release of Teacher Tom's Second Book.Resources, people, and websites mentioned in this episode:MiraseeTom's website: TeacherTomsWorld.comLenore's nonprofit, Let Grow: LetGrow.orgLenore's email: Lenore@LetGrow.orgFor show notes, visit Free to Be, Free to Grow (Lenore Skenazy)The Let Grow Experience (a free independence-building curriculum for teachers/schools): https://letgrow.org/program/experience/The Let Grow Play Club (free implementation guide for schools, homeschools, YMCAs, churches, synagogues, etc., to create a "free play" program for kids): https://letgrow.org/program/play-club/Independence Therapy Manual (free manual for therapists and counselors on how to use independence to combat or prevent childhood anxiety):https://letgrow.org/program/independence-therapy/Pledge of Independence (pledge parents can take to receive one activity a week for 10 weeks to help them get comfortable giving their kids more independence, free): https://letgrow.org/program/pledge/Let Grow Kid License (free "license" kids can carry around when out and about on their own that says, "I'm not lost or neglected!" and gives the parents' phone number): https://letgrow.org/printable/letgrowlicense/Free-Range Kids book: https://amzn.to/3FT7bEwFree-Range Kids book, free chapter for educators: https://letgrow.org/free-chapter/
This week, Kaity & Adriane chat with Lenore Skenazy, author of "Free-Range Kids." You might have heard her called "America's Worst Mom." But don't let that moniker fool you! Lenore's journey from her kid's controversial subway ride to becoming a leading voice in child independence is nothing short of remarkable. In Episode 30 of The KindlED Podcast, we dive deep into the world of free-range parenting with the woman who started it all.This episode also explores:
Are modern parents too protective? Why do we worry so much about things that almost never happen? And how did Mike learn about bus stops? SOURCES:David Bjorklund, professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University.Peter Gray, professor of psychology at Boston College.David Lancy, professor emeritus of anthropology at Utah State University.Lenore Skenazy, president of Let Grow and founder of the Free-Range Kids movement. RESOURCES:"Decline in Independent Activity as a Cause of Decline in Children's Mental Well-being: Summary of the Evidence," by Peter Gray, David Lancy, and David Bjorklund (The Journal of Pediatrics, 2023)."Parental Intrusive Homework Support and Math Achievement: Does the Child's Mindset Matter?" by Daeun Park, Elizabeth Gunderson, Erin Maloney, Eli Tsukayama, Sian Beilock, Angela Duckworth, and Susan Levine (Developmental Psychology, 2023)."Children Today Have Less Independence. Is That Fueling a Mental Health Crisis?" by Caitlin Gibson (The Washington Post, 2023)."Yes, the ‘Old Enough!' Kids Really Think the Camera Crew Are ‘Electricians'," by Charlotte Walsh (Tudum by Netflix, 2022)."Kidnapped Children Make Headlines, but Abduction Is Rare in U.S.," by Jonathan Allen (Reuters, 2019)."Utah's ‘Free-Range Parenting' Law Said to Be First in the Nation," by Meagan Flynn (The Washington Post, 2018)."Mother Who Left Baby Outside New York Restaurant in 1997 Says Arrest Was Unjust," (The Guardian, 2017)."Children's Independent Mobility: An International Comparison and Recommendations for Action," by Ben Shaw, Martha Bicket, Bridget Elliott, Ben Fagan-Watson, and Elisabetta Mocca (Policy Studies Institute, 2015)."I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone. I Got Labeled the ‘World's Worst Mom,'" by Lenore Skenazy (The Washington Post, 2015)."Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone," by Lenore Skenazy (The New York Sun, 2008). EXTRAS:"Should You Give Kids an Allowance or Make Them Get Jobs?" by No Stupid Questions (2022).Old Enough!
Themes: Parenting, Safetyism, Fragility, Resilience, Childhood Independence, Autonomy, Technology Summary: After her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore Skenazy got the nickname “America's Worst Mom.” Nice. She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement. (Second Edition just out!) She has been profiled in The New Yorker and lectured everywhere, from DreamWorks to Microsoft HQ to schools across America. On TV, you may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show or her own reality show, World's Worst Mom. Now Lenore is co-founder and president of Let Grow, the national nonprofit promoting childhood independence. I was struck by Lenore's story, and as I step into fatherhood this year, I knew I had to have her on the podcast. Tune in to learn how parenting has changed over the past few decades, why safety has become a top priority for parents nowadays, and how unsupervised play and letting go a little are key in raising resilient, confident and independent children. Discover: Why Lenore let her nine-year-old son ride the subway alone in NYC Why the degree of independence and autonomy parents give their kids has changed drastically over the past couple of decades Safetyism: what it is and how it contributes to fragility in our kids The massive benefits of unsupervised play & tech-free play Why tracking your kids erodes trust and can actually cause more harm than good How to overcome parental anxiety 00:00 Intro 00:31 Parenting then vs. now 03:00 Letting her son ride the subway alone 06:43 Why are we so afraid for our kids? 10:52 The problem with prioritizing safety 24:09 Tech-free play 37:23 Why keeping kids safe has become a top priority 44:00 Is tracking your kids worth it? 51:21 How to overcome parental anxiety Links: Website | letgrow.org Book | Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow Twitter | @freerangekids Facebook | Raising Independent Kids The Coddling of the American Mind Sponsors: Create the Love Cards | Use code CTLCARDS15 for 15% off at createthelove.com/cards See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6 After her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore got the nickname “America's Worst Mom.” She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement. Lenore has lectured everywhere from DreamWorks to Microsoft to schools across America -- and let's not forget the Bulgarian Happiness Festival! On TV, you may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show or on her own reality show, World's Worst Mom. Now Lenore is co-founder and president of Let Grow, the national nonprofit promoting childhood independence and she sits down with David and Stu to talk about how we can all stop being helicopter parents! Learn more about Let Grow! Get Free Range Kids Book Check out Lenore on the Daily Show Watch Lenore's interview on the Today Show — Come join David and Stu in The Storehouse Mastermind, which brings together a diverse group of men striving to become the best husbands, fathers, friends, and leaders possible. Learn More! Apply here! Join our Facebook Group! Do us a favor and leave us a review! Click here at Apple Podcasts! Know someone who would make a great guest on our podcast? Let us know! stuart@storehouse310turnkey.com This podcast is sponsored by DoDReads.com which promotes lifelong learning, personal development and leadership that comes from the books you read. If you are interested in updating your military reading list, email: storehouse@dodreads.com Enroll in Podcast Systems University today and use with coupon code STU20 to get the course for only $297 and regularly $497! Get the 10 Levels of Passivity FREE Report by emailing: podcast@storehouse310turnkey.com.
Lenore Skenazy has been known by the nickname “America's Worst Mom.” And yet I'm featuring her as a parenting expert in my upcoming Boundless Parenting book. Hear me out... Lenore graduated from Yale in 1981, and earned her master's degree from Columbia University in 1983. A speaker, blogger, syndicated columnist, and reality show host, Lenore has been featured by national media outlets, including NPR, the New York Daily News, Good Morning America, and NBC News. Until 2008, Lenore was a regular columnist for the New York Sun. Her controversial piece, "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone," received worldwide news coverage and earned her that "Worst Mom" nickname. However, the column also led to the founding of a blog called Free-Range Kids, which is "fighting the belief that our children are in constant danger from creeps, kidnapping, germs, grades, flashers, frustration, failure, baby snatchers, bugs, bullies, men, sleepovers and/or the perils of a non-organic grape." A bestselling book that followed, also called Free-Range Kids, kicked off a movement that promotes childhood independence and resilience as the path for children to grow into capable, confident, and happy adults. Lenore serves as the president of Let Grow, the non-profit organization behind Free-Range Kids. On her television show World's Worst Mom, Lenore trains overprotective parents to give their children more independence and confidence. Lenore Skenazy believes that the concept of helicopter parenting, excessive and often unnecessary worry about safety, and lack of creative and slightly dangerous free play are hampering the health and growth of children. Episode sponsors: Joovv. Get an exclusive discount on your first order. Just go to Joovv.com/ben and apply my code BEN to your qualifying order. Traeger: Traegers can tackle everything from hamburgers and hotdogs to slow-smoked brisket and even dessert thanks to their 6-in-1 versatility. Check out www.Traeger.com to learn more about these amazing grills. Colima Salt: Colima salt is harvested from the Colima salt flats in Mexico, and it's super-delicious, super-crunchy, and free of ocean-borne microplastics. With every purchase, you'll be supporting the Salineros. Customers get their first bag for free. Visit www.GreenfieldSalt.com to redeem your free bag of Colima Sea Salt. Kion Aminos: Building blocks for muscle recovery, reduced cravings, better cognition, immunity, and more. Go to https://getkion.com/bengreenfield to receive 20% off on monthly deliveries and 10% on one-time purchases. RUNGA: Come hang out with me and my family for the ONE weekend I look forward to every year, way more than any vacation, or event, or trip I have planned. An event so intimate that only 50 people can attend. Spots are filling up fast so be sure to act now and apply at www.bengreenfieldlife.com/runga.
Chaya Leah and Yael welcome parenting guru and "America's Worst Mom", Lenore Skenazy. We talk about how to let your child grow freely (whatever the opposite of helicopter parenting is), deadly laundry baskets, anxious parents, and crappy kids. We talk about the importance of play, take some questions about screen time, and how parents and kids can slowly learn how to chill. This is a great conversation even if you don't have kids!Lenore is the president of Let Grow, the nonpartisan nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience. A reporter by trade – including 14 years at The New York Daily News -- Lenore came to prominence/infamy after her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” landed her on The Today Show, MSNBC, Fox News and NPR. Allowing her son that unsupervised trip garnered her the nickname “America's Worst Mom.” She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement claiming “Our kids are safer and smarter than our culture gives them credit for.” The book's second edition just came out this summer, with a forward by Let Grow co-founder Jonathan Haidt. (And his wife! And daughter!) Lenore has been profiled in The New Yorker, lectured everywhere from Disney to DreamWorks to the Bulgarian Happiness Festival (a real thing). And you may have seen her reality show, World's Worst Mom.
As educators, you know that kids need independence. And yet, many our youth graduate from high school having never had to take responsibility for getting themselves up on time, fixing themselves a meal, or scheduling an appointment on their own. Our kids are being raised in a bubble where parents (and sometimes educators) do it all for them, for fear kids might fail at something. We're doing our kids a disservice if we don't back off and give them the power and independence they need to live a full life. That's exactly what this week's guest, Lenore Skenazy, did back in 2008--and received backlash for. But that one action, allowing her 9-year-old to ride the subway alone, sparked the idea for a nonprofit and school initiatives that are helping kids across the globe grow into the independent individuals they should be. Listen in to why she allowed her kids more independence than many and how educators can not only get involved but encourage parents to do the same. About Lenore Skenazy: After her column "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone" created a media firestorm, Lenore Skenazy founded the book, blog, and movement, “Free-Range Kids.” She has appeared everywhere from The Today Show to The Daily Show, and hosted the reality show World's Worst Mom. Now she is president of Let Grow, the nonprofit making it easy, normal and legal to give kids the independence they need to grow into capable, happy adults. Let Grow's two main school initiatives are The Let Grow Project (kids get the homework assignment, “Go home and do something new, on your own!”) and The Let Grow Play Club (schools stay open for mixed-age free play. Adults don't organize the games or solve the spats). All the implementation guides are free here. Lenore lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her kids have flown the coop. Jump in the Conversation: [2:40] - The uproar around letting a child ride the subway alone [4:19] - The birth of free-range kids [5:25] - Moving from trusting kids to a new generation we hover over [6:08] - Teachable moments don't always include a teacher present [11:50] - If kids aren't doing something just for fun, you have kids doing things for a coach and not themselves [13:02] - We're not just going to change minds; we need to change behavior [14:47] - The culture is the hamster wheel [15:51] - Free and easy ways to give kids back their freedom [18:45] - The benefit of boredom and free play [21:39] - No device rules [27:15] - What classroom teachers can do to support play [30:35] - Our kids are supposed to carry on when we're not there [32:50] - What happens when we let kids become independent too late [34:30] - Turbo Time [37:48] - Lenore's Magic Wand [38:48] - Maureen's Takeaways Link Email Lenore The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting up a Generation for Failure by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt The Special Value of Children's Age-Mixed Play by Peter Gray Ido in Autismland by Ido Kedar Let Grow Let Grow Play Club Let Grow Teacher Resources Email Maureen Maureen's TEDx: Changing My Mind to Change Our Schools The Education Evolution Facebook: Follow Education Evolution Twitter: Follow Education Evolution LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution EdActive Collective Maureen's book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids Micro-school feature on Good Morning America The Micro-School Coalition Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition LEADPrep
This episode explores how much independence we give our kids- physical, mental, emotional- and how frankly, that's changed over the years, from when our guest Lenore Skenazy was a child walking herself to school at age five. We think this is an important and thought provoking topic, and we hope you enjoy Lenore's sensational humor. More on Lenore Skenazy:After her column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” prompted massive media attention (2008), Lenore Skenazy was dubbed “America's Worst Mom.” In response, she wrote and founded the book and blog “Free-RangeKids,” sparking the movement that says today's kids are smarter and stronger than our culture gives them credit for. This grew into “Let Grow,” a nonprofit working to make it easy, normal and legal to give kids back some independence. Lenore is also a speaker, blogger, syndicated columnist and reality show host. Resources:letgrow.orgnosillyquestionspodcast.comhttps://www.instagram.com/nosillyquestionspodcast/
Today's kids are smarter and stronger than our culture gives them credit for. Kids need independence to learn the skills they'll need as adults. After her column "Why I Let My 9 Year Old Ride the Subway Alone" created a media firestorm, Lenore Skenazy founded the book, blog and movement, “Free-Range Kids.” Today she is president of Let Grow, the nonprofit making it easy, normal and legal to give kids back some independence. Learn More About Let Grow: https://letgrow.org/ “Free-Range Kids” https://amzn.to/3JWEd68 Joe De Sena's Parenting book “10 Rules for Mental Toughness for Families” https://amzn.to/3JrN6oz The Tough Bible - the best information from Spartan Up all in one place Spartan.com/toughbible Spartan Up podcast is brought to you by Wild Health www.wildhealth.com Wondering which diet is right for you? What your optimal recovery routine is? How your sleep impacts performance? Wild Health will help you uncover all the answers to your health questions with a fully personalized, precision health plan, based on your DNA & bloodwork. Discover your truth - sign up at wildhealth.com with code SPARTAN10 for 10% off. This episode of Spartan Up is brought to you by the EXOGEN ultrasound bone healing system. EXOGEN is a non-invasive treatment option that can help heal your broken bone in just 20 minutes a day in the comfort of your own home. If you or a loved one has broken a bone, talk to your doctor about EXOGEN. EXOGEN is indicated for the healing of nonunion fractures and for accelerating the healing of certain acute fractures, with no known contraindications. To learn more visit https://www.exogen.com/us/SPARTAN/ CREDITS: Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion.com Host: Joe De Sena © 2022 Spartan
The urge to protect our children is a natural instinct. Every parent wants to see their child grow up to be happy, safe, and able to stand on their own two feet. But, how far would you go to achieve this?A few years ago, Lenore Skenazy wrote a newspaper column titled “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone”. Following its publication, she was faced with a media firestorm (and not in a good way). She even got dubbed with the nickname “America's Worst Mom”. In her article, Lenore opened up an important conversation about empowering children to find their independence and subsequently wrote a book on the topic. Lenore is also the co-founder and president of Let Grow, a national nonprofit promoting childhood independence. Let Grow aims to spread awareness about the power of childhood independence and provides programs at curricula for parents and teachers. Lenore now lectures everywhere from DreamWorks to Microsoft to schools across America. In our latest episode, we hear Lenore's thoughts on why today's kids are a lot safer, smarter, and stronger than we give them credit for, as well as how a culture of overprotection is counterproductive for their development. Lenore also offers practical tips and advice on how to foster independence in children and how to truly let them grow. Let's keep the inspiring discussion going! Discover our events, articles, and more with these links:InspirEd MagazineInspirEd EventsJoin our mailing listYou Tube
In this 92nd in a series of live discussions with Bret Weinstein and Heather Heying (both PhDs in Biology), we discuss the state of the world through an evolutionary lens.In this episode, we discuss childhood. Beginning with an excerpt from chapter 9 (Childhood) of our forthcoming book, A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century, we discuss what childhood is, what other organisms have it, and why it is important. We discuss plasticity in development, and the need to develop flexibility as a growing human. We discuss Lenore Skenazy (America's Worst Mom!), and Let Grow, an organization dedicated to helping kids build real-world confidence, competence and openness. We discuss the need for play—real, unstructured play without interference from adults—and for risk. And we discuss the adaptive underpinnings of play.Get your Goliath shirts right here: store.darkhorsepodcast.orgHeather's newsletter, Natural Selections (subscribe to get free weekly essays in your inbox): https://naturalselections.substack.comSupport the sponsors of this show:Four Sigmatic: Delicious mushroom coffee made with both real coffee and two species of mushrooms. Up to 40% off and free shipping at Foursigmatic.com/DARKHORSE.Vivo Barefoot: Shoes for healthy feet—comfortable and regenerative, enhances stability and tactile feedback. Go to www.vivobarefoot.com/us/darkhorse to get 20% off, and a 100-day free trial.Allform: Get 20% off any order (of a beautiful sofa) from Allform at https://allform.com/darkhorse.Our book, A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century, is now available for pre-sale at amazon. Publication date: 9-14-21: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593086880/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_5BDTABYFKRJKZBT5GSQAhttp://huntergatherersguide.com/DarkHorse merchandise now available at: store.darkhorsepodcast.orgFind more from us on Bret's website (https://bretweinstein.net) or Heather's website (http://heatherheying.com).Become a member of the DarkHorse LiveStreams, and get access to an additional Q&A livestream every month. Join at Heather's Patreon.Like this content? Subscribe to the channel, like this video, follow us on twitter (@BretWeinstein, @HeatherEHeying), and consider helping us out by contributing to either of our Patreons or Bret's Paypal.Looking for clips from #DarkHorseLivestreams? Here are some, updated frequently: @DarkHorse Podcast ClipsTheme Music: Thank you to Martin Molin of Wintergatan for providing us the rights to use their excellent music.Q&A Link: https://youtu.be/bsNfjGVrZOAMentioned in this episode:A Hunter-Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century: https://huntergatherersguide.comSkenazy, L., 2021 (2nd ed). Free-range kids, giving our children the freedom we had without going nuts with worry. John Wiley & Sons.Skenazy, L. 2008. Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone. The New York Sun, April 1, 2008. https://www.nysun.com/opinion/why-i-let-my-9-year-old-ride-subway-alone/73976/Let Grow: https://letgrow.orgGray, P. 2013. Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life. Basic Books.Martini, M. (1994). Peer interactions in Polynesia: A view from the Marquesas. In J. L. Roopnarine, J. E. Johnson, & F. H. Hooper (Eds.), Children's play in diverse cultures (pp. 73-103). Albany: State University of New York Press.Lancy, D.F., 2014. The anthropology of childhood: Cherubs, chattel, changelings. Cambridge University Press.Spinka, M., Newberry, R.C. and Bekoff, M., 2001. Mammalian play: training for the unexpected. The Quarterly review of biology, 76(2): 141-168. https://www.journals.uchicago.edSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/bretweinstein)
What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood | Parenting Tips From Funny Moms
Lenore Skenazy is the author of Free-range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow, the hugely influential parenting bestseller with a newly released second edition. The free-range movement really got started 12 years ago after Lenore's newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm. Now Lenore is co-founder and president of Let Grow, the national nonprofit promoting childhood independence. In this "Fresh Take" interview we discuss the "back in our day" style of play we grew up with, and why having a free-range kid these days is more complicated than clearing their schedule and opening your back door. We talk about the crucial role of free play with kids of various ages in our children's development, and how to foster that idea in our schools and neighborhoods. Lenore is full of wit and insight, and you'll feel empowered to "let go and let grow" after listening to this episode! To find out more, check out letgrow.org, and follow Free-Range Kids and Let Grow on social media: Twitter: @freerangekids, @letgroworg Facebook: @Free-Range Kids Book, @Let Grow, @Raising Independent Kids, @Lenore Skenazy Special thanks to this month's sponsors: Design like a pro with Canva Pro! We use it for all our images– we've upped our game and saved time too. Right now, you can get a FREE 45-day extended trial when you go to canva.me/fresh. The Cozi Family Organizer is for anyone juggling camp schedules, practices, meetings, doctor's appointments, and maybe a date night once in a while. Download Cozi for free from the app store! Green Chef's expert chefs design flavorful recipes that go way beyond the ordinary. Go to greenchef.com/laughing100 and use code laughing100 to get $100 off including free shipping! Italic is a new kind of everything store. They offer quality goods from the same manufacturers as leading brands for up to 80% less. Sign up for an Italic membership at italic.com/join and use code WHATFRESHHELL for 30% off. Magic Spoon cereal gets protein into your kids' breakfast- and with 0 grams of sugar. Go to magicspoon.com/FRESH and use the code FRESH at checkout to get $5 off! Jane.com is a boutique marketplace featuring the latest in women's fashion, accessories, home decor, children's clothing, and more. You will not believe the prices! Visit jane.com/laughing. Hooked on Phonics is the learn-to-read program that has helped over 6 million kids learn to read. And now it offers a multi-sensory approach, which uniquely combines an amazing app with hands-on learning materials shipped to your home every month. Get your first month for just $1 by going to hookedonphonics.com/laughing. Literati delivers their monthly book picks straight to your door, so you can spend less time finding a good book and more time actually reading one. And their app lets you chat about the books with the whole Literati community. Redeem your FREE trial at literati.com/whatfreshhell. Some other podcasts we're loving right now: StrollerCoaster: A Parenting Podcast is created by Munchkin, the most beloved baby brand in the world. Hosted by Faith Salie, this podcast is about the ups and downs of parenting life. Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! Home.Made. podcast: inside every home, there's a story. Hosted by Stephanie Foo (This American Life, Snap Judgment), each episode of this 10-part series explores the meaning of home and what it can teach us about ourselves and each other. Follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts! Bobby Wonder is a kids' podcast from GoKidGo that the whole family can enjoy. Bobby Wonder is a typical guy who just found out he's from another planet. If your kid also loves to laugh, save the world, and eat waffles, subscribe or follow "Bobby Wonder" wherever you're listening right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joining us today in the Hardwick Life podcast is Lenore Skenazy.After her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” landed her on NPR, Fox News and everywhere in between, Lenore went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement. She has been profiled in The New Yorker, hosted the reality show, “World's Worst Mom,” and has lectured everywhere from Disney to Microsoft to schools across the country — and the Bulgarian Happiness Festival. It was Lenore who created the annual “Take Our Children to the Park…And Leave Them There Day.” She is obsessive about The Let Grow Project, which she predicts will one day be in every school just like P.E. — but without the humiliating uniforms. Stay tuned!We would love to hear your feedback in the comments below!Don't forget about these amazing discounts!Visit www.Hardwick.Life and enter code: PODCAST20 for 20% off your purchaseVisit Julian Bakery for great discounts on their protein products using the code NICKHARDWICKVisit Bubs Naturals for the best collagen protein and more and use the discount code HARDWICK20 for 20% off your purchase.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
"Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone" was a 2008 newspaper column that turned into a national campaign to help parents raise their children with less anxiety while pushing back against our culture that has become obsessed with kids' fragility.Our guest, Lenore Skenazy, founded free-range kids in the years after she first described making the decision to let her son, Izzy, take the New York City subway home alone. Her column resulted in a flood of media coverage and mixed reactions from parents— from accusations of child abuse to fond memories of childhood freedom. She hosted a TV series, "World's Worst Mom".This week, the second edition of her best-selling book, "Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow", is published. In this episode, we discuss how parents and educators can step back so kids step up. We also look at the resilience of children and why the rest of the world is laughing at us scaredy-cat Americans. "There's so much intelligence and cognition building going on when kids are figuring out rules, and trying to figure out who's going to play with them," Lenore tells us. This form of learning about the world "doesn't look like learning because it's playing. We really have a hard time believing that you can be playing and learning at the same time."Lenore believes our kids are stronger and smarter than our society assumes. Her work with the Let Grow Project and Let Grow Play Club is built on the principle that children think and act for themselves when adults don't get involved every step of the way.Recommendation: Richard is watching two seasons of the Israeli TV series, "False Flag" on Hulu. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Lenore is the Founder of Free-Range Kids and President at Let Grow, the national nonprofit promoting childhood independence. After her newspaper column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore got the nickname “America's Worst Mom.” She went on to write Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement. Second Edition coming in June! She has been profiled in The New Yorker, and lectured everywhere from DreamWorks to Microsoft to schools across America -- and let's not forget the Bulgarian Happiness Festival. On TV, you may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show or her own reality show, World's Worst Mom (cancelled after one season, but suddenly available on YouTube!). She lives in New York with her husband and beloved computer. Her kids are gainfully employed. Key Takeaways: 20:18 Mad Magazine and World's Worst Mom 25:00 Free-range Kids Blog 36:37 Exposure Therapy 38:52 Working with Dr. Peter Gray, Daniel Shuchman and Jon Haidt 53:02 The Free Range Parenting Bill 57:45 Advise to Scared Parents 01:01:21 Metaphor to compare Overprotection and Free-Range Parenting Quotes: “That's like my giant psychological insight that I wish everybody shared because it holds the possibility of changing everybody really fast, making everybody much more lighthearted, much more calm, much more confident kids, more mature and grateful and parents more free time. And all it requires is letting go.” “It's almost like a part of the game. What's the worst, the very worst thing that could happen?” “Punishment was restricting your freedom and to preserve your freedom, you persevered, you discovered your own resilience, you held it in, you hid the scars in every which way. And, I think that's what is missing from childhood that is hurting kids.” “Overprotection is not an unalloyed good. It's not like it keeps getting better, better, better, better, better. The more we protect, the more bumpers we put on everything.” “Rather than changing minds, change behavior.” “The Let Grow project is a revelation.” Social Links: Lenore Skenazy Twitter - https://twitter.com/FreeRangeKids LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenoreskenazy/ Let Grow https://letgrow.org Free Range Kids https://www.freerangekids.com/ I let my 9-year-old ride the subway alone. I got labeled the ‘world's worst mom.' Article
These days, when we hear the phrase "growing up," it tends to mostly reference the growth in inches and feet. But for a child to a grow up, they don't just need to physically grow, they need to grow mentally and emotionally as well. The recent cultural normalization of what is colloquially referred to as "helicopter parenting" has brought with it ever-hovering adults and minute-by-minute-scheduled weekdays and weekends, which have significantly stunted that growth. Lenore Skenazy, Co-founder and President of Let Grow, shares both data and anecdotes that help to illustrate exactly why children need the freedom to grow independent.Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone, by Lenore SkenazyI Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone. I Got Labeled the ‘World's Worst Mom.' by Lenore SkenazyMother May I? by Lizzie WiddicombeLearn How the Let Grow Project Can Help Kids with Anxiety, Let Grow YouTubeLet GrowThe Let Grow ProjectLet Grow Play ClubFree Range KidsRaising Independent Kids - Facebook@FreeRangeKids----------Email: newliberalspodcast@gmail.comTwitter: @NewLiberalsPod
Lenore Skenazy is the author of "Free Range Kids" and the president and co-founder of Let Grow, promoting childhood independence and resilience. She gained notoriety when she published the 2008 newspaper article “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” and was labelled “America’s Worst Mom.” Tune in for her ideas on raising children to become strong, productive adults.
Lenore Skenazy, (President of Let Grow and founder of the Free Range Kids Movement) author of "Free Range Kids" is back for part two of her conversation with Dr. Bob. In this episode, Lenore walks us through why free play is critical for kids and they talk in depth about her organization, "Let Grow." Let Grow asserts that: Kids aren't fragile, they are "anti-fragile" - built not just to withstand some challenges, but to grow stronger once they do. The world is not more dangerous today than in decades past. In fact, America is at a 50-year crime low. Doing a little less for our kids is not negligent or lazy. It is a vote of confidence in them. Don't miss part two of this fascinating conversation with Lenore Skenazy! Lenore Skenazy is co-founder and president of Let Grow, a nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience. Ever since her column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore has been declaring that our kids are smarter and stronger than our culture gives them credit for. She is the author of Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement that got her the nickname, “America's Worst Mom.” You may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show, Dr. Phil, or her own Discovery TV reality show, World's Worst Mom. At Let Grow, Lenore oversees school programs, an online community, legislative efforts and myth-busting, all promoting the idea that when adults step back, kids step up. Plus, for the record, she used to write for Mad Magazine! A point of pride. How to contact Lenore Skenazy Let Grow: https://letgrow.org/ Website: https://www.freerangekids.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreeRangeKids Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lenore.skenazy How to contact Dr. Bob: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656 Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/ Website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/ Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/
In this episode, Dr. Bob welcomes author Lenore Skenazy to the show. Lenore is the author of "Free Range Kids," her popular book that talks to parents about how to raise safe, self reliant kids, without going nuts with worry. Dr. Bob and Lenore have a lively discussion about Lenore and her husband's decision to allow their nine year old son to ride the NYC subway alone for the first time. This is a must listen episode that every parent should hear and it explains the benefits of allowing children to explore their independence. Lenore Skenazy is co-founder and president of Let Grow, a nonprofit promoting childhood independence and resilience. Ever since her column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore has been declaring that our kids are smarter and stronger than our culture gives them credit for. She is the author of Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement that got her the nickname, “America's Worst Mom.” You may have seen her on The Today Show, The Daily Show, Dr. Phil, or her own Discovery TV reality show, World's Worst Mom. At Let Grow, Lenore oversees school programs, an online community, legislative efforts and myth-busting, all promoting the idea that when adults step back, kids step up. Plus, for the record, she used to write for Mad Magazine! A point of pride. How to contact Lenore Skenazy Let Grow: https://letgrow.org/ Website: https://www.freerangekids.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FreeRangeKids Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lenore.skenazy How to contact Dr. Bob: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChztMVtPCLJkiXvv7H5tpDQ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroberthamilton/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.hamilton.1656 Seven Secrets Of The Newborn website: https://7secretsofthenewborn.com/ Website: https://roberthamiltonmd.com/ Pacific Ocean Pediatrics: http://www.pacificoceanpediatrics.com/
Lianne Castelino of Where Parents Talk speaks to Lenore Skenazy, President of Let Grow and Founder of Free-Range Kids about parenting during the pandemic, helicopter parenting and other topics. Skenazy's 2008 New York Sun column entitled, "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone," grabbed the headlines in North America, leading to her establish the Free-Range movement.
Journalist Lenore Skenazy was dubbed "America's Worst Mom" in 2008 for a column about letting her nine-year-old ride the subway alone. The controversy led her to speak out about finding safe ways to allow kids to be more independent and she founded the Free Range Kids movement. In 2018 she co-founded Let Grow, a nonprofit that offers resource materials, school curricula and even does policy work with an aim toward helping kids be more self-sufficient (and helping their parents allow them to be). In this interview, Lenore talks with Meghan about her work, her own parenting and the fact that, as she puts it, "There's never been a safer time to be a child in America." Guest Bio: Lenore Skenazy is co-founder and president of Let Grow, a nonprofit promoting independence as a critical part of childhood. Ever since her column "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone" created a media firestorm, Lenore has been declaring that our kids are smarter and stronger than our culture gives them credit for. She is the author of Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement that garnered her the nickname, "America's Worst Mom."
On this week’s episode, author and free-range kid expert Lenore Skenayzy joins to offer her parenting advice, especially in light of COVID-19. She answers questions like, “is there such a thing as free range parenting while we’re all stuck in the house?” She also gives us some tips on how to keep the kids occupied. Lenore is the co-founder and president of Let Grow, a nonprofit promoting independence as a critical part of childhood. Ever since her column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” created a media firestorm, Lenore has been declaring that our kids are smarter and stronger than our culture gives them credit for. She is the author of Free-Range Kids, the book-turned-movement that garnered her the nickname, “America’s Worst Mom.” At Let Grow, Lenore oversees school programs, an online community, and legislative efforts all promoting childhood independence." She Thinks is a podcast for women (and men) who are sick of the spin in today’s news cycle and are seeking the truth. Once a week, every week, She Thinks host Beverly Hallberg is joined by guests who cut through the clutter and bring you the facts. You don’t have to keep up with policy and politics to understand how issues will impact you and the people you care about most. You just have to keep up with us. We make sure you have the information you need to come to your own conclusions. Because, let’s face it, you’re in control of your own life and can think for yourself. You can listen to the latest She Thinks episode(s) here or wherever you get your podcasts. Then subscribe, rate, and share with your friends. If you are already caught up and want more, join our online community. Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) believes all issues are women’s issues. IWF promotes policies that aren’t just well-intended, but actually enhance people’s freedoms, opportunities, and choices. IWF doesn’t just talk about problems. We identify solutions and take them straight to the playmakers and policy creators. And, as a 501(c)3, IWF educates the public about the most important topics of the day. Check out the Independent Women’s Forum website for more information on how policies impact you, your loved ones, and your community: www.iwf.org. Be sure to subscribe to our emails to ensure you’re equipped with the facts on the issues you care about most: https://iwf.org/sign-up. Subscribe to IWF’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/IWF06. Follow IWF on social media: - https://twitter.com/iwf on Twitter - https://www.facebook.com/independentwomensforum on Facebook - https://instagram.com/independentwomensforum on Instagram #IWF #IWPol #AllIssuesAreWomensIssues
Have We Parents Gone Nuts? When we were kids our parents let us run around the neighborhood alone at the age of 8 or 9 – some even younger. Now parents accompany their kids to playdates at those ages. Have we become so fixated on our kids’ safety and on the quality of their experiences that we’ve robbed them of the freedom to learn and grow on their own? We invited Lenore Skenazi on to talk about her philosophy of Free Range Kids. We're all trying to do our best as parents, and one of the things that is keeping us from doing our best and turning us just into frantic fanatical parents is the fear of hearing somebody say to us, 'You Suck!' But the truth is you're great. Nobody is going to get it right. "If there was a perfect formula we would all have one book and we would all read it and do it," says Lenore Skenazi, who was called 'World's Worst Mom' for letting her kid ride the subway alone. She started Free Range Kids to fight the belief that our children are in constant danger. "Parenting is so confusing," Lenore says, "and we've imbued it with like everything we do. There're gazillion of moments before they hit 18 and they can't all be perfect, they won't all be perfect. In fact, it's better if they're not all perfect so they'll end up rolling with some punches. They'll be like 'dad isn't perfect either so I don't have to be so hard on myself'. "We just have to take a step back and say, it's going to be okay. The kid is going to be okay. Give them some freedom, give yourself some freedom and it's going to be okay." When to Start? "When parents are wondering about an age, like, what age can kids play outside or walk to school or run an errand or babysit, I ask them just to think back on their own lives," says Lenore. "If you were walking to school at age 5 and you were in a neighborhood that isn't more dangerous than when you were growing up - there's no reason that your kid can't be doing what your parents allowed you to do oof you think it was good for you back then and if you appreciate the freedom that you were given." "Our goal at Let Grow is to really change the what you see as normal because this new normal that we have of only constant supervision it's not doing kids any favors and parents have to spend every single second not doing anything except chauffeuring and watching them, it's not great for them either. I mean, we all love spending time with our kids but it doesn't have to be every single second." Our Guest: Lenore Skenazi A journalist by trade, Lenore spent 14 years at The New York Daily News as a reporter-turned-opinion columnist, and two more at The New York Sun. In 2008, after her column "Why I Let My 9 Year Old Ride the Subway Alone" landed her on every talk show from The Today Show to Dr. Phil, Lenore founded the book and blog “Free-Range Kids.” These launched the anti-helicopter parenting movement and garnered her the nickname, “America’s Worst Mom.” She got a promotion of sorts when Discovery Life tapped her to host the reality TV show, World’s Worst Mom. Lenore has lectured internationally from Microsoft to DreamWorks to the Sydney Opera House, and been profiled everywhere from The New York Times to The New Yorker. (She was even on The Daily Show!) Over the years, she has written for everyone from The Wall Street Journal to Mad Magazine. Yes -- Mad. After 10 years of watching parents nod along as she described how our culture has force-fed them fear, her aim at Let Grow is to turn agreement into action, making it easy and normal to give kids the same kind of freedom most of us had -- and loved. Lenore received her B.A. from Yale and her Master's Degree from Columbia. She lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her sons have (safely!) flown the coop. Co-Hosts: Yan Dekel, Alex MaghenGuest: Lenore Shkenazi, President, 'Let Grow'Opening Theme: Hercules & Love Affair, “Leonora” buy hereArticles Related to this episode:Why I Let My 9 Year Old ...
Have We Parents Gone Nuts? When we were kids our parents let us run around the neighborhood alone at the age of 8 or 9 – some even younger. Now parents accompany their kids to playdates at those ages. Have we become so fixated on our kids' safety and on the quality of their experiences that we've robbed them of the freedom to learn and grow on their own? We invited Lenore Skenazi on to talk about her philosophy of Free Range Kids. We're all trying to do our best as parents, and one of the things that is keeping us from doing our best and turning us just into frantic fanatical parents is the fear of hearing somebody say to us, 'You Suck!' But the truth is you're great. Nobody is going to get it right. "If there was a perfect formula we would all have one book and we would all read it and do it," says Lenore Skenazi, who was called 'World's Worst Mom' for letting her kid ride the subway alone. She started Free Range Kids to fight the belief that our children are in constant danger. "Parenting is so confusing," Lenore says, "and we've imbued it with like everything we do. There're gazillion of moments before they hit 18 and they can't all be perfect, they won't all be perfect. In fact, it's better if they're not all perfect so they'll end up rolling with some punches. They'll be like 'dad isn't perfect either so I don't have to be so hard on myself'. "We just have to take a step back and say, it's going to be okay. The kid is going to be okay. Give them some freedom, give yourself some freedom and it's going to be okay." When to Start? "When parents are wondering about an age, like, what age can kids play outside or walk to school or run an errand or babysit, I ask them just to think back on their own lives," says Lenore. "If you were walking to school at age 5 and you were in a neighborhood that isn't more dangerous than when you were growing up - there's no reason that your kid can't be doing what your parents allowed you to do oof you think it was good for you back then and if you appreciate the freedom that you were given." "Our goal at Let Grow is to really change the what you see as normal because this new normal that we have of only constant supervision it's not doing kids any favors and parents have to spend every single second not doing anything except chauffeuring and watching them, it's not great for them either. I mean, we all love spending time with our kids but it doesn't have to be every single second." Our Guest: Lenore Skenazi A journalist by trade, Lenore spent 14 years at The New York Daily News as a reporter-turned-opinion columnist, and two more at The New York Sun. In 2008, after her column "Why I Let My 9 Year Old Ride the Subway Alone" landed her on every talk show from The Today Show to Dr. Phil, Lenore founded the book and blog “Free-Range Kids.” These launched the anti-helicopter parenting movement and garnered her the nickname, “America's Worst Mom.” She got a promotion of sorts when Discovery Life tapped her to host the reality TV show, World's Worst Mom. Lenore has lectured internationally from Microsoft to DreamWorks to the Sydney Opera House, and been profiled everywhere from The New York Times to The New Yorker. (She was even on The Daily Show!) Over the years, she has written for everyone from The Wall Street Journal to Mad Magazine. Yes -- Mad. After 10 years of watching parents nod along as she described how our culture has force-fed them fear, her aim at Let Grow is to turn agreement into action, making it easy and normal to give kids the same kind of freedom most of us had -- and loved. Lenore received her B.A. from Yale and her Master's Degree from Columbia. She lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her sons have (safely!) flown the coop. Co-Hosts: Yan Dekel, Alex MaghenGuest: Lenore Shkenazi, President, 'Let Grow'Opening Theme: Hercules & Love Affair, “Leonora” buy hereArticles Related to this episode:Why I Let My 9 Year Old ...
Show notes & links available here. In this episode, I'm talking to Lenore Skenazy about how letting her 9-year-old son ride the subway alone in New York City led to her being labeled the "World's Worst Mom" and sparked the Free-Range Kids movement. Her book, Free-Range Kids: How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children Without Going Nuts with Worry, along with the programs developed and promoted by Let Grow, counter the culture of overprotection. Big Ideas Over the last decade, Lenore has been fighting the societal belief that our children are "in constant danger from creeps, kidnapping, germs, grades, flashers, frustration, failure, baby snatchers, bugs, bullies, men, sleepovers and/or the perils of a non-organic grape." People feel so much fear for their kids' safety, even when there's no reason to be afraid. A free-range childhood means kids can go outside after school and play with their friends without it being a structured, supervised activity. There are 5 reasons why parents today are so much more afraid for their kids: Media -- news, films, and crime shows. Laws and fear of litigation. Experts in books and magazines that produce anxiety. Marketplace and safety products that capitalize on our fears. Technology that allows parents to monitor kids at all times. The Let Grow organization promotes two school initiatives: Let grow Project: Kids get a homework assignment to do something on their own, without their parents' help. This promotes independence, a sense of pride, competence, and confidence." Let Grow Play Club: Kids stay after school or arrive early for extended, unstructured playtime with other kids. The Let Grow movement is promoting Free-Range parenting laws in states around the country. The bills define 'neglect' as a blatant disregard for a child's safety and wellbeing. It's not letting a kid walk to school, come home with a latch key, or play outside. Quotes Lenore: "It's not like parents are crazy, it's that we are being fed so much fear from so many corners of our life and culture that it's almost impossible not to breathe it in. It's like pollution. You're just breathing it in and it gets into your body." Audrey: "I look to you as a hero because you were at the forefront when this crazy overparenting came into play." Lenore: "It feels so much less safe, even though statistically the crime rate is lower now than it has been in 25 years." Lenore: "Your brain works like Google. It takes in all this information and then when you ask, 'Is it safe for my kids to walk to the bus stop today?' up pops the pictures or stories you've heard about, whether it was from 30 years ago or a Law & Order episode yesterday. Those stories are so easy to recall but they're not the most relevant results...so we start making our decisions based not on any kind of statistical reality, not on any kind of reality at all, but on the basis of all these terrible stories that have been shoved into us as we've been growing up." Lenore: "The media is certainly an enormous reason that we are so much more afraid than our parents who weren't as saturated with these fears as we were." Lenore: "We live in a litigious society. When you start thinking like a lawyer, which we all do, nothing seems safe enough...So you take something that is extremely safe and it is rewritten through the lawyer brain as potentially dangerous and you see everything through the lens of risk." Audrey: "People perceive camp or especially letting your child go to camp as being so risky and dangerous. But what's amazing is that statistically, summer camps are far safer than people's backyards." Audrey: "I think parents feel like when someone's not under their exact, very close supervision, there's this fear. You really want to trust other people with your kids, but there is always a risk." Lenore: "(Technology) gives us this level of omniscience that is actually very oppressive to parents because it feels like you have to know literally every breath your child is taking." Lenore: "It's as if our child is in such danger that we better be on high alert all the time or something terrible will happen and it's all our fault. That's why I feel sorry for parents raising kids in this era. The pressure to know everything and be aware of everything and worry about everything is at a breaking point." Audrey: "I think it has actually gotten worse than what you were talking about back 12 or 13 years ago when you first wrote Free-Range Kids." Lenore: "Let Grow, rather than working on changing minds, is focused on changing behavior. And the behavior we're thinking about is extremely similar to what happens when parents send their kids off to camp. We are trying to give kids a smidgen of independence and when they get that they're less anxious afterward and the parents are less anxious, everybody is allowed to grow." Lenore: "Until you see that they can do something on their own, you don't even know if it's going to work, this great experiment with the people you love the most. But when you see that they're blossoming, they can handle it, it's just a remarkable transformation. And you don't go backward...You watch them and your heart fills." Lenore: "The Let Grow project is just a way to make it easy to let go because everyone's doing it. Either everyone in the class or the school or the or the school district. So you're not the crazy mom. So there are other kids doing it, other parents doing it." Audrey: "Because we're in a time where people look askance at the child or two siblings walking to a park to play. It's too bad. But being able to say, 'Oh this is an assignment from school.' You almost have to give your kids the words they need in order to defend themselves doing something that they are perfectly capable of doing and giving parents the permission to let their children do this." Audrey: "If you and all of your friends at school are all letting your kids do this stuff, you're going to start talking about that. The community will start understanding--it is genius." Lenore: "Kids have been so stunted, in a way. When there is always around somebody who's saying, 'Let me handle that for you.' We say, always helping kids isn't always helping them. And so, going to a store and talking to strangers, well, it's a store full of people. And I guess they're strangers, but they're just people. They're not criminals. And they just felt so much better about themselves and better about the world that they were making more friends. That was a, a bonus that I didn't expect." Audrey: "People think, 'Oh well my child's not ready for such and such.' But the thing is, the way you get ready for things is practicing. And if we don't let them practice, then are they ever going to feel competent and confident and capable." Audrey: "I'm always encouraging parents to just have kids do little things like making dinner or handling the checkout at the store. If you're not comfortable sending them on your own yet, let your child do the talking and handing them the card and running it through the thing or putting in your phone number and just let them try it in front of you until you feel confident." Lenore: "It's not just fun for kids to do things for their parents, it's also telling them that their parents trust, believe in and need them. Those things feel so great. It's great to know that your parents don't think you're so endangered or incompetent that you can't do things on your own." Audrey: "One of the reasons so many adolescents feel so bad is because they feel unneeded. When we are doing everything for them and not letting them start doing for themselves or helping others then they don't feel needed or valued, or necessary to a household, or to a school or a community. That's a terrible feeling." Lenore: "When you rise to the occasion on the playground and there are little kids there and you're the grownup, cause you're a fifth grader or a fourth grader, it is a great feeling. It's not just the leadership, it is the kindness that you get into yourself and realize this is fun. They didn't even realize what they were enjoying was empathy." Lenore: "I think camp is one of the last bastions of childhood freedom. And I think kids who are lucky enough to have it, whether it's day camp or overnight camp, they should take advantage and parents should take advantage too, because, as you said, the parents feel a lot more relaxed when they finally get to take their eyes off their kids for summer. Summer should be a time of freedom." About Lenore Skenazy After her column "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone" landed her on every talk show from The Today Show to Dr. Phil, Lenore Skenazy got labeled “America’s Worst Mom.” Nice. She turned around and founded “Free-Range Kids,” the movement that says kids are NOT in constant danger. That grew into “Let Grow,” a non-partisan nonprofit working to make it easy, normal and legal to give kids back some independence. To that end, Lenore has lectured all over (Microsoft, DreamWorks, Sydney Opera House...) and been profiled everywhere from The New York Times to The New Yorker to The Daily Show. A journalist herself, she spent 14 years at the New York Daily News and has written for everyone from The Wall Street Journal to Mad Magazine. Yep. Mad! Her reality show “World’s Worst Mom,” airs on Discovery Life (from time to time, late at night, in re-runs). Last year, Utah became the first state to pass a "Free-Range Parenting Law," guaranteeing parents the right to let their kids do things like walk to school or play at the park without a security detail. Links Website: Let Grow: Future-Proofing Our Kids & Our Country Let Grow Project (for schools) FREE-RANGE KIDS has become a national movement, sparked by the incredible response to Lenore Skenazy's piece about allowing her 9-year-old ride the subway alone in NYC. Parent groups argued about it, bloggers blogged, spouses became uncivil with each other, and the media jumped all over it. A lot of parents today, Skenazy says, see no difference between letting their kids walk to school and letting them walk through a firing range. Any risk is seen as too much risk. But if you try to prevent every possible danger or difficulty in your child's everyday life, that child never gets a chance to grow up. We parents have to realize that the greatest risk of all just might be trying to raise a child who never encounters choice or independence. Interviews with Lenore Skenazy https://vimeo.com/56107897 Jonathan Haidt, The Coddling of the American Mind Jonathan Haidt and Lenore Skenazy co-authored "The Fragile Generation," Peter Gray, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom we had without Going Nuts with Worry, Lenore Skenazy Related Ep. 60: The Importance of Outdoor, Child-Directed Free Play with Andy Pritikin Ep. 65: Raising Engaged, Happy Kids with Mary Hofstedt Ep. 78: The Danish Way of Parenting (Part 2) Ep. 87: The Impact of Camp Experiences with Laurie Browne, Ph.D. American Camp Association The Camp Impact Study
This Sunday, Lenore Skenazy - aka the “World's Worst Mom” - returns to the show to discuss the latest trends in coddling vs. free range parenting.My home movies from Queens, New York circa 1947 show me and my best friend Susan playing with cap pistols, water pistols, a ping pong ball gun, a Red Ryder B B gun, toy tin soldiers, a boy scout knife, and a toy machine gun with blinking red lights. Yet not one of my friends died of gunshot wounds. In fact most of us are afraid of guns. Maybe zero tolerance is not that necessary. Perhaps some of the societal measures we are taking to protect children are even backfiring.We hear non-stop coverage of school shootings and child predators while the threat of Childhood Lack of Resilience Syndrome (CLORS) goes virtually unreported.Symptoms of CLORS include easily bruised feelings, obesity, depression, lack of curiosity, and fear of exposure to new ideas once the child leaves home for college. Professor Jonathan Haidt (founder of Heterodox Academy and a co-founder with Lenore Skenazy of LetGrow.org) has observed many patients in the advanced stages and found the condition notoriously difficult to cure.They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Lenore Skenazy has been offering the equivalent of a CLORS vaccine since her national debut as “World's Worst Mom” in 2008 when she wrote an article titled, Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone, (New York Post, April 1, 2008).Since then, she's been leading the Free Range Kids movement – defending victims of a false hysteria that presumes all strangers “guilty until proven innocent,” despite falling crime rates. She last joined me to discuss her LetGrow initiative – helping parents let go of their helicoptering, and letting kids grow into functioning adults.I'm thrilled to welcome Lenore back to the show this Sunday to review the latest threats our kids' freedom to be kids – from the War on Recess to reading logs. Mark my words – the “War on Recess" will fare just like every other government “War on [fill-in-the-blank].”As this article in Harvard Health Publishing confirms, kids need sunshine, risk, and socialization to become functioning adults. Lastly, we discuss Utah's new law that protects parents from the charge of neglect when they let their kids play outside by themselves. Ahh, the sweet smell of Federalism!Follow her latest project at LetGrow.com, and tune in live to the show of ideas – not attitude.
On today's podcast episode John Papola converses with journalist and founder of the Free Range Kids Movement, Lenore Skenazy. You might know better as “The World's Worst Mom.” The two discuss The Free Range Kids Movement which Lenore started shortly after her breakout column “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone” went viral. Lenore shares insights from her impressive journalism career and she and John discuss their lives as parents. More from our guest: Wikipedia Page Twitter Let Grow's Twitter Let Grow's Website References from this episode: Free Range Kids (Blog) by Lenore Skenazy Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff & Jonathan Haidt Range by David Epstein Kidnapped by Paula S. Fass How to Live Dangerously by Warwick Cairns Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids by Bryan Caplan Euphoria (show)
Mom Enough: Parenting tips, research-based advice + a few personal confessions!
When Lenore Skenazy wrote about letting her then nine-year-old son ride the subway alone in New York City, she never imagined the uproar it would cause. But she didn’t let the cries of “bad mother” deter her from her mission of allowing her two sons to explore and flourish and build the life skills needed to navigate their world – to raise free range kids. Now, through her writing, speaking and working creatively with schools and communities, Lenore is leading a movement to back off from helicopter parenting and Let Grow, as she named the nonprofit she and colleagues created. Tune into her lively discussion with Marti & Erin and then reflect on how you can let the children in your life be free range kids! In what ways did you roam freely in your childhood? How are things the same or different for your children, and why? What do you think are the risks of protecting and directing kids so strongly in childhood and adolescence? Related resources: Let Grow Let Grow blog Let Grow schools Free-Range Kids book Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone article by Lenore Skenazy Unleashing the Instinct to Play featuring Peter Gray Supporting Your Child’s Gradual Development of Healthy Independence by Marti Erickson
In this full episode of "Exploring Minds", Lenore Skenazy dives into "Helicopter Culture" and how modern day parenting is affecting our kids. - A journalist by trade, Lenore spent 14 years at The New York Daily News as a reporter-turned-opinion columnist, and two more at The New York Sun. In 2008, after her column "Why I Let My 9 Year Old Ride the Subway Alone" landed her on every talk show from The Today Show to Dr. Phil, Lenore founded the book and blog “Free-Range Kids.” These launched the anti-helicopter parenting movement and garnered her the nickname, “America’s Worst Mom.” She got a promotion of sorts when Discovery Life tapped her to host the reality TV show, World’s Worst Mom. Lenore has lectured internationally from Microsoft to DreamWorks to the Sydney Opera House, and been profiled everywhere from The New York Times to The New Yorker. (She was even on The Daily Show!) Over the years, she has written for everyone from The Wall Street Journal to Mad Magazine. Yes -- Mad. After 10 years of watching parents nod along as she described how our culture has force-fed them fear, her aim at Let Grow is to turn agreement into action, making it easy and normal to give kids the same kind of freedom most of us had -- and loved. Lenore received her B.A. from Yale and her Master's Degree from Columbia. She lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her sons have (safely!) flown the coop. Free Range Kids http://www.freerangekids.com/ Let Grow https://letgrow.org/ - SUPPORT US ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/exploringmindsshow FOLLOW ALONG FOR UPDATES AND NEW EPISODES: Discord - https://discord.gg/YhaAcN3 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/exploringmindsshow Twitter - https://twitter.com/ExploreMinds_TV Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/exploreminds_tv/ Website - exploringminds.show — Exploring Minds with Michele Carroll is the online show committed to exploring the world beyond talking points. Thank you for listening! Support the show.
Hunter talks to Lenore Skenazy about How to Let Our Kids Grow. Do you worry about giving your kids more independence? Well, protecting them too much might be doing more harm than good. In this episode I talk to Lenore Skenazy, author of Free Range Kids about her new Let Grow Movement and the vital importance of free play for our kids. Some big takeaways from this episode include: 1. We lose our perspective because of fear-mongering media stories 2. Keeping them always “safe” may be keeping them from growing strong, resilient, and emotionally balanced. 3. The best way to promote independence is if we all do it TOGETHER. Lenore has a great resource to do this! Lenore Skenazy is president of the new non-profit Let Grow, and founder of the Free-Range Kids movement. Ten years ago, after her column "Why I Let My 9 Year Old Ride the Subway Alone" landed her on every talk show from The Today Show to Dr. Phil, Skenazy founded the book and blog “Free-Range Kids” to say that kids are NOT in constant danger. Give them a little more freedom and everyone wins. Now she lectures internationally and has been profiled everywhere from The New York Times to The New Yorker to The Daily Show! A journalist herself, Lenore has written for everyone from The Wall Street Journal to Mad Magazine. Yep. Mad. Her reality show “World's Worst Mom,” airs on Discovery Life (from time to time, late at night, in re-runs). In March, Utah became the first state to pass a "Free-Range Parenting Law," guaranteeing parents the right to give their kids some unsupervised time. The goal of Let Grow is to make it easy and normal to give kids back their independence. A Yale grad, Lenore lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her sons have (safely) flown the coop. Links: https://letgrow.org/ Fan of the Mindful Mama Podcast? Support it by leaving a quick review -----> Apple Podcasts or on Stitcher (or wherever you listen!) ABOUT HUNTER CLARKE-FIELDS: Hunter Clarke-Fields is a mindful mama mentor. She coaches overstressed moms on how to cultivate mindfulness in their daily lives. Hunter has over 20 years of experience in yoga & mindfulness practices. She has taught thousands worldwide, and is the creator of the Mindful Parenting course. Download the audio training, Mindfulness For Moms (The Superpower You Need) for free! It's at mindfulmomguide.com. Find more podcasts, blog posts, free resources, and how to work with Hunter at MindfulMamaMentor.com.
How Lenore Skenazy Became 'The World's Worst Mom' Imagine being dubbed 'the world's worst mom' by not just one disgruntled person but by the media as a whole. That's exactly what happened to Lenore Skenazy, when, in 2008, she had the 'audacity' to allow her 9-year-old son ride the New York City subway home alone. Of course, she didn't have to advertise this fact by writing a column in the New York Sun about it, but she did. Lenore's trade was already a successful columnist, and finding the reactions of her friends and peers to be so fascinating she knew it would make for a great column idea. Of course, she couldn't have predicted the media storm that would follow. Almost immediately she was making appearances on all the major TV networks and before she knew it was dubbed 'the world's worst mom.' In her column she explained her reasons for letting her son ride the subway. The main reason was that he desperately wanted to. In fact, he begged her to let him off somewhere in the city to let himself find his way home. The resulting media explosion combined with her growing sense of mission helped launched the free range kids (and free range parents movement).Free Range Kids (and Parenting) It's ten years later now, and the movement has grown enormously. So much so that the first state (Utah) has protected parents with the so-called 'free range parenting law.' Basically, it means that parents don't have to fear arrest or legal action for allowing their kids some measure of freedom. Kids can do simple things like walk to the local park or to and from school. Parents can send their kids to the store alone to pick up bread or milk. Or, as in Lenore's case, to let kids come home on public transportation. As you can imagine, Lenore's story resonated with me a great deal. I'm not sure if I'm officially a 'free range parent,' but like Lenore, I believe that kids benefit from being able to have free time to play. We share in the belief that the best learning is when kids are exploring the world with other kids. We both believe that kids can and should take care of themselves some of the time rather than being constantly under the watchful eye of their parents.Where is The Movement Now? It's been ten years since Lenore 'went viral' after writing her article. Since then, she perhaps more than anyone (with the possible exception of her 'Let Grow' board member Dr. Peter Gray) has been working and advocating for a sensible approach to parenting. Lenore and her organization are pushing hard to ensure that kids get what they need the most, which is actual free time to play without the constant guidance and planning of adults. And she shares some incredible stories on the podcast about of how being a free range kid benefits. I absolutely loved this episode. Lenore is one of my personal heroes, and I've been following her and her message for years. Having her on the podcast is a dream come true, and I'm sure you'll love this episode as much as me. She shares a lot in this episode, and Lenore has a wonderful personality. I hope you enjoy this episode of Honey! I'm Homeschooling the KidsMentioned in This Episode Lenore's Website "Let Grow" Lenore's Original Website "Free Range Kids" Dr. Peter Gray "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone" by Lenore Skenazy
This episode is underwritten by HealthIQ, and we couldn't be happier to have them! See, one of the things I'm so passionate about when I talk about how I use my ADHD to my advantage is exercise, right? It's obvious that a workout in the morning greatly boosts my brainpower and lets me use my faster brain to do great things. But here's the other benefit of exercise: Engagement in high-intensity exercise once per week decreases risk for cardiovascular mortality by 39% for men and 51% for women, and according to a 2009 Study in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, men who did high-intensity exercise have a 35% lower risk of all-cause mortality. For women the risk reduction is 44%. THAT'S HUGE. If you're exercising to improve how you manage your ADHD, AND you're getting the extra benefits of a much healthier body, then guess what: You should be paying less for your life insurance! That's where Health IQ comes in. Health IQ uses science & data to secure lower rates on life insurance for health conscious people including runners, cyclists, strength trainers, vegans, and more. 56% of Health IQ customers save between 4-33% on their life insurance, and these savings are exclusive to Health IQ. They save their customers up to 33% because physically active people have a 56% lower risk of heart disease, 20% lower risk of cancer and a 58% lower risk of diabetes compared to people who are inactive. Like saving money on your car insurance for being a good driver, Health IQ saves you money on your life insurance for living a health conscious lifestyle. Learn more and get a free quote at healthiq.com/FTN Hey gang! This week we're getting to visit with my ol'friend Lenore! Lenore Skenazy is president of the new non-profit Let Grow, dedicated to "Future-Proofing Our Kids and Our Country." Ten years ago, after her column "Why I Let My 9 Year Old Ride the Subway Alone" landed her on every talk show from The Today Show to Dr. Phil, Skenazy founded the book and blog “Free-Range Kids,” which launched the anti-helicopter parenting movement. Her main point? Our kids are NOT in constant danger. Give them a little more freedom and everyone wins. Now she lectures internationally, from Microsoft to Dreamworks to the Sydney Opera House, and has been profiled everywhere from The New York Times to The New Yorker. And here she is on The Daily Show! A journalist herself, Lenore has written for everyone from The Wall Street Journal to Mad Magazine. Yep. Mad. Her reality show “World's Worst Mom,” airs on Discovery Life (from time to time, late at night, in re-runs). A graduate of Yale and Columbia, she lives in New York City with her husband and beloved computer. Her sons have (safely) flown the coop. In this episode, Peter and Lenore discuss: 3:05- “Why I Let My 9 Year Old Ride the Subway Alone” / “World's Worst Mom” 4:05- So, how did this chapter start for you Lenore? 4:30- “Free-Range Kids” blog. Remembering seminal moments of being a kid. 6:00- Did you know I sliced my finger off once when I was a kid? 6:20- Parenting dilemmas, the importance of teachable moments & “SugarBombs”.. in the year 2018. 8:48- Children's physical environments and the freedom to learn. 10:22- Walking home after school in NYC, circa 1970's. 11:04- When IS the safest time to be a kid? 11:30- Fear and the consumption of Tech. 12:38- The Let Grow Project is trying to figure out how to make a real world change for parent's & kids. 13:00- LetGrow.org 13:27- Micro-initiative number 1. Begin to return to normal childhood activities. 14:25- A few experiences & quotes from folks who have been taking part in the Let Grow project. 15:40- Micro-initiative number 2. Free play at school, after school. 16:40- Identifying with the concepts of the Let Grow project and how I stay focused daily, without using meds. (Just in case you didn't already know). 17:10- Reach out at Lenore@LetGrow.org 17:54- Thank you Lenore!! 18:14 Faster Than Normal Podcast contact info and credits.