Introduction. Welcome To - Yikes!. The Fourteen Free Range Commandments. 1. KNOW WHEN TO WORRY. Playdates and Axe Murderers: How To Tell The Difference. 2. TURN OFF THE NEWS. Go Easy On The 'Law & Order,' Too. 3. AVOID EXPERTS. Who Knew You Were Doing Everything Wrong? ...Them. 4. BOYCOTT BABY KNEE PADS. And The Rest of the Kiddie Safety-Industrial Complex. 5. DON'T THINK LIKE A LAWYER. Some Risks are Worth It. 6. IGNORE BLAMERS. They Don't Know Your Kid Like You Do. 7. EAT CHOCOLATE. Give Halloween Back To The Trick-or-Treaters. 8. STUDY HISTORY. Your 10-Year-Old Would Have Been Forging Horse Shoes (Or At Least Delivering The Paper). 9. BE WORLDLY. Why Other Countries Are Laughing at Zee Scaredy-Cat Americans. 10. GET BRAVER. Quit Trying to Control Everything. It Doesn't Work Anyway. 11. RELAX. Not Every Little Thing You Do Has That Much Impact On Your Child's Development. 12. FAIL!. It's The New Succeed. 13. LOCK THEM OUT. Make Them Play - Or else. 14. LISTEN TO YOUR KIDS. They're Sick of Being Babies (Except The Actual Babies, Of Course). SAFE OR NOT? THE A-Z GUIDE TO EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT BE WORRIED ABOUT. STRANGERS WITH CANDY. Even the Folks Who Put The Faces On Milk Cartons Aren't Too Worried. CONCLUSION. SOURCES. RESOURCES. ABOUT THE AUTHOR. INDEX.
LENORE SKENAZY is a syndicated columnist, humorist, and founder of Free-Range Kids. She has written for periodicals from Reader's Digest to The Times (of London) to Mad magazine, and been a commentator on CNBC, the Food Network, and NPR. Her books include The Dysfunctional Family Christmas Songbook and Who's the Blonde That Married What's-His-Name? She lives with her husband and two sons in New York City.
Library Journal Starred Review - Skenazy flies the black flag of America's Worst Mom, a title this syndicated columnist and NPR commentator earned by allowing her nine-year-old son to ride the New York City public transit alone in 2008. Here, she puts parents' fears to bed by examining the statistical likelihood of the dangers we most fear (murder, baby-snatching, etc.). Drawing on facts, statistics, and humor, she convincingly argues that this is one of the safest periods for children in the history of the world, reiterating that mostly, the world is safe and mostly, people are good. Even the lowest-flying helicopter parents would have trouble disagreeing that we have entered an era that says you cannot trust yourself. Trust a product instead. Skenazy argues that it's time to retire the national pastime of worrying and that childhood is supposed to be about discovering the world, not being held captive. The obvious has never been so hilarious. Skenazy will find plenty of supporters for her contention that, in a world where the rights of chickens to roam freely are championed, it's time to liberate the kids. (The Wall Street Journal, April 24, 2009) "Skenazy advocates for a child's right to separate gradually from a parent's assistance and to learn the joy and self-confidence that comes from trying out independence." --Christian Century (November 2009)
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