What Can We Learn from “Free-Range” Parenting? | Homeschool Talks Ep. 113

What does healthy independence for kids look like? Lenore Skenazy of Let Grow has been studying this idea ever since she made headlines for letting her 9-year-old son ride the subway home by himself. In this episode, Lenore joins HSLDA President Jim Mason to discuss what she’s learned about unstructured play and child independence. Lenore and Jim also chat about the recent bill that passed in Virginia to revise the law regarding parental supervision—and how these types of bills affect homeschooling families.

“None of us wants a job where we’re micromanaged. Neither do kids. You want an employee, an adult, and a child to be able to figure some things out for themselves. . . . There are all those social and emotional skills that they learn—like how to get along, make something happen, or deal with conflict—that [kids] learn when an adult is not running the deal for them.”—Lenore Skenazy

Show Notes:

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[sharimcminn]

Exactly! My late husband and I homeschooled 9 of our 11 kids on our remote livestock farm. They were taught to take calculated risks and were free ranging after bookwork was complete every day. They are now amazing, creative, hard-working, entrepreneurial adults. You go, Lenore!

[rachelriddle]

I will be joining in the next month or two when my oldest registers for school

[ewaoconnor]

The US crime rate is very high so I would be very worried. You can teach a child independence without exposing them to unnecessary risk when they cannot defend themselves.

[rachelriddle]

My biggest concern is a particular family member who, from literally the other side of the country, called CPS on me because I let my kids wear filthy clothes. AKA: don't change them out of their PJs immediately in the morning. We stay in our PJs for a bit. How do I protect myself against that?

[harriereducation]

School is the most dangerous place for children.