Comments on: Free-Range Kids

By: Semicolon » Blog Archive » Adventures in (Homeschool) Education

Semicolon » Blog Archive » Adventures in (Homeschool) Education — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 05:24:34 +0000

[...] Soap-carving. Engineer Husband was going to let the seven year old carve WOOD with a KNIFE. “Free range children,” he said to me. (Why did I have him read that review?) Anyway, I suggested soap as safer and easier alternative, and the rest is history —and soap [...]

By: Katrina @ Callapidder Days

Katrina @ Callapidder Days — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:36:56 +0000

This sounds great. I probably fall somewhere in between — in some ways, I have the “free range mindset,” but in others, I definitely hover.

By: Lorie Shewbridge

Lorie Shewbridge — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:43:06 +0000

Thanks for reviewing the book… I saw the author on The View (I think) a while ago, when I first thought she was crazy. Then as I listened to her, I realized that I had really given my children more freedom than I realized as they were growing up, but we didn’t live in the city, they just had freedom in the environment THEY were familiar with, just as she had with her children. She is a facinating woman. I really enjoy all of your sites, thanks for keeping me well-informed.

By: Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker

Jen @ Happy Little Homemaker — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:49:40 +0000

I would love this. DH doesn’t think it’s just as safe. Would love to prove otherwise .

Thanks!

Jen

By: Petula

Petula — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:13:58 +0000

Great review. I’d like to read the book. I don’t think I’m so free range when they’re younger, but as they mature I get a little more lenient. When my oldest daughter, who’s 18 now, was 5 I could trust her to go outside and play, stay where I told her, do and don’t do what I said. Now, with my younger children, my son is 5 and I don’t trust him at all. He’s a little more trustworthy than his 4-year-old sister, but he’s too easily influenced by her. The youngest, no way, she’s under strict guard. She purposefully runs toward the street just because I give her boundaries. This would be a great read.

By: Justin@Freedom Debt Relief

Justin@Freedom Debt Relief — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:34:41 +0000

Great review. Quite disturbing to know the change in our culture… will read your book for sure. Great work

By: Heather J.

Heather J. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:31:44 +0000

This was a very interesting post and podcast to be sure! I’m still not sure what I think about all this though. I mean, I’m all for promoting independence in my son (who is 7 right now) but I’m leery about “the world” all the same. For example, the parents who are my immediate neighbors don’t even watch their OWN children so I’m certainly not going to rely on them as a safety net for my child (plus the fact that there are 6 sex offenders in my immediate neighborhood). And also, my husband was sexually molested by a male teacher as a child, so he is ultra-protective of our son based on his own past. In our situation, it is really hard to step back and go free range … although we do encourage our son to make his own decisions whenever possible.

Great post and podcast though – it has definitely given me something to think about.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:01:09 +0000

I heard the author on a podcast from Manic Mommies. LOVED it! I, too, was surprised by the statistics. Great information, though.
I am more over-protective myself, but since hearing her interview, I have been working on it.

I have to say, I think it’s terrible the way so many people came out to harp on her. Poor thing. I’m glad she stuck to her guns and created this awesome book!

SO GLAD to see it reviewed here on 5M4M!

By: Amy Reads Good Books

Amy Reads Good Books — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:28:15 +0000

I’ve been following Skenzay’s site for a while. Great review! I’ll have to read the book sometime soon.

By: Are you raising Free-Range Kids?

Are you raising Free-Range Kids? — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:33:04 +0000

[...] and I reviewed the book, and recorded a little chat with the author, so click on over to 5 Minutes for Books to read our thoughts on this book. And if you have a little more time, download or listen to the [...]

By: edj

edj — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:32:06 +0000

I want to read this book! I’m pretty free-range already; raising kids overseas will do this to you. I go into culture shock at all the rules when I return to the US. In fact, a couple of years ago I wrote some posts about it, but I don’t know how to leave links in comments so you’ll have to imagine how thought-provoking and well-written they are

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:54:24 +0000

Excellent review! As the mother of an almost 11 year old daughter, I cannot wait to read this book.

By: Carrie, Reading to Know

Carrie, Reading to Know — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:39:43 +0000

Fascinating review! I enjoyed hearing both of yoru thoughts….and now I’m really, really curious to read this book for myself!