How to Be a Better Human How to build your kid's confidence — by leaving them alone (w/ Lenore Skenazy)
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Sep 29, 2025 
Lenore Skenazy, founder of the Free Range Kids movement, discusses the importance of giving children independence to foster confidence and competence. She argues that constant parental supervision can harm kids' development and advocates for experiential learning. Lenore shares insights on how free play is essential for mental health and suggests practical steps for parents to embrace hands-off parenting. With personal anecdotes and cultural comparisons, she highlights that letting kids navigate the world themselves builds resilience and curiosity.
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Children Are More Capable Than We Think
- Free-range parenting trusts that children are capable of more independence than modern parents assume.
- Over-supervising deprives kids of learning opportunities and builds dependency.
Pessimistic Parenting Backfires
- Teaching kids to expect the worst harms their long-term relationships and health.
- Framing the world as mostly trustworthy produces better social and mental outcomes.
Assign Small Independent Tasks
- Give children small, supervised-but-independent tasks like errands to build competence.
- Let them experience minor mistakes because real outcomes teach resilience and confidence.
