Dad Saves America

Why You Should Let Your Kids Take Risks - Lenore Skenazy

15 snips
May 15, 2025
Lenore Skenazy, founder of the 'free-range kids' movement, challenges the pervasive culture of fear in American parenting. She discusses how safetyism and media sensationalism have led to overprotected children who lack confidence and independence. Lenore shares insights on the importance of risk-taking for resilience and critiques the absurdity of safety regulations. She advocates for empowering kids to explore freely, contrasting American tendencies with more lenient parenting practices in other cultures, and highlights the need for societal change in attitudes towards childhood freedom.
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ANECDOTE

The World's Worst Mom Story

  • Lenore Skenazy let her 9-year-old son ride the New York City subway alone, sparking major media attention.
  • This experience became a catalyst for her advocacy of "free-range kids" and more child independence.
INSIGHT

Media Fuels Parental Fear

  • News media sensationalize crime to attract viewers, creating "mean world syndrome" making the world seem scarier than it is.
  • This skewed perception fuels parental anxiety and overprotection despite low real-world risks to children.
ADVICE

Build Trust Through Small Let-Go Steps

  • Letting kids do small tasks independently helps parents learn to trust their children.
  • Start by allowing manageable outings to build confidence for both parent and child.
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