May 22, 2010 has been declared “Take Your Kids to the Park….And Leave Them There” day, by Lenore Skenazy. She seems to think that we should allow our school aged kids to play in playgrounds without our direct supervision. Sadly, it seems so incredibly RADICAL!
I would love to send my eight year old daughter to the playground by herself for an hour and not stress about her! But as an urban mother, I am quite scared that my daughter would not survive by herself and end up traumatized. Can it be done? Will anyone in Brooklyn take this challenge with me? Will any of our children in this beautiful Urban Jungle survive? Can this truly be the end of the dreaded playdate?
Skenazy seems to think so. Her new book, Free Range Kids is all about giving children back their “social” self-esteem. I am going to support this with my daughter on Saturday and welcome EVERY other American parent to release the fear and worry and send your kids outdoors by themselves. There is power in numbers.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi! I thought this was going to be another screed about how much safer our kids are inside (diabetes, heart disease, obesity) or in a car on their way to a pre-approved playdate (even though children are more likely to die as car passengers than any other way). Happily, it is a brave note of solidarity! Hooray and thank you! — Lenore “Free-Range Kids” Skenazy
I grew up in the ’70′s and remember being at the playground on some weekends from sun up until sun down. We only went home for meals. I loved being able to play all day with my friends. If I ever did something suspect, the telephone usually rang before I got home and my mother knew about it. There were eyes everywhere. Today, many parents would say I was crazy to allow my child the same latitude. I think those Saturdays saved my mother (a single mom) from being a complete wreck! I encourage my daughter to cross streets by herself and we are beginning to toy with the idea of short bus rides by herself with an adult to receive her on the other end.