Abstract:

The media labeled Lenore Skenazy "America's Worst Mom" when she let her 9-year-old ride the New York City subway alone. She wore the badge with pride and went on to found Free-Range Kids, the book, blog and eventually movement dedicated to the idea that our kids are SAFER and SMARTER than our culture gives them credit for. Now she is president of Let Grow, a non-partisan non-profit promoting independence as a critical part of growing up.

In this very funny lecture (she used to write for Mad Magazine) Lenore traces how we became so afraid of everything from predators to non-organic grapes (even if cut into quarters!), and how schools can play a key role in giving kids back the confidence and resilience stolen from them by our overprotective times. Teachers doing the Let Grow initiatives – all free -- notice the difference when kids are trusted to start doing more on their own.

Keywords:

America's Worst Mom.