There are many parenting styles out there for parents to choose from and incorporate into their households. free-range parenting is one of those styles. Can it work for you? Keep reading to find out.
Free-range parenting came into popularity in the early 2000s when Lenore Skenazy, a New York columnist, wrote an article titled “Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone.”
In the piece, she detailed her son’s experience, and the court of public opinion quickly accused her of being borderline neglectful.
Per Bloomberg.com, “in many parts of Asia, particularly in Japan, it is common for young children, sometimes as young as 5 or 6 years old, to go to school, take public transportation, and run errands alone . This is driven by high levels of public safety, a culture of community supervision, and a focus on fostering early independence.”
So, in that vein, was Skenanzy, at the time, being neglectful or properly implementing a parenting technique that could potentially teach children independence and responsibility early on?
Per Parents.com, free-range parenting, “advocates insist this parenting style isn’t about being permissive or uninvolved. Instead, it’s about allowing kids to have the freedom to experience the natural consequences of their behavior—when it’s safe to do so. It’s also about ensuring kids have the skills needed to become responsible adults.”
Per the outlet, characteristics of free-range parenting include:
- Parents allow for plenty of unscheduled activities.
- Playing in nature is important.
- Kids earn their independence.
- Free-range parents don’t parent out of fear.
As explained by the experts at Parents.com, “There isn’t always a clear answer about when a child is ready to handle mature responsibilities, like riding the subway alone. What’s considered normal in one area among parents may be considered neglect in other cities or states.”
If free-range parenting isn’t the right fit for you, there are many other parenting styles that parents can explore and add to their parenting toolbox.
