I grew up running free around lakes and fields in my native Midwest, and I am passionate about giving kids today that experience and joy in nature. I am a soldier in the children and nature movement.
So I was thrilled and fascinated to see an emerging parallel effort that hits similar freedom and exploration themes.
New York Sun columnist Lenore Skenazy created a stir when she wrote about allowing her 9-yr. old son to ride the subway home alone in New York City. Think what you want about whether 9 is the right age for this kind of freedom, but give Skenazy credit for launching a spirited dialogue on the state of childhood in America. Her column led to Skenazy appearances on the Today Show, NPR and Dr. Phil, stories in Newsweek and Slate and creation of a new blog on the topic of giving kids a little more latitude to explore Free Range Kids.
Food for thought: wouldn't it be powerful if the nascent Children and Nature and Free Range Kids movements started working together to promote the need for kids to have a little freedom to explore?
Check out MJ on the topic of children and nature on this Travelocity Window Seat podcast.
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