Comments on: Just added to our blogroll.

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 03:25:40 +0000

I remember that when I went to kindergarten, my mom taught me how to cross the street, so I could walk by myself. I had to look both ways and then look back to the left one more time. I was absolutely devoted to that little ritual and performed it painstakingly every time I went to school. I think the street I had to cross was pretty small and didn’t have much traffic, but Mom must have drummed it into my head that it was imperative to really, really look!

This was in Yonkers, a middle class suburban area just north of the Bronx. Not exactly small town. But if I’m ever out for a walk in my neighborhood here in LA, I don’t see kids that young leaving school on their own. Their parents come to get them.

Somehow five seems young to me to go to school alone. But I do remember that I did it!

By: Tekla

Tekla — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:36:02 +0000

I’d like to look at that book.
I am filled with happiness whenever I get to see my 5 year-old girl running with a pack of kids: for a few minutes after school on her elementary school campus or at a friends house who has neighbor kids and a quiet street. This is a rare experience for her. We have no neighbor kids (no even sidewalks on our street!) She’s an only child. She basically is shuttled around by me in the car, and she is really constantly supervised. I worry about her lack of freedom. I try to do things like walk her home from school sometimes and let her dawdle and examine gardens, dogs, cracks in the sidewalk. I let her have her space at home: in her room or the back yard or bathroom. Sometimes this has backfired with some crazy mess or mischief she’s made. But she said to me once last year, “I wish I could climb over the fence and go have an adventure by myself, without you and daddy.” That says it all.

By: chanson

chanson — Sat, 30 May 2009 08:50:53 +0000

I haven’t read this particular book, but I’ve heard of it.

One of the reasons I like public transportation so much is that young teens have the freedom to get around on their own, rather than requiring a parent to chauffer them. A big part of the problem (for moving towards independence in reasonable stages) is the sea of sprawl where there’s nothing but other people’s yards within a kid’s walking or biking range.

By: Heather

Heather — Sat, 30 May 2009 05:17:13 +0000

Thanks for the pointer! I come at this thing from the opposite angle-my parents were a generation ahead of their time in terms of the “safety” craze. I have no clear idea of what a free-range childhood would be, but desperately want that for my daughter.