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Calm Down, Your Kids Are Perfectly Safe

Writer/mom says parents worry, hover way too much

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted May 4, 2009 11:24 AM CDT

(Newser) – With a constant barrage of news stories and TV shows highlighting child abductions and murders, it may seem like a supremely dangerous time to be a kid. But don't believe the media, says Lenore Skenazy, the author of Free-Range Kids. In an interview with Salon, she explains why children today are probably safer than their parents were. Crime rates are down, and "we're living in really safe times," she says.

It's 40 times more likely that your child will die in a car crash than be hurt by a stranger, yet clusters of parents "wait at the bus stop in the afternoon to drive the kid home, even if it's on the same block, even if it's in a gated community." Instead, it's time to stand back and let kids move about the world on their own, Skenazy says. "The fun of childhood is not holding your mom's hand."

Some 9-year-olds should not be let out of their parents' sight, sure. But others could probably do fine on the train or subway by themselves, says Lenore Skenazy.
Some 9-year-olds should not be let out of their parents' sight, sure. But others could probably do fine on the train or subway by themselves, says Lenore Skenazy.   (©hoyasmeg)
Lenore Skenazy's book Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts With Worry came out last month.
Lenore Skenazy's book "Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts With Worry" came out last month.   (Jossey-Bass)
Let the little ones take some risks, says Lenore Skenazy.
Let the little ones take some risks, says Lenore Skenazy.   (©brianna.lehman)
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It makes it seem like we are living in a world where children are in constant, utter peril, and the statistics actually don't prove that. - Lenore Skenazy, explaining how the media's over-coverage of child abductions skews people's views

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
RobN
May 5, 2009 3:31 AM CDT
Statistically completely untrue.
RobN
May 4, 2009 7:44 AM CDT
She's not talking nonsense. It's perception versus reality. Twenty years ago you never would have heard of the McCanns and you'd have happily let your kid play in the street till it got dark. Now a kid disappears on the other side of the world and you won't let your kid play in his own cul de sac. Twenty years ago a kid used his imagination and played outside; now he has supervised play dates. The cost of super vigilance is childhood obesity, dependance and a serious case of no fun.
Mr.C
May 4, 2009 7:24 AM CDT
This lady is amazingly bold and I agree with her completely. Murders, Kidnappings, etc. are very very rare. TV displays sensational stories of bloodshed because Izzy making it home safely just isn't rare enough to get reported. (check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M... and the "see also" links as well)

Review of Free-Range Kids
Daily News Transcript

Skenazy makes a compelling case
Tampa Bay Newspapers

Moms respond
Albany Democrat Herald

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