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Shannon Hood's avatar

All I can say is: I want to see more of this! More teens without smartphones (and in nature!) flourishing. Bravo to the journalist/mother who had the courage to do this.

My oldest is 14, and when he is biking in our neighborhood or at a church activity, I'm tempted to wish I had a way to reach him. But then I remember that I'm building trust in him, and he is building confidence in himself, and if he can't call me every time something goes wrong, he'll build more independence, which is the point of raising children after all: to turn them into capable adults.

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Ruth Gaskovski's avatar

I hope that this experiment will serve to inspire and be replicated by families who recognize the need for a "new normal". It was interesting to note that it was the adults who were quick to try and put limits and oberservation on the camping trip, "The editor declared any campfire a “no-no.” The lawyer wanted to GPS the teens and send a chaperone to shadow them."

True independence cannot flourish if we remove all risks.

Switzerland is a place where personal responsibility is encouraged and expected. One place where this contrast is apparent is in the public swimming pools. In Canada a pool of approx 25 by 15 meters is observed by a minimum of six to eight lifeguards who frequently count heads, berate youths who summersault into the water, and stop and running or rough play, and control the timing of going down the slides. In contrast the public swimming pool we visit each summer in my hometown has three pools (25 by 25; 50 by 25; and 10 by 25 meters), diving boards, a climbing wall, and waterslides. How many lifeguards? Two to three. Swimmers are allowed to run, dive in any which way they like, and wait of their own accord at diving boards and slides.

Public pools are only one example of a princliple that permeates the culture. This "lack of supervision" does not result in more accidents, and instead produces citizens of independence and self-responsibility. Not tracking our children or constantly checking in on them and instead spending time listening to the stories they tell us about their day, can be a simple first step in a direction of independence.

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