The Case for Independence, Free Play, and Responsibility in the Real World

If I Let My Kid Play Outside, They’ll Be Bullied!

What to say to other parents (or yourself!) to put bullying fears in perspective

Jun 10 •

A Norwegian Approach to Supporting Children’s Risky Play

Ellen Sandseter on the value of bumps, bruises, and building real-world confidence

May 16 •

Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter

Four Lessons for Raising Resilient Children in the Digital Age

What secular families can learn from faith-based communities

Oct 14, 2024 •

and

Journalist Sends Kids off on a Smartphone-Free Camping Trip – Unsupervised. Adults Quake. Kids Flourish.

The Sunday Times (UK) just ran a major story illustrating the twin prescriptions in The Anxious Generation

Aug 12, 2024 •

and

How Phones Are Making Parents the Anxious Generation

Smartphones are trust blockers for parents

Jul 24, 2024 •

Treating Childhood Anxiety with a Mega-Dose of Independence

What therapists can do to help restore the play-based childhood

Jul 8, 2024 •

Neighborhoods that Nurture: Why The Play-Based Childhood Requires More Than Just Putting Down the Phone

It's easier to create “play-based childhoods” if we can simultaneously create vibrant “community-based childhoods” to support them.

Jun 13, 2024 •

Why Kids Need Summer Camp

A 160-year-old solution to a modern mental health crisis

Mar 12, 2024 •

Why Children Need Risk, Fear, and Excitement in Play

And why adults’ fears put them at risk

Feb 28, 2024 •

Mariana Brussoni

Good News For Anxious Kids (And Parents)

A simple homework project can make your child more ready to face the world.

Nov 2, 2023 •

Play Deprivation Is A Major Cause of the Teen Mental Health Crisis

Allowing more unsupervised free play is among the most powerful and least expensive ways to bring down rates of mental illness

Jul 27, 2023 •

and

#nojs-banner { position: fixed; bottom: 0; left: 0; padding: 16px 16px 16px 32px; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; background: red; color: white; font-family: -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px; } #nojs-banner a { color: inherit; text-decoration: underline; } This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please turn on JavaScript or unblock scripts