Lenore Skenazy Column Brings Attention to 'Free Range' Parenting

By: E&P Staff Creators Syndicate columnist Lenore Skenazy stirred up an immense amount of controversy last month with a piece titled "Why I Let My 9-Year-Old Ride the Subway Alone."

Many readers were appalled that Skenazy allowed her son to take New York City mass transit by himself. But others applauded the columnist for giving her son some freedom and not being a dreaded "helicopter parent."

Skenazy said many people "had been noticing this same problem -- cowering kids, enveloped by too much love and worry -- and commenting on it."

Now, Skenazy is helping to lead the "Free Range" movement, has begun a blog called "Free Range Kids," and is contemplating writing a book.

More information and links about Skenazy, her April column, and the "Free Range" movement can be seen here. Part of what you'll read shows that Skenazy does set some parental limits.