Free-range parenting.
What is it? Well, it's kind of like raising free range chickens.
I know, I know, that sounds extreme, but the metaphor works in a couple ways.
First, free-range parenting is based around letting your kids out of the cage that is your house and letting them run around, explore, and interact with nature.
Also, there are clear health benefits to free-range parenting. With anxiety and depression on the rise, time spent playing outside helps kids fend those things off.
Now, this isn't to say that you need to go drop your kids off at a park across town, like some people have, but maybe this is the time for us to start ushering them back outside, where they can participant in normal kid activities without adult supervision.
Justin Worsham of The Dad Podcast is a big fan of free-range parenting.
"Since 1967, kids walking to and from school has been on the decline. And anxiety and depression in kids is on the rise at almost the same rate.
We have given up free play and riding your bike or running around outside to keep our kids safe and stumbled into the unintended consequences of child obesity, cyber bullying, and over-scheduling with extra curricular activities.
Maybe we should reign in the concern and activities and use that time to hang out with the parents of our kid’s friends and let our kids ride or run around the neighborhood. It seems that the worst case scenario is parents and kids will be less anxious and possibly healthier."
Read the full story at The Atlantic
Check out statistics on free-range parenting at Free Range Kids
To hear more of Justin's take on free range parenting, and other parenting topics, you can check out all of his stuff at The Dad Podcast
Check out his latest episode with Brendan Mahan of ADHD Essentials about some of the myths associated with ADHD and how you can help your kid.