Why You Should Let Your Kids Take Risks - Lenore Skenazy episode artwork

EPISODE · May 15, 2025 · 1H 53M

Why You Should Let Your Kids Take Risks - Lenore Skenazy

from Dad Saves America · host John Papola

I sat down with Lenore Skenazy, founder of the ‘free-range kids’ movement, to explore how fear-based parenting is holding our children back. Once dubbed “The World’s Worst Mom” for letting her 9-year-old ride the New York City subway alone, Lenore has since become a powerful voice challenging the culture of overprotection and anxiety that dominates American parenting. She explains how safetyism, media sensationalism, and misguided laws have created a generation of kids who are less confident, less capable, and more dependent than ever before. Lenore is also the co-founder of Let Grow, an organization dedicated to making it “easy, normal, and legal” to get kids out into the world._____________________________________Follow Lenore on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/FreeRangeKidsLearn more about Let Grow: https://letgrow.org/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12566296070&gbraid=0AAAAACiZd3IWxylN25lbtWazgN-I9BMWb&gclid=Cj0KCQjwoZbBBhDCARIsAOqMEZXmIfShjY9u4V6kj3Z9BCi7HiM5WBNdeXKwydzyDSMxpAXmzKJ5vfcaAtRPEALw_wcB“Off the Rails” mini-doc: https://youtu.be/bxPPJVbygzs_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] The World’s Worst Mom[10:16] How the “news” made parents afraid[20:06] Expert culture overcomplicated parenting[24:59] “Law and Order” isn’t real life[30:38] We need action leaders, not thought leaders[38:47] Parental anxiety is a societal mental illness[45:47] How “Let Grow” became a clinical treatment[57:40] Kids need to learn not to outsource their discomfort[1:05:20] The creative process, hero’s journey, and freedom[1:13:05] How the government makes the problem worse[1:27:10] Did wealth and progressivism ruin childhood?[1:37:56] Will the collapse of experts reset parenting?[1:42:03] Phone surveillance eliminates trust building[1:49:36] The tide might be turning_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QyjPLDmvWQ8Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe

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