Free-Range Kids

How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow

By: Lenore Skenazy

Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee

In the newly revised and expanded second edition of Free-Range Kids, New York columnist-turned-movement leader Lenore Skenazy delivers a compelling and entertaining look at how we got so worried about everything our kids do, see, eat, read, wear, watch, and lick - and how to bid a whole lot of that anxiety goodbye. With real-world examples, advice, and a gimlet-eyed look at the way our culture forces fear down our throats, Skenazy describes how parents and educators can step back so kids step up. Positive change is faster, easier, and a lot more fun than you'd believe. This is the book that has helped millions of American parents feel brave and optimistic again-and the same goes for their kids.

Using research, humor, and feisty common sense, the book shows:

• How parents can reject the media message, "Your child is in horrible danger!"
• How schools can give students more independence - and what happens when they do. (Hint: Teachers love it.)
• How everyone can relax and successfully navigate a judge-y world filled with way too many warnings, scolds, and brand new fears

©2021 John Wiley & Sons (P)2021 Tantor

Good book okay performance

This book was great for those that are worried parents with their first child. Definitely helped me let go of a lot of my anxiety around child rearing. That being said the narrator was a bit fast paced for my liking and could have definitely use a second listen before releasing the book. Some misreads and quick cuts that got kind of annoying after awhile. But overall strongly recommend this book for anyone with kids.

Choose other version instead

I should have listened to samples before buying, but I wanted the latest edition of this book. I don't prefer this narrator, the way she reads makes the text sound extra snarky. Then I find I can get the older edition free via Amazon with my membership and now I'm extra irritated. Abandoning this version.

Good information, if you can get past the schtick

Overall, it's a very interesting book. But the author has a terrible writing style. You can feel the set up for the punchlines coming a mile away and after every paragraph or at the end of many sentences, she feels the need and desire to drop a punch line.

This is not the Borsch belt honey.

The narrator has screechy voice that gets too excited - ALL THE TIME.

I could not finish it.

Style of writing and narration is obnoxious

The overall message was helpful for me to be less of a helicopter parent, but I was unable to finish the book because the writing style and narration was obnoxious.

I wanted to like this book

I really love the concepts and the ideas presented however the way it was spoken felt judgmental and obnoxious. Unfortunately I could not finish the book. I was starting to feel bad as I listened to it

Inspiring

I am looking forward to introducing Let Grow to our school and state. We desperately need Let Grow laws here.

The whole book is read in an exasperated tone. It’s exhausting to listen to and felt too repetitive.

The tone of the book was exhausting to listen to. She was So Annoyed the whole time, there was no nuance.

I wanted to listen to the most updated version of this well recommended book.

I did not appreciate the narrators mean and snarky tone. It seems as though the author is leading with anger at some of the backlash she received in the beginning. Which I understand, but I’m not sure if it should have been led with that. I also don’t like how she put down one author and one journalist I highly admire and do not find me aggressive in anyway. That left a bad taste in my mouth and I had to stop listening to the book.

Easy to feel stress

I found the first few hours of listening a little stressful because of the subject matter (why parents are afraid). I think I would have been less stressed had I read the first few chapter and then listened to the rest of the book.
Great Topic! Great Book! Highly recommend, I’d advise reading or listening in small snippets the first couple hours if you are feeling anxious while listening.

For More Than Just Parents

Written with a fanstaic voice and performed well. It probably could be condensed; the point it is trying to make is clear early on and reiterated. However, I personally thought the book stayed interesting despite that and I enjoyed the tone.