Category Archives: parenting

More evidence that kids are capable

Posted on May 21, 2018 by

Another great video from German fire educator Kain Karawahn that might shock American parents: pre-school kids making bonfires. What I love about this video is that the kids are not only lighting fires — they are cutting wood, preparing food, … Continue reading →

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Helicopter parents, race, and class: why the cops were called on two Native American teens on a college tour

Posted on May 8, 2018 by

Recently, a mother on a campus tour of Colorado State University called the police on two Native American teens because she found their behavior “odd” and their clothing disturbing. They were wearing heavy metal band t-shirts and didn’t answer her … Continue reading →

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Reevaluating Our Prohibition of Fire

Posted on April 23, 2018 by

“Don’t play with fire!” is such a common warning in the U.S. we take for granted that it is true. We believe that the best way to deal with kids’ fascination with fire is to prohibit it entirely. But this … Continue reading →

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My son’s sign for the March for Our Lives

Posted on March 24, 2018 by

My son’s sign for March for Our Lives got some attention today. He told me after the march that his school does not always tell him when a lockdown is a drill, and it scares him. Continue reading →

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Conquering a Dragon in Psychology Today

Posted on February 25, 2018 by

My first post for Psychology Today is about bringing some reasonable risk and more creativity to American playgrounds — so our children have the chance to learn how to manage risk and face their fears. German kids enjoy playing on structures … Continue reading →

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Talking at Google

Posted on February 21, 2018 by

A little while back, I had the opportunity to visit the Google campus in Seattle to talk about how Germans raise self-reliant kids. And here’s the video!   Couple highlights: About 12 min: there’s a comparison of US vs. German … Continue reading →

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Rebuilding the American Community — First: Stop Calling the Police on Parents

Posted on February 11, 2018 by

Photo by Matty Ring When I heard that Americans were calling the cops on parents, I hoped that maybe a few incidents would make people see reason and stop. Then, it happened to one of my friends. Recently, my friend … Continue reading →

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