Ep 20 | Free-Range Kids and the Magic of a Dirt Pile with Lenore Skenazy
It’s time to trust kids more. Let them walk those four houses home, climb that tree, and spend an afternoon conquering a pile of dirt. Freedom, not fear, shapes childhood the childhood we hope to give our kids.
In this episode of Play Nature Podcast, host Rusty Keeler is chatting with Free-Range Kids author and Let Grow president Lenore Skenazy to explore how we, as parents, got so anxious about safety, and what happens when we let kids reclaim their independence.
Together, Rusty and Lenore laugh, reflect, and get fired up about what it means to be a “free-range kid” in today’s world. They are sharing why playtime has shrunk, how fear has grown, and the beauty of a child’s self-directed adventure.
From bus stop debates to AirTag sneakers, this conversation takes on the cultural shift from trust to tracking, and how we can turn it around.
You’ll hear about the Let Grow Experience (a simple way for schools and parents to nurture independence), the joy of multi-age play, and why every child deserves the chance to say, “I did it myself.”
Top 3 Takeaways with Lenore Skenazy
- Freedom Feeds Growth: Kids don’t need a perfect plan; they need space, time, and trust. A pile of dirt or a short walk home can spark hours of imagination, confidence, and joy.
- Fear Shrinks Play: “Worst-first thinking” keeps kids indoors and anxious. Loosen the grip and help them (and ourselves) build the trust muscle that keeps anxiety in check.
- Communities Can Drive Change: Through Let Grow programs and open-ended play clubs, parents and schools can make independence normal again.
Links:
Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow by Lenore Skenazy
letgrow.org/free-chapter (FREE chapter for Educators from Free-Range Kids)
letgrow.org/resource/more-lenore-skenazy (connect with Lenore for speaking engagements)
Learn More: rustykeeler.com | @rusty_keeler_designs
