What is free range parenting? Is free range parenting safe? What are the benefits of free range parenting? What are the pros and cons of free range parenting? Are you aware of the answers to all these questions? If not, then don’t worry.
Free range parenting is a way of raising the children in the spirit of encouraging them to function independently. The kids are less under parental supervision.
By the end of the article, you will get to have a fair share of knowledge about free range parenting and the positive effects of free range parenting.
What Is Free Range Parenting?
As I said above, free range parenting is a way of raising the children in the spirit of encouraging them to function independently. The kids are a lot less under parental supervision.
It is just opposite to helicopter parenting. The free range parenting gives greater autonomy and less adult supervision. The term “free-range parenting” was coined by Lenore Skenazy, who let her 9-year-old son find his way home on the New York City subway system alone.
In a free range parenting, (R) the kids run up against the law in their state which dictates the age where the kids are left unattended in a car or home.
The main goal of free range parenting is to raise the kids to cope successfully with life, and if possible, be outrageously happy.
[Read: Uninvolved Parenting]
Is Free Range Parenting Safe?
Everything has its own advantages and disadvantages in its own way. But in today’s world, it is believed that every parent should follow the free range parenting style. This is because it emphasizes “the child’s functioning independently with judicious parental supervision,” as rightly said by Dr. Kyle Pruett, M.D., (R) Clinical Professor of Child Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine and member of the Educational Advisory Board at the Goddard School. (R)
It allows the kids to have the free will to explore around the world and fail if needed to grow and develop. The free range parenting includes things like playing outside, going alone outside, going to school alone, etc.
The free range parenting makes the child more resourceful. It also encourages the child to be more creative, a problem solver, strengthen the personality, and build confidence in kids.
The Benefits Of Free Range Parenting:
There are ample numbers of benefits of free range parenting in a toddler. Some of them are-
1. Parent Allows For Plenty Of Unscheduled Activities:
The free range parenting is considered as best as it encourages unstructured play. This is just better than everyday soccer practice; there is no set of rules that are needed to be followed by the kids. They are encouraged to play and pick up the game as per their wish and desire.
2. Playing In Nature Is Important:
The free range parenting encourages the kids to play outside in nature than the helicopter form of parenting. They don’t use more of the electronics devices and play at home. The parents want their kids to be away from technology and spend more time in nature.
3. Kids Earn Their Independence
The best positive effect of free range parenting is that the parents allow their kids to earn independence on their own. It is more often and early. The sense of freedom and responsibility is more than the helicopter parenting kids and they learn within a shorter time period. The kids are capable of trying new things and accomplishing hard tasks on their own.
4. Free Range Parents Don’t Parent Out Of Fear:
The free range parents allow their kids to play on the ground and ask them to try new things. They allow their kids to take a risk and get over it. The parents are completely okay if they are hurt also.
Pros & Cons Of Free Range Parenting:
As I said above that everything has its own advantages and disadvantage. Free range parenting has these pros and cons including-
Positive Effects Of Free Range Parenting:
1. Fresh Air:
As I said above, free range parents allow their kids to play on the ground and ask them to try with new things. They are more close to nature and outside. This, as a result, allows them to get involved with nature and breathe more fresh air.
2. More Adventure:
As they spend more time in nature, they develop a sense of adventure in them. They like to explore nature and be around the same. Moreover, the kids are more creative and they craft their own games and scenarios. They create their own story of an experience.
3. Learn Problem Solving Skills:
The free range parenting leads to developing problem-solving skills in children better. This happens due to adult moderating. The best quality of problem solving skill is that the kids learn how to play with other children and how to compromise in certain situations.
4. More Free Time With You:
In free range parenting, it also has positive effects on the parents also as it allows them to have some quality time with themselves as they don’t have to follow after their kids all the time. It is easy to keep track of where and when they will be all the time.
5. Parents Don’t Make Decision:
The very plus point of parenting is that the parents don’t make a decision on behalf of their kids. They allow their kids to take all the responsibility and challenges in their life. All the decisions are left on the kids to take.
Negative Effects Of Free Range Parenting:
1. Risk Of Injury:
The parents allow their kids to take a risk and get over it. The parents are completely okay if they are hurt also. But the kids get hurt and injured more often. In some cases, it can be a real danger for the kids.
2. Bad Words:
One of the most demerits or negative effects of free range parenting is that the kids get to learn bad words. This is because the kids get to learn through the other kids while they play outside in nature.
3. It Is Not Easy:
Sometimes it is hard for the parents to follow this pattern of parenting. This could be a very challenging environment for them.
4. Protective Neighbors
There are probably the changes of the other adults who can call up your child for unnecessary help. This can be a problem also for your kids to be grown up. So it very necessary to watch your kids while playing.
The main goal of free range parenting is to raise the kids to cope successfully with life, and if possible, be outrageously happy. I hope this article has given you good information about the pros and cons of free range parenting and the ways it is different from helicopter parenting.
