Why Modern Parenting Is Stripping Our Kids of Independence with Lenore Skenazy | Ep. 132

Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids, has been sounding the alarm for years: in our effort to protect our children, we may actually be holding them back.

In this conversation, we dive into what’s happened to childhood over the past few decades, why independence is declining, why parents feel more pressure than ever to supervise and structure everything, and what it’s costing our kids.

From helicopter parenting and “bulldozer” parenting to overscheduled calendars and screen heavy childhoods, we unpack how modern parenting norms may be limiting the very skills our kids need to thrive.

This episode isn’t about judgment. It’s about perspective, and practical ways to raise capable, confident, independent kids in a culture that often pushes the opposite.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The message behind Free-Range Kids and why it still matters today
• The essential skills children need to grow into independent, resilient adults
• Why modern parenting culture often discourages independence
• The downsides of helicopter parenting and bulldozer parenting
• How overprotection can increase anxiety in children
• Why mixed-age play and community matter more than we realize
• Whether kids actually prefer structured activities, screens, or unstructured play
• The power of giving kids real responsibility
• What the Let Grow movement is and how it helps families foster independence

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re hovering too much… or worried that giving your child more freedom feels risky in today’s world… this episode will challenge and encourage you in the best way.

Raising independent kids doesn’t mean being uninvolved. It means gradually stepping back so they can step forward.

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