Comments on: Rachel Griffiths Hoping Three Kids Enjoy a 'Free Range' Childhood

By: Kim from Australia

Kim from Australia — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:38:50 +0000

I had exactly that childhood f running round being a kid I was a kid in the 80s and we lived in a surburban beachside town til I was 9 and we’d go riding bikes and getting up to mischief with neighbours and get into scrapes and then I moved to a farm and we’d go on picnics along the border of our property and chase the cows and get all dirty with my brothers, it was great fun and I miss that, my own kids prob wont have that same experience now as they were born in the burbs and stranger danger etc is more prevelent now then it was back when I was a kid.

By: mochababe73

mochababe73 — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:16:01 +0000

I love it. I remember when we had to be home when the street lights came on. We could only go inside to use the restroom. My grandmother would put a cooler of ice water and cups on the front porch for us to drink.
I try to raise my children the same way. My boys own an X-Box360, PS2, and a WII, but they would rather play outside or football (they’re on a team) than those games. Two of those systems were brought by their grandparents. What helps is that they are not able to always get the latest and greatest games because they are waaaay too expensive. I really feel for children who are inside all day instead of being outside having fun.
Do children even know how to ride bikes anymore?

By: Baby Carriers

Baby Carriers — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:48:00 +0000

Oh what I wouldn’t give for a big yard for my kids! I live in one of those townhouses that Devon mentioned – 1400sq.ft. and maybe 200sqft yard – it sucks. On the other hand, my husband is self employed and his customer base is here, so unless he wants to build his business up from scratch again, we’re kinda stuck. At least until we can afford a bigger house, but this economy sucks!

By: Megan

Megan — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:57:59 +0000

“My pool is fenced, so they don’t have to worry about that”

Hopefully she has a pool alarm. Not to sound like a worry wart ; ), it’s just that little ones have a way of getting around pool fences & safety latches when you least expect it!

By: Liliana

Liliana — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:22:36 +0000

Great article.

I love city living and my children benefit from the experiences and diversity they encounter but I know the importance of letting kids be kids. They love running around, getting dirty, and kicking a ball.

I also like her comment about motherhood in the U.S. vs Australia. Compared to other parts of the world, it seems like more people here see parenting as a competition rather than each family doing exactly what’s right for them.

By: Devon

Devon — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:08:12 +0000

Reading this had to make me laugh! A girlfriend and I were just talking about this today. When I grew up, I lived 15 minutes (by car) to the nearest town and 45 minutes (by car) to the city. We lived a block from the beach, on all 4 sides of our house, we had forests and we lived for the outdoors all year long. Kids need that sort of life growing up. We didn’t watch TV, only came in for meals and were dragged in when it was dark. My mum was lucky that she only worked part time and had whole summers off to play and be kids. Kids need to be kids and scrape their knees, cut their hands and only have their imaginations to stop them.

I live in a major city now, but as soon as I have my own children, we are moving to the boonies. I cringe when I see kids living in my neighbourhood. The biggest “house” where I live (and by house I mean townhouse since there are no single family homes in my area) is 1240 sqft and maybe 100 sqft of outdoor space. That is no place to raise kids. I love Rachel’s philosophy.

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:30:55 +0000

what a great read!

By: Suze

Suze — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:29:21 +0000

what a wonderful philosophy…loved the part about a “holiday so long that the kids grow out of their shoes,” and also the story of her son cutting holes in the curtains! i too try to raise my kids with a certain sense of freedom (within safe boundaries). i actually let them walk home from school on their own (gasp!), which raises some eyebrows from my friends. the sense of confidence that kids gain from being outside with siblings and friends and without the watchful eye of an adult is so important. fantastic job, rachel!

By: Rye

Rye — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:26:53 +0000

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her parenting philosophies. Definitely a refreshing POV in an age where kids are practically RAISED by computers, video games and reality tv. It’s scary thinking that I grew up in a completely different manner that kids today are raised and I was a kid in the 80′s/early 90′s. Feels like it was just yesterday but it’s really ages ago! ahhhh!!

By: Sam and Freya's mum

Sam and Freya's mum — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:19:07 +0000

Ditto the first two comments!