Raising Free-Range Kids in an Age of Fear & Distraction: A Conversation with Meghan Cox Gurdon
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What if one of the greatest gifts we could give our children is the freedom to discover what they’re capable of? And what if our modern obsession with safety is unintentionally taking some of that freedom away?
These are questions I’ve been thinking about for years as a mother of three, especially as I’ve watched my own children grow more independent, take risks, climb trees, and develop confidence through outdoor play. They’re also at the heart of a conversation I’ve been looking forward to sharing for a very long time.
In Episode 41 of The My Outdoorsy Mom Podcast, I’m joined by Meghan Cox Gurdon, author of The Enchanted Hour and the newly released memoir Free Range Girl.
Meghan’s first book, The Enchanted Hour, had a profound influence on the way I think about children’s literature and reading aloud as a family. So when I had the opportunity to read an advance copy of Free Range Girl and sit down with Meghan herself, I knew this would be a special conversation. And it was.
We talked about childhood freedom, risk, independence, reading aloud, and the increasingly complicated experience of raising children in a culture that often prioritizes safety over adventure. But perhaps most importantly, we explored what children gain when adults give them a little more room to grow.
What Was Childhood Freedom Like in the 1970s?
In Free Range Girl, Meghan revisits her childhood in rural Maine during the 1970s. At twelve years old, she moved to Maine to live with her father, where she experienced an extraordinary amount of independence.She walked long distances alone, rode her horse through the countryside without supervision, and spent hours exploring without anyone tracking her whereabouts.
When I asked Meghan what that freedom felt like to her as a child, she described the enormous sky overhead. What a powerful description. It wasn’t simply about being allowed to go places without adult supervision. It was about having the time and space to process her thoughts, experience the natural world, and move through life on her own terms.
But Meghan is also careful not to romanticize the experience. Looking back as a mother and grandmother, she recognizes that some of what she experienced as freedom could also be interpreted as neglect or parental recklessness. That tension makes Free Range Girl especially compelling.
It’s not a parenting manual telling us to recreate the 1970s. It’s an invitation to reconsider what children gain from independence—and what they might lose when adults remove every opportunity for risk.
Have We Made Childhood Too Safe?
One of the most thought-provoking parts of our conversation centered on the cultural shift toward prioritizing safety. Meghan observed that modern parents face pressures that simply didn’t exist in the same way when she was growing up.
Today, children playing outside independently can attract attention precisely because so few children are doing it. And even parents who want to give their children more freedom may feel constrained by social expectations, fear of judgment, and concerns about safety. We talked about tree climbing, risky play, and the everyday experiences that help children become more capable.
I shared stories about my own tree-climbing son and the joy I feel watching him discover what he’s capable of. Meghan shared a family rule she established while raising her five children:
If they could climb something independently, they were allowed to climb it.
She also spoke candidly about the consequences of that philosophy, including a time when one of her daughters fell from a tree and broke both arms. It’s an important reminder that independence involves real risks. The goal isn’t to pretend those risks don’t exist. It’s to think more carefully about which challenges are appropriate for our children and how we can support their growing independence without removing every opportunity to develop it.
Why Children Need Opportunities to Become Resourceful
One theme that surfaced repeatedly throughout our conversation was resourcefulness. Meghan recalled that her mother placed enormous value on her ability to solve problems independently and that expectation carried into Meghan’s own parenting.
She wanted her children to learn how to navigate the world, manage inconveniences, and develop confidence in their abilities. But she also acknowledged that her children experienced those expectations differently. Some appreciated the independence they were given. Others found aspects of it anxiety-producing.
I appreciated that honesty. It reminds us that there isn’t one universal formula for raising capable kids. Children have different personalities, needs, and levels of readiness.
Our job as parents is to help them develop independence thoughtfully, with opportunities to practice new skills and appropriate support along the way.
The Connection Between Childhood Freedom and Reading Aloud
One of my favorite parts of this conversation was exploring the connection between Meghan’s two books. At first glance, The Enchanted Hour and Free Range Girl might seem to explore very different subjects. One is about the extraordinary power of reading aloud. The other is a memoir about childhood independence.
But I see a beautiful connection between them. Both books invite us to reconsider what happens when children are given opportunities to experience wonder. In The Enchanted Hour, Meghan explores how reading aloud creates space for imagination, connection, and meaningful engagement with stories. In Free Range Girl, she describes the wonder that comes from experiencing the world directly.
We talked about how screens and constant digital stimulation can crowd out those experiences. And we explored the idea that children need opportunities to develop their own inner lives. Whether they’re climbing a tree, wandering through the woods, or listening to a wonderful story, children benefit from experiences that encourage them to think, imagine, and discover.
As Meghan beautifully observed during our conversation: “Interior freedom is a gift of exterior freedom.” That single sentence captures so much of what I hope to cultivate in my own children.
What Becoming a Grandmother Has Taught Meghan
Another unexpected highlight of our conversation was hearing Meghan reflect on becoming a grandmother. After raising five children, she’s discovered that one of the challenges of grandparenthood is learning when not to offer advice.
She shared a simple acronym: WAIT: Why Am I Talking? It’s a reminder to pause before stepping in with opinions, corrections, or instructions.
And while Meghan shared it in the context of grandparenting, I immediately saw how applicable it is to raising young children. Sometimes our children need us to guide them. But sometimes they need us to be quiet long enough to work something out for themselves.
Meghan connected this idea to the importance of allowing children to develop their own thoughts, interests, and identities. When adults aren’t constantly directing every experience, children have more opportunities to discover who they are.
Raising Children Who Are Capable, Curious & Free
I came away from this conversation thinking about the kind of childhood I want my children to remember. Not one without boundaries or appropriate precautions. But one filled with opportunities to explore, discover, solve problems, experience wonder, and grow.
Meghan’s story reminds us that freedom can be complicated. It can be joyful and frightening. It can build confidence while sometimes exposing children to uncomfortable experiences. And it can look different for every family.
But perhaps the most important thing we can do is begin asking whether our children have enough opportunities to discover what they’re capable of. Because sometimes raising confident kids begins with giving them just a little more room.
Want the full episode?
Listen to Episode 41 of The My Outdoorsy Mom Podcast for my complete conversation with Meghan Cox Gurdon about Free Range Girl, The Enchanted Hour, childhood independence, risky play, reading aloud, and the importance of wonder.
Free Range Girl releases October 20, 2026.
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