In The Anxious Generation, Haidt advocates for "free-range parenting," a philosophy that supports children's autonomy and independence with less direct parental supervision. The term was coined by journalist Lenore Skenazy after she was criticized for allowing her nine-year-old son to ride the subway alone. The movement gained traction in the mid-2000s but came into the mainstream when Skenazy went viral as "America's Worst Mom." Free-range parenting responds to the styles of "helicopter" and authoritarian parenting. Excessive involvement, high demands, and strict rules attempt to mold behavior and ensure compliance. Specific freedoms that free-range parenting grants children include allowing them to walk home from school, take public transit alone, or stay home by themselves (Boone).
Many free-range parents were raised in the 1970s or 80s when it was considered normal to walk to and from school alone or play outdoors with friends for hours. However, several social and cultural shifts resulted in stricter parenting styles. These include fear of crime and abduction, the increased prevalence of both parents working full-time outside the home, and legislation concerning child neglect. In The Anxious Generation, Haidt argues that giving children more unsupervised free play and growing independence and responsibility is more likely to cultivate competence.
