The curious thought of 'free range Children'.
Existing with pure abandon
I saw this rather funny pictured sign on Unsplash
I laughed a little, then hooted a lot
Then I thought. Why should that be so funny?
Should all of our children not be as free ranged
As our chickens, pigs, cows, horses, lions and bears
We coop them up in houses
We coop them up in Kingergarten
Then to closed up classrooms
Of preschool, middle school, high school
Colleges and universities
Workplaces, institutions and apartments
Tell me.....
When are they ever free-ranged?
When are we ever free-ranged
We tut-tut-ed at civilizations who lived their lives outdoors
When they took from the land only that which was needed
And allowed life to take it's natural course
We destroy trees to build houses and manufacture paper
So we can hide ourselves away from each other
For the more we accumulate, the more we need
The more we have, the more others try to steal it away
It is no wonder we no longer have free range children
Why the world is feeling down and depressed
Our freedom has been curtailed
It is time to rear more of those free ranged individuals
To bring back happiness
And the joy of the open spaces
To delight in nature and the naturalness of life
Climbing trees and running with wild abandon
Our classrooms the natural and open skies of the universe
When the sign:
Will be completely and totally commonplace and ordinary
Instead of a dream which seems wholly impossible
These thoughts which now only seem
Like fanciful, unreachable dreams
May somehow open our minds to freedom and change!
About the Creator
Novel Allen
You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. (Maya Angelou). Genuine accomplishment is not about financial gain, but about dedicating oneself to activities that bring joy and fulfillment.
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Comments (10)
Novel, I love this! I love how passionate and insightful this poem is! This speaks to everything I teach at my preschool, let the kids explore, make messed and explore the world around them! This could not have been more beautifully said or written! great work my friend!
Novel - you have done it again! Very well written, thought out in a reflective and honest approach to the hidden cages we place ourselves in, expecting free thought to flow from a place of mental, physical, and societal bondage. {High-five} One by one we can turn our free-range children into free-thinking adults!
Freedom and creative play all the way - adults and kids alike! 😁 Great to see you back Novel!
Omgggg, this was sooooo true and deep! I never paused to think of it this way. Like whoaaaa. My mind is blown by your poem!
So that's why I'm so depressed. I have no range, free or otherwise.
Dear n-bud - So glad to see a little levity here - sometimes you just have to find a sense-of-humor with all of the infighting going on here in HollyWeird on "How" to raise our children ~Whew ~ - Thank you for this smile - Miss U'z j-bud
I wish my children would range further from their screens!
Nice and dark. Haven't seen you for a bit. Definitely true that freedoms are breached
My brilliant, deep friend... may the world amplify this truth! I applaud your insights, including "Should all of our children not be as free ranged..." Welcome back! 🤗
Yes, very thoughtful and a great point to make. School often felt like a place of captivity for me as a child, even though I love learning.