Why you should spend less time with your kids | Lenore Skenazy
TED Talks Daily
TED
4.1 • 12.1K Ratings
🗓️ 26 August 2025
⏱️ 19 minutes
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Summary
Whether it’s micromanaging playtime, constantly hovering or incessantly texting, the adult takeover of childhood has created a crisis of anxiety in both children and parents, says Lenore Skenazy, cofounder and president Let Grow, an organization dedicated to normalizing childhood independence. With wit and humor, she lays out the unexpected benefits of letting our kids be a bit more “free range” — and shows why the most teachable moments happen when parents aren’t there.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, this is Jessie and Lenny from Table Manners podcast and we are sponsored by Akado. |
| 0:04.8 | So, Mum, do you know what's been a huge help to me lately? |
| 0:08.2 | What, darling? |
| 0:09.3 | Well, Akado. |
| 0:10.6 | Live can be very, very hectic and Akado just makes everything simpler. |
| 0:15.0 | It's the little things, really. |
| 0:16.5 | The shop arrives when I actually need it early morning or late at night. |
| 0:22.8 | No faf, no chasing random ingredients. And their range is brilliant. From M&S to Ocardo's own bits to loads of independent |
| 0:28.8 | brands, they have absolutely everything you could need. And no need to run around various |
| 0:33.8 | different supermarkets for that one ingredient. Ocardo, life delivered. Shop now at Accardo.com. T's and C's apply. Geographical |
| 0:41.9 | restrictions apply. Minimumum plus charges apply. Terms at Akado.com. |
| 0:50.7 | This episode is brought to you by the Leading Into Tomorrow podcast from EY. We talk a lot on this show about ideas that shape our world. But what about the people shaping the future of public service? In leading into tomorrow, EY brings you discussions with government and public sector leaders who are navigating complex challenges and transforming their organizations |
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| 1:55.4 | You're listening to TED Talks Daily, where we bring you new ideas and conversations to spark your curiosity every day. I'm your host, Elise Hugh. As a mom of three, I know how hard it is to find the balance |
| 2:02.4 | between wanting to protect my kids and letting go so they can make mistakes and learn on their own. |
| 2:08.7 | In her talk, journalist Lenore Skenezy makes the case that letting our kids be a bit more free |
| 2:13.4 | range or giving them more independence instead of micromanaging their every move |
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