This article appeared in The Greater New Milford Spectrum’s
Home & Garden, fall 2012.
(We feel it’s worthy of a second look-see.)

My wife likes to keep our youngest, Ava, under what author Richard Louv calls “protective house arrest.”

She knows our 4-year old ought to be free to indulge in unstructured play, to experience the wonder of the outdoors, but struggles to let go of the unknown — tick bites, sunburn, skinned knees, dirty clothes.

Instead, my wife marvels at Ava’s technological savvy, her adeptness with the iPod, iTouch, iPad — anything with an “i.”

Because neither one of us wants to raise an indoor child, we look for balance. It’s not always easy, and I know we’re not alone. read more