How to build your kid's confidence — by leaving them alone (w/ Lenore Skenazy)

How to build your kid's confidence — by leaving them alone (w/ Lenore Skenazy)

Author: TED September 29, 2025 Duration: 41:27

How do you raise confident and capable children in a seemingly scary and unsafe world? According to Lenore Skenazy, the solution is simple yet controversial — you leave the kids alone. Lenore is the president of Let Grow and the founder of the Free Range Kids Movement where she argues that parents don’t need to hover over their kids as much because they’ll be more than okay — they’ll thrive. Chris and Lenore discuss why overprotecting kids can backfire, how parents might be unintentionally stifling children’s innate curiosity, and why one of the best tools to teach kids is to step away and let them learn and problem-solve themselves.


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Host: Chris Duffy (Instagram: @chrisiduffy | chrisduffycomedy.com)

Guest: Lenore Skenazy (Instagram: @lenoreskenazy_freerange | LinkedIn: @lenoreskenazy | Website: https://www.freerangekids.com/


Links

Instagram: @letgroworg

LinkedIn: @letgrow

Join Let Grow (free!): https://letgrow.org/join

Facebook Group: Raising Independent Kids Facebook Group

Book: Free Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow

Lenore's TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whaesnYloMQ


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You might find yourself wondering how small shifts in thinking or action could ripple out into your daily life, and that's precisely the space this How to Be a Better Human podcast occupies. Hosted by Chris Duffy, each episode is built from conversations with a range of insightful guests, including past speakers, who share practical wisdom that goes beyond typical advice. The discussions are grounded in real-world application, focusing on how we can all improve in tangible ways-not through grand gestures, but in the nuances of our interactions at work, within our families, and in our own internal dialogues. This isn't about abstract theory; it's about hearing specific stories and strategies that offer clear takeaways you can actually use. The How to Be a Better Human podcast, from TED, digs into those unexpected corners of life where genuine growth happens, exploring how we show up for others and ourselves with more intention. Listeners will find a thoughtful mix of humor, vulnerability, and sharp insights that challenge conventional self-improvement tropes, making the journey toward being better feel accessible and deeply human.
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