HOW TO RAISE WILD AND FREE KIDS IN A MODERN WORLD
How to Raise Wild and Free Kids in a Modern World
Spoiler alert: YOU need to be wild and free, too.
We’re living in a world where convenience is king, everything is fast, and screens seem to multiply overnight. It’s no wonder parents are feeling the pull toward something slower, more connected, more grounded. We want our kids to be free—free to explore, to get messy, to question, to build, to be fully themselves. But the truth is, if we want to raise wild and free kids, we have to be willing to go there first.
Here are 10 imperfect, real-life ways to nurture that wild and free spirit in a modern world—starting with ourselves.
1. Practice Gratitude (Out Loud)
Gratitude isn’t just something we say at Thanksgiving. It’s a muscle, and our kids learn how to flex it by watching us. Show appreciation for where you are—yes, even if you’re in a messy, transitional season. Some years will be epic. Some will be quiet. Some are just filler. But all of it is part of your story, and that mindset is powerful for them to see. Say “thank you” for small things, talk about your highs and lows, and celebrate the simple stuff.
2. Get Outside—Even Just the Backyard
This one’s obvious, but it’s easy to forget. We’re inside a lot—working, parenting, scrolling, surviving. But kids (and adults) were made to move, breathe fresh air, and feel the sun on their faces. You don’t need a national park—just a patch of grass, a muddy puddle, a few minutes to look up at the sky. Nature resets everything.
3. Create Space for Hobbies and Curiosity
Set up little corners of inspiration around your home. A music nook, a shelf with nature books, a spot with craft supplies or puzzles. If you’re into photography, pick up your camera. If you love to knit, do it in front of them. Kids don’t need to be told what to love—they just need to see you loving something. Monkey see, monkey do.
4. Build, Bake, and Make Things (Even if They’re Ugly)
You don’t have to be handy or artistic. Just start. Make a weird sculpture out of recyclables, bake sourdough together, build a fort from couch cushions or a raised garden bed with scrap wood. The magic isn’t in the finished product—it’s in the process, the trying, the laughing, the doing-it-together.
5. Say YES to Mess
Let them dig in the dirt. Let them splash in puddles. Let them mix mud and call it soup. Life gets messy, and that’s okay. Kids learn through sensory play and open-ended chaos. You can always clean up later—what matters is that you gave them permission to fully be in their world.
6. Protect Boredom
Boredom is not the enemy. It’s the beginning of creativity. Don’t rush in with a distraction every time they say, “I’m bored.” Let them sit in it. Let their brains get quiet. That’s where the magic starts—when they remember how to entertain themselves and follow their own curiosity.
7. Be the Screen Break You Wish to See
Let’s be honest—we’re all a little addicted. But if we want our kids to live offline sometimes, we have to model that. Choose presence. Set boundaries. Put your phone down when you’re outside or at dinner or in a moment that matters. Show them that life doesn’t always have to be captured—it can just be lived.
8. Encourage Risk and Resilience
Let them climb trees. Let them fall a little. Let them try again. Modern parenting often leans toward bubble-wrapping our kids, but a little risk is how they learn trust—in themselves, in their bodies, and in the world around them. You don’t need to helicopter—just spot them from a distance and cheer them on.
9. Invite Them Into Real Life
Kids love to help—even when their “help” makes everything take twice as long. Let them pour the pancake mix, water the plants, stir the soup, sweep the floor. Involve them in what you’re doing. You don’t need special “kid activities”—just real life shared together.
10. Stay Wild With Them
Dance in the kitchen. Sing badly in the car. Jump in the lake. Run barefoot. Make up silly games. Laugh so hard your sides hurt. Kids don’t need perfect—they need you, alive and present. Don’t forget: growing up doesn’t have to mean growing dull.
Raising wild and free kids in today’s world isn’t about rejecting modern life—it’s about weaving freedom, nature, and wonder into the everyday. It’s about slowing down long enough to notice the beauty, to show up, to be a little wild ourselves.
And it’s absolutely okay to do it imperfectly.
I’d love to know—what does raising wild and free kids look like in your world? What’s one thing your family does to stay grounded and connected in the chaos of modern life? Let’s swap ideas in the comments!