I have just finished reading a book that represents some of my style of raising my children and teaching parents ideas that might work in their parenting.  Free-Range Kids: Giving Our Children the Freedom We Had Without Going Nuts with Worry by Lenore Skenazy talks about how society scares us into behaving a certain way and through gossip and storytelling we are freaking ourselves out of the big bad world. But the reality is it isn't that bad and our kids are begging for freedoms to play and try and just be kids like many of us were when we were young. This book emphasizes putting more trust in you kids and their ability to be resilient and successful, along with the importance of letting kids fail and sometimes even fall.
As a parent I have often been criticized and laughed at for how I have chosen to raise my own kids in a Free Range manner. I think the most difficult for others was no baby gates on our four flights of stairs and the step stool that sits beside the kitchen counter so my kids can help with dinner. My kids are now 2 and 4 and are quick at the stairs for which the injuries have been minimal and non life threatening. My kids are noted by many for being independent and that makes me proud because that is what I hope for them. Where ever possible I do insert lessons as such into my parenting consultant business. To many parents worry their kids aren't going to cut it and are shoved into activity after activity. Please parents don't miss your child's childhood because your too busy watching them at the side of the field or waiting from them in the car while they are at tutoring group. Your kids most want your to play with them in a cardboard box, so go have some fun with them.