Let Grow Communities
Let Grow’s mission is to make it easy, normal, and legal to give kids the independence they need.
We make it easy with free materials for parents and schools.
We make it legal by supporting state laws that let parents decide when their kids are ready for independence.
Making it normal takes all of us—neighbors, schools, and communities working together to give kids room to grow. People across America are working to make that happen, many inspired by the “4 New Norms” in our co-founder Jonathan Haidt’s bestseller, The Anxious Generation. Norm #4: more independence, responsibility, and free play for kids.
At Let Grow, we’re empowering people to create the kind of community where kids play outside, get ice cream, walk to school — and parents support each other. No one assumes an unsupervised kid is automatically in danger.
Our Community Toolkit offers practical steps and resources to support this shift, helping parents connect and push back on today’s culture of overprotection.
We’re so glad you’re here. And your kids will be glad, too!
Because It Takes a Village to Let Kids Grow
Independence Starts at Home. Strength Grows in Community.
Community Toolkit
Everything you need to help kids build independence — right in your community. Not a step-by-step, one-size-fits-all prescription, but a buffet to browse and then choose what looks good.
Inside you’ll find:
- Categorized and searchable files, links, and materials to use, modify, or not.
- Outreach tools like email templates, social posts, and flyers if you're not sure what to say.
- Links to other sites and organizations, because why reinvent the wheel?
Directory to Let Grow Communities
Our Community Directory will feature vetted groups across the country that have created Let Grow-inspired initiatives.
Why check it out?
- Find local or like-minded groups who are making a difference near you.
- Learn what’s working from others who’ve launched Let Grow projects, events, and parent meetups.
- Get inspired – start your own group and join the directory!
The Anxious Generation
The Anxious Generation, by Jonathan Haidt, has inspired parents across the globe to rethink childhood, especially the use of screens, smart-phones, and social media. Once you take away the phone, you need to open the door to more independence, responsibility, and free play.
Want more?
- Guides and bonus content for the book.
- New handbook for Tweens- "The Amazing Generation"
- Resources, research, and more about the 4 Norms.
Share Your Story
Have you seen the power of independence in your neighborhood? We’d love to hear about it!
Why share?
- Inspire others to give kids more freedom and confidence.
- Celebrate your successes with a supportive community.
- Be featured in our Community Success Stories and help spread the Let Grow message.
Community Success Stories
Discover how neighborhoods are embracing independence — and seeing incredible results.
Our Partnership With The Balance Project
The Balance Project helps families find a healthy, sustainable balance between screen time and real life in today’s world.
This Community Toolkit was inspired by the call for collective action in The Anxious Generation, and The Balance Project, an organization working to bring life + technology into harmony for kids, families and communities. TBP helps parents & communities work together “on the ground” to collectively support meaningful real-life experiences AND mindful technology usage.
They have communities across the country fueled by a proven process, along with tools, templates, training and a built-in support system of hundreds of parents, teachers and administrators like you — and can help you turn ideas into action based on their proven approach.