Florida father defends ‘free-range parenting’ his four-year-old

A Florida couple lets their four-year-old swear, play with knives and fire, and run in the street after dark all by himself — and they insist it’s what’s good for him.

Nimesh Patel, 38, and Teena, 40, are proponents of ‘free-range parenting,’ choosing to let their young son Naylan get dirty, get hurt, and test his boundaries.

But while many of the things that the little boy is allowed to do would raise eyebrows from other parents and childless adults alike, Nimesh told the New York Post that they’re just giving Naylan the same freedom that they had as kids. 

Born free! Nimesh Patel, 38, and his wife Teena, 40, practice free-range parenting with their four-year-old son Naylan (Nimesh and Naylan pictured)

Spreading the word: Teena grew up in Kenya and also runs a day camp for kids described as an 'outdoor school, dirty school, play school, and forest kindergarten'

Spreading the word: Teena grew up in Kenya and also runs a day camp for kids described as an ‘outdoor school, dirty school, play school, and forest kindergarten’

Dangerous: They let the little boy test his limits, which includes playing with fire

Dangerous: They let the little boy test his limits, which includes playing with fire

He's fine! Naylan does lots of outdoorsy activities and his parents are not worried about him getting hurt

He’s fine! Naylan does lots of outdoorsy activities and his parents are not worried about him getting hurt

Taking charge: 'Everyone is so worried the kids will break,' Nimesh said. 'Kids have been around for thousands of years. They don’t break'

Taking charge: ‘Everyone is so worried the kids will break,’ Nimesh said. ‘Kids have been around for thousands of years. They don’t break’

‘As a kid in the ’80s and ’90s, we could go two to three miles away from home. It’s not a new concept,’ said Nimesh, who grew up in Fort Myers and now lives in Orlando. 

When he and his wife were kids, he went on, they could be outside and climb trees, even if it meant coming home with bumps and bruises.

Now, he and Teena let Naylan do the same — and also allow him to cut food with sharp kitchen knives, use tools like hammers, and play around fire.

He’s permitted to choose his bedtime — and tends to crawl into his parents’ bed after midnight — as well as run in the street with his dog after dark, all by himself.

His language isn’t policed, either, and Naylan has been known to curse and drop F-bombs. 

Late: The little boy is permitted to choose his bedtime — and tends to crawl into his parents' bed after midnight

Late: The little boy is permitted to choose his bedtime — and tends to crawl into his parents’ bed after midnight

'All of these helicopter parents used to run and play. The freedom they had as a kid, they aren’t giving that to their children,' Nimesh said

'All of these helicopter parents used to run and play. The freedom they had as a kid, they aren’t giving that to their children,' Nimesh said

‘All of these helicopter parents used to run and play. The freedom they had as a kid, they aren’t giving that to their children,’ Nimesh said 

Nimesh added: 'As a kid in the ’80s and ’90s, we could go two to three miles away from home. It’s not a new concept'

Nimesh added: ‘As a kid in the ’80s and ’90s, we could go two to three miles away from home. It’s not a new concept’

Boys: Naylan is allowed to cut food with sharp kitchen knives and use tools like hammers

Boys: Naylan is allowed to cut food with sharp kitchen knives and use tools like hammers

All of these things, Nimesh said, amount to giving their son freedom.

‘All of these helicopter parents used to run and play. The freedom they had as a kid, they aren’t giving that to their children,’ he said. 

‘Everyone is so worried the kids will break. Kids have been around for thousands of years. They don’t break.’ 

Of course, some people will argue that the issue isn’t necessarily that kids will ‘break,’ but that letting them loose puts them at the mercy of other people.

But Nimesh insists that there aren’t the dangers out there that people think there are. 

Philosophy: Nimesh and Teena explained that they didn't set out to raise a 'free-range kid' but do let Naylan run free

Philosophy: Nimesh and Teena explained that they didn’t set out to raise a ‘free-range kid’ but do let Naylan run free

Sprinklers! The little boy is pictured having fun at a water park

Sprinklers! The little boy is pictured having fun at a water park

Nimesh said they also aren't worried about him getting abducted, saying: 'There aren't a million predators to take your kid every day. It’s as rare as being struck by lightning'

Nimesh said they also aren’t worried about him getting abducted, saying: ‘There aren’t a million predators to take your kid every day. It’s as rare as being struck by lightning’

Outdoor sports: A lot of Naylan's play seems to be outside and in nature

Outdoor sports: A lot of Naylan’s play seems to be outside and in nature

‘There aren’t a million predators to take your kid every day. It’s as rare as being struck by lightning,’ he said.

His wife Teena, who is from Kenya, also brings that attitude to her work. 

She is the founder of A Barefoot Village, an ‘outdoor school, dirty school, play school and forest kindergarten’ where kids aged three to eight are allowed to cut fruit with knives, play on a wooden seesaw.

Photos on the camp’s website show elementary school-age children using wire cutters and hammers, climbing on yard equipment, playing on wooden jungle gyms, and even lifting bricks up stairs.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk