The expression “free range” usually relates to animals - often chickens and cows that range or go looking freely¹ for food, rather than being closed in a cage or yard.

“Free range（自由放养）”这个短语通常与动物有关，指鸡或牛被放散出去自己觅食，而不是被关在笼子或牛圈里喂养。

The idea behind this is that animals allowed to wander about and be free will be happier and healthier and thus be better for human consumption².

这种喂养方式传达的理念是，自由放养的动物一般会更快活，也更健康，这样也就更适宜人类食用。

So the idea of a free-range kid is that the child was allowed a fair amount of freedom by their parents while growing up. It’s said that this group of kids are more likely to thrive³ than those who are strictly⁴ monitored by parents. Allowing one's children free time is called free-range parenting.

因此，“自由放养儿童”也就是在成长过程中能够从家长那里得到更多自由的孩子。据说这样成长起来的孩子比那些时刻受家长严密监控的孩子更容易成功。那些给孩子更多自由时间的家长就可以被称为“自由放养父母”了。