Free to Learn
Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life
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5.0 • 4 Ratings
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
"All kids love learning. Most don't love school. That's a disconnect we've avoided discussing—until this lightning bolt of a book. If you've ever wondered why your curious kid is turning into a sullen slug at school, Peter Gray's Free to Learn has the answer. He also has the antidote." —Lenore Skenazy, author of Free-Range Kids
"This is an extraordinary and relevant book for unschooling parents, and those who care about the wellbeing of the children in their lives" —Home Education magazine
"Peter Gray forces us all to rethink our convictions on how schools should be designed ...” —Steven Pinker
A leading expert in childhood development makes the case for why self-directed learning — "unschooling" — is the best way to get kids to learn.
In Free to Learn, developmental psychologist Peter Gray argues that in order to foster children who will thrive in today's constantly changing world, we must entrust them to steer their own learning and development. Drawing on evidence from anthropology, psychology, and history, he demonstrates that free play is the primary means by which children learn to control their lives, solve problems, get along with peers, and become emotionally resilient. A brave, counterintuitive proposal for freeing our children from the shackles of the curiosity-killing institution we call school, Free to Learn suggests that it's time to stop asking what's wrong with our children, and start asking what's wrong with the system. It shows how we can act—both as parents and as members of society—to improve children's lives and to promote their happiness and learning.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Developmental psychologist Gray declares that "school is prison, but almost nobody beyond school age says it." In this energetic though repetitive manifesto, Gray powerfully argues that schools inhibit learning by " with the development of personal responsibility and self-direction" by "turning learning into work" and reducing "diversity in skills and knowledge." Gray suggests that children possess a natural instinct to educate themselves, and through unstructured play and exploration with individuals of all ages, they will blossom and develop into confident individuals. Drawing on various psychological case studies as well as an in-depth examination of the Sudbury Valley School in Framingham, Mass., Gray shows that children learning in "unschooled" environments demonstrate a deep desire to learn, as well as a capacity for self-control, and display feelings of anxiety and depression far less than students in a structured environment. Many educators and parents may find Gray's ideas na ve and impractical, but his vivid illustrations of the "power of play" to shape an individual are bound to provoke a renewed conversation about turning the tide in an educational system that fosters conformity and inhibits creative thinking.
Customer Reviews
Very interesting and some inspiring ideas
The ideas in this book is well supported by research and experiences.
Ideas in this book also gives reassurances to parents that we can trust our children to learn on their own.
We are also reminded of the importance of play, playing with other kids and freedom to learn from playing.
Even as an adult, we could resonate with the experiences of children in this book. Adult learns the same way as children do.
The idea of unschooling is still too radical for me to apply. If there are schools that are more progressive, I feel it will be easier to apply the ideas from this book. For now, we could focus on school holidays and after school life.