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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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( 4,150 ratings, 555 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Free to Learn by Peter Gray explores how children's natural curiosity and playfulness lead to effective learning. It argues that traditional educational models can restrict children's innate abilities to engage with their environment. The book advocates for self-directed learning, suggesting that freedom and play can foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and genuine academic passion.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$3499
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by the idea that children learn best when they're allowed to direct their own education. It explores how innate playfulness and curiosity can naturally guide children's learning and development, challenging traditional schooling methods and offering profound insights into self-directed education.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A passionate defense of the power of play-a child development expert shows why "unschooling" is the best way to get kids to learn

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Free to Learn by Peter Gray is praised for its compelling arguments about modern education, emphasising that traditional schooling often hinders children's natural learning and creativity. The book advocates for a more play-centered, self-directed approach, suggesting it can transform education positively. Reviewers appreciate its strong scientific foundation, its potential to provoke important discussions on educational reform, and its appeal to parents, educators, and policymakers alike.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780465084999

Publisher: Basic Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 10 February 2015

Country: United States

Imprint: Basic Books

Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 138.0mm

Height: 208.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Peter Gray is a research professor in the Department of Psychology at Boston College. The author of Psychology, a highly regarded college textbook, he writes a popular blog called Freedom to Learn for Psychology Today. He lives in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.

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