Those seeking natural living and learning environments for children, especially children, in need, could get together to discuss possible solutions to an issue many have likely observed. The, not intended, abuse of children by agencies that were created to help children in need. I am referring specifically to governmental social […]
If they ask, tell them the truth. www.shutterstock.com Ah yes, December. Christmas trees and decorations are popping up in shop windows, the weather is warming up, and the school holiday period looms. This may be exciting or distressing, depending on your relationship with your family. Not everyone celebrates Christmas. But, […]
Pursuit of passions requires time for play and self-directed education. By Peter Gray Ph.D. Freedom to Learn This post is a somewhat modified version of the transcript of a TEDx talkI delivered in May, 2018. Follow your passions. That’s what almost every commencement speaker says to the new graduates. It’s almost cruel. If all you’ve […]
It takes effort and imagination, but the benefits are many. from www.shutterstock.com Contrary to the belief we Aussies are a nature-loving outdoor nation, research suggestswe’re spending less and less time outdoors. This worrying trend is also becoming increasingly apparent in our educational settings. I have devoted the majority of my teaching and […]
Moral growth is promoted when we allow little ones to act on their instincts. By Peter Gray Ph.D. Freedom to Learn commons An all-too-common belief in our culture —often held implicitly rather than explicitly — is that babies come into the world as either asocial (the “blank slate” belief) or antisocial (the “original sin” […]
If allowed to help, toddlers become great work partners later in childhood. By Peter Gray Ph.D. Freedom to Learn Little toddler helping in kitchen with washing dishes We, in the United States and many other Western nations, more often think of children as sources of extra work than as sources […]
How could your local library best serve your family’s and community’s needs? By Peter Gray Ph.D. Freedom to Learn We have in our society two types of publicly supported institutions whose explicit purpose is education—schools and libraries. How different they are from one another! The primary difference is this: Schools are places of forced […]
Research shows play-based programs for young children can provide a strong basis for later success at school. Shutterstock As the new school year begins, many families are deciding where to enrol their child in preschool or school. Preschools and schools offer various approaches to early education, all promoting the benefits […]
By Idzie Desmarais This post was originally shared on Patreon back in October. I can’t emphasize enough how big a difference my monthly Patreon income, small as it might be, makes in my life. Seriously, by investing $1 or more a month in me and my work you can have such an impact. […]
A fan takes a selfie with Kari Byron. 4-H National Council Mixing art and science started very early for Kari Byron. “I remember distinctly sitting there with a Cheerio box and a roll of tape, and trying to recreate a human skull, like a little sculpture,” she says, recalling her […]