By the time children are five, they should show preference for a particular hand and be able to work with others. from www.shutterstock.com Parents often have different expectations for their three- to five-year-old children when they attend an early learning centre. Some parents expect their child to engage in academic […]
When it comes to self-directed learning, one of the biggest concerns brought up by those not practicing it is the perceived lack of teaching: people can’t learn things on their own, goes the common thought, they need to be measured and tested, they need that feedback! Of course, people can learn things on […]
The message from autistic activists is clear: “nothing about us without us”. Philosophographlux/flickr Autistic people have been routinely misunderstood, ignored, and excluded for decades – including from campaigns designed to promote awareness of autism itself. But this is beginning to change. Autistic self-advocacy organisations and autistic activists have long criticised […]
Reading aloud to children can encourage a love of reading. Shutterstock Reading to your child is one of the most successful ways of instilling a love of reading in them. But in our recent study, more than one-quarter of primary-school-aged respondents claimed they were never read to at home. Children typically […]
Encourage children to think about where they are in space: if they’re looking at a map of the zoo, ask them where they are in relation to the kangaroos or lions. Shutterstock Educators and researchers agree early literacy experiences are important for children’s cognitive and language development. For the past […]
By Peter Gray Ph.D. Freedom to Learn What does research really tell us about the brain effects of video gaming? “IT’S DIGITAL HEROIN: HOW SCREENS TURN KIDS INTO PSYCHOTIC JUNKIES.” That’s the dramatic headline screaming across a New York Post article, by a Dr. Nicholas Kardaras (2016), which many readers sent to me shortly […]
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. […]
By Peter Gray Ph.D.Freedom to Learn Media descriptions of POTUS exemplify a toxic societal anti-child prejudice. Every day, it seems, we read of or hear journalists and politicians (of both major parties), and just plain people, referring to Donald Trump as “childish.” Here are a few of the many media headlines on this […]
four years boy playing with colorful wooden blocks With Christmas looming, many people will be considering what present to buy for their children, nieces and nephews, grandchildren and friends. Soon, if not already, we will be reading lists of the top trending presents for 2017. These lists will no doubt […]
How often do you take away your kid’s phone? RoongsaK/Shutterstock Do you take away your teenager’s phone to manage their behaviour? Maybe when they arrive home late from a party or receive a bad report card? Confiscating, time-limiting or permitting additional access to technology has become a popular parenting strategy. Surveys […]