Dr. Peter Gray’s research on the role of play in the healthy social/emotional development of children has been instrumental in our thought process while developing our 2nd Dimension content on motivation, emotions and team cohesion while also adding incredible insight to help us better understand the role of play in our level 3 content. While the book goes into areas that do not directly correlate to our 3D training, it is extremely helpful in understanding why today’s adolescent is seemingly more anxious, more depressed and less resilient than those of previous generations.
Book Overview:
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.
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