A ground-breaking investigation into the changes in the way we are raising and educating our kids, and the importance of giving children the freedom to play and explore.When was the last time you saw a group of kids - without adults - playing on a playground? Forty years ago, the average ten-year-old could expect to walk to school, bike to a friend's house, or play games with other kids in the street. Today, our children are supervised and controlled at every oppor...

"A lightning bolt of a book" makes the case for why self-directed learning — "unschooling" — is the best way to get kids to learn (Lenore Skenazy)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 ...

Children who grow up in a literate and numerate environment do not need to be taught how to read or how to use numbers to calculate. They pick these skills up in the course of their everyday living. In this collection of essays, developmental psychologist Peter Gray presents the evidence that this is so. He also presents evidence that teaching-especially when it is forced and comes too early-can interfere with children's learning to read and calculate. In addition, in one essay he describe...

Theory is one thing; empirical evidence is another. Is it true that children can educate themselves well, without coercion or coaxing, when provided with a supportive environment and plenty of opportunity to play, explore, observe, and socialize? In this collection of essays, developmental psychologist Peter Gray presents evidence from a variety of sources that this indeed is true. One essay points out the amazing amount that little children learn before anyone attempts to teach them in an...

Children come into the world biologically designed to educate themselves. Their natural curiosity, playfulness, sociability, willfulness, adventurousness, tendency to look ahead, and desire to do well in the world were all shaped, by natural selection, to serve the function of education. In this collection of essays, developmental psychologist Peter Gray describes, with research evidence, how these natural tendencies play themselves out in children who are not schooled but, instead, are al...

"A lightning bolt of a book" makes the case for why self-directed learning — "unschooling" — is the best way to get kids to learn (Lenore Skenazy)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 ...

Children, like all human beings, crave freedom, but they are not free in school. Schools operate by methods of coercion (a "request" in school is really an order), enforced with reward, punishment, and threats. Coercion interferes with children's natural, joy-filled and interest-filled ways of learning and turns learning into "work." In this collection of essays, developmental psychologist Peter Gray describes also how schooling promotes bullying, cheating, and showing off; contributes to ...

From the quickest of pencil sketches to inked-up artwork, mastering different drawing techniques is vital to becoming an accomplished artist.In this practical guide, author and illustrator Peter Gray guides you through the different materials available and how to deploy them to best effect. Whether you are an experienced artist or a complete beginner, these tailored step-by-step exercises and practical hints will help you discover the techniques that work for you.Materials ...

This comprehensive guide to simple, effective drawing techniques encourages the reader to focus on expression and style to achieve artistic 'truth'. Rather than copying every element of a subject, the reader is urged to develop his or her own way of seeing subjects to produce an individual, expressive style of drawing. While offering demonstrations on matters such as proportion, perspective, light sources and mark-making, author Peter Gray inspires readers to become confident in their own ...

If you have always wanted to excel at drawing, then The Complete Guide to Drawing & Illustration is for you. All you need is a pencil, a bit of blank paper and the expert guidance you will find within these pages. This book is designed to systematically teach you the essentials of drawing and lays the groundwork for you to develop your own personal drawing style.• Hands-on course in drawing and illustration, suitable for beginners and improvers alike• Practical, ste...

Immensely varied and full of interest, landscape provides a limitless subject for artists, and gives them the opportunity to explore the great outdoors. In this book, author and illustrator Peter Gray talks you through the stages of drawing landscapes, from the smallest detail to the widest views. Tailored step-by-step exercises will guide you through the challenges of landscape drawing and help you achieve your own stunning results. The Artist's Workbooks are practical guides for artists ...