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...

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 ...

Education has become synonymous with schooling, but it doesn't have to be. As schooling becomes increasingly standardized and test driven, occupying more of childhood than ever before, parents and educators are questioning the role of schooling in society. Many are now exploring and creating alternatives. In a compelling narrative that introduces historical and contemporary research on self-directed education, Unschooled also spotlights how a diverse group of individuals and organ...

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...

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...

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...

The book covers three main topics: seaweeds, mollusk shells, and fossils. Each section offers practical advice on identifying and collecting specimens, alongside descriptions of their characteristics, habitats, and scientific significance. Illustrated plates and diagrams help readers visualize the various species and structures described, making the book both educational and engaging.With its combination of scientific information and practical guidance, Seaweeds, Shells and Fossils appeals...

"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 ...

This is the most wide-ranging series of essays ever published on the Great Irish Famine, and will prove of lasting interest to the general reader. Leading historians, economists and geographers – from Ireland, Britain and the United States – have assembled the most up-to-date research from a wide spectrum of disciplines including medicine, folklore and literature, to give the fullest account yet of the background and consequences of the Famine. Contributors include Dr Kevin Whelan, Profess...

What if the cause of the youth mental health crisis wasn’t social media at all?When was the last time you actually saw a group of kids—without adults—playing on a playground? Forty years ago, an American ten-year-old could expect to walk to school, bike to a friend’s, or play pick-up games with other kids in the neighborhood. Today, our children are supervised and controlled at every opportunity.As author, researcher, and psychology professor Peter Gray sho...

Shining a light on one of the most overlooked ecologically significant organisms, this practical pocket-guide introduces readers to the species of lichens found around Britain.Responsible for introducing the term symbiosis to the natural sciences, lichens play a vital role in air quality monitoring, soil formation, and forest health. With clear descriptions, identification tips, and notes on habitat and distribution, Peter Gray provides a focused introduction to the fascinating wor...

This practical pocket-guide introduces the reader to the rich variety of mosses found throughout Britain's damp woodlands, riverbanks, and upland slopes.With a focus on field identification and ecological context, this compact volume serves as both a scientific reference and a practical guide for anyone engaged in the study or conservation of bryophytes. First published at the end of the nineteenth century, Handbook of Mosses presents these often-overlooked plants with cla...