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Free to Learn

Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life

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Free to Learn

By: Peter Gray
Narrated by: Dan Woren
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About this listen

 "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 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. Child Psychology Developmental Psychology Education Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Childhood Education Emotions

Critic Reviews

"Weaving together evidence from psychology, history, and anthropology, [Peter Gray] makes the case that compulsory schooling is not only misguided but deeply damaging, an affront to the playful instincts of childhood."—Psychology Today
In Free to Learn,a passionate paean to the kind of free play and free learning ... Peter Gray, an evolutionary psychologist at Boston College, makes a largely compelling case that children learn best when unencumbered by adult-imposed activities and institutions."—American Journal of Play
"Anyone who cares about learning should read Free to Learn. Gray’s book is a compelling and easy read; if everyone would read it with an open mind, a wholesale revolution in education (right through to university) would be the inevitable outcome."
—Dissident Voice
"Free to Learn makes a good case for the importance of play as a renewable resource for school reform and transformation."—Spirituality & Practice
"We [Life learners] appreciate having someone who is a developmental psychologist and college professor understand so well-- not to mention respect-- the lives we're living."—Life Learning Magazine
"Peter also shows his overt support for unschooling as a true bright spot in western culture and details the results of his own survey of unschooling families. Whether you buy this book, borrow it or check it out of the library, this book is as important as any of John Holt's early books."
—Home Education Magazine
“[Free to Learn is] a powerful agent of transformation. I'd like to put a copy in the hands of every parent, teacher, and policy maker.”
—Mothering.com
“[E]nergetic…Gray powerfully argues that schools inhibit learning…. [Gray's] vivid illustrations of the ‘power of play' to shape an individual are bound to provoke a renewed conversation about turning the tide in an educational system that fosters conformity and inhibits creative thinking.”
—Publishers Weekly
"Free to Learn stimulates a parent’s thinking about what kind of learning environment helps their child learn and adjust best, and then how to simulate that environment at home or out of school if it doesn’t exist among their school options...Gray has caused me to re-focus my grand-parenting activities in ways that will encourage freedom of learning and play. We may not be able to change the world, but we can help our children adapt better to it."—PyschCentral
All stars
Most relevant
Many people in society are worried about rising rates of mental illness and the fact that many children get high grades but then in the real world they don't understand what was taught to them. Free to Play offers a profound rethinking of the schooling system based on modern science but also a look back at hunter gather tribes.

A complete rethink of current education

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Enlightening read. Know knowing why and how the school system was originally created explains a lot and knowing there are other methods of education more suited to the children’s state of brain development makes me realise why I didn’t do well knowing a mainstream school.

To know where you’re at, learn the history

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I loved every minute of this book. Picked up a lot of new information along the way. Fascinated by the concept of Sudbury School especially. As a "teacher" myself for children under 5, this book keeps the fire for my passion burning: that to fight for children's right to PLAY and self-directed learning. Can not recommended this book enough!

Enlightening, Fascinating, Inspiring

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We need more people to know and understand how children learn so we can reform the education system. The current system is breaking our children, who then grow into broken adults and the cycle continues. This book offers hope that with understanding and courage, we can change the educational landscape and allow children true, unbridled freedom to learn.

Everyone who cares for children needs to know this!

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as an unschooler I found a lot of the topics very interesting and have definitely related to the way it was discussed full stop when we first left school or my son was in grade 2

some fantastic information.

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A fascinating journey through the history of schooling that made sense of what is happening to our children today. An absolute must read for modern parenting.

A real eye opener

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Very compelling! Peter Gray makes an excellent argument for self directed learning. After reading this book, you will not be able to look at schooling in the same way. Hopefully more people start to acknowledge the damage that is being done by coercive schooling.

A must read for anyone involved in education.

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I loved it! It just confirmed that every human being is able to flourish by themselves when there environment is fertile and has diversity!

A must read for parenting and child development!

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every parent teacher amd child care worker must read this book. Its life changing and i cannot wait to start implementing these philosophies into our lives

powerful and insightful book

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Great listen to initiate the thinking required to change our mindset about mainstream schooling in the current time

Very informative

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