Why Kids Need to be Free to Learn with Peter Gray

This episode features a conversation between John Papola and Peter Gray, who is an evolutionary psychologist and research professor of psychology at Boston College. Gray is well-known for his book Free to Learn in which he argues that we must trust children to guide their own learning and development in order for them to thrive.

Peter and John discuss the worlds of developmental and evolutionary psychology, the way that the education system has changed, the origins of school, and much more. The conversation surrounds Peter’s personal experience with the education through his son, which is what led him to studying development and education.

More from our guest:

Psychology Today Bio

Freedom to Learn Blog (on Psychology Today)

Wikipedia Page

Amazon Author Page

References from this episode:

Free to Learn by Peter Gray

Wounded by School by Kirsten Olsen

No Limits to Computer Play, Says Psychologist Peter Gray by Daniel Donahoo