This week, Kaity and Adriane chat with Peter Gray, research professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College and renowned author of "Free to Learn." This episode is all about the power of play in learning, shedding light on how self-directed exploration can ignite children's natural curiosity and shape their futures. Peter shares his journey into the field of education and his personal experience with his son's struggles in traditional schooling. He discusses the pivotal moment that led him to discover Sudbury Valley School, an alternative school focused on self-directed education.  Peter also talks about his study on the graduates of Sudbury Valley School, which found they were successful in various careers, debunking the notion that traditional schooling is necessary for success.  Episode 34 also explores:  🔥 the importance of play in cognitive and social development 🔥 the definition of play 🔥 the value of play in regulating emotions and developing essential skills for getting along with others 🔥 the impact of play deprivation 🔥 and so much more! ABOUT THE GUEST: Peter Gray is a research professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College who has conducted and published research in behavioral biology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. His recent research focuses on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves through play and exploration when they are free to do so. He has expanded on these ideas in his book, "Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life." 🔗 RELEVANT LINKS 🔗 📖 Free to Learn 🌐  Learn more 🔑 TAKEAWAYS 🔑 Play is an act of self-control and teaches children to follow rules.Children are better at following rules in play than in real life.Play is a creative and imaginative activity that exercises children's creativity and engages them in hypothetical deductive reasoning.Play is essential for children to develop autonomy, competence, and problem-solving skills.Schools often quash children's curiosity and problem-solving abilities, and it is important to give children free time and the opportunity to explore and help on their own.🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST 🎙️ The KindlED Podcast explores the science of nurturing children's potential and creating empowering learning environments. Powered by Prenda, each episode offers actionable insights to help you ignite your child's love of learning today. We'll dive into evidence-based tools and techniques that kindle young learners' curiosity, motivation, and well-being. ✍️ GOT A BURNING QUESTION? ✍️ We're all ears! If you have a question or topic you'd love our hosts to tackle, please send it to [email protected]. Let's dive into the conversation together! 🔗 IMPORTANT LINKS 🔗 🔥 Want more KindlED content? 💙 Connect with us 💌 Subscribe to The Sunday Spark 💙 Interested in starting a microschool? 💙 Prenda provides all the tools and support you need to start and run an amazing microschool. Create a free Prenda World account to start designing your future microschool today ➡️ Start My Microschool