Play is Learning is one of the best introductions to Joseph Chilton Pearce, one that embodies a number of his fundamental themes: ages and stages of development, the model imperative, the difference between real learning and conditioning (the behavior modification and training we call schooling) and how authentic play represents natures design for optimum learning and performance, at any age, meeting any challenge.

Learning at home without spending a dime
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I think what parents needs to do at home is to just make up their mind not to spend a dime for a while. Get a pile of rocks.

Play and what about clean-up?
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The essence of all learning is play, it’s how we learn about everything is to play with everything, then the more a child has to worry about who is going to clean up, the less they play. The less they play the less they grow in every way possible. So you have to give it some thought about what you’re going to do.

Many parents are play-deprived
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There is a huge gap between the way I played and the way this generation now plays.

Children with energy don’t need drugs
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As the understanding of how kids play, the energy of young children, the way some have more energy than others, as we lose that sense from generation to generation, as the understanding of it isn’t passed down, what we automatically think is that oh this kid needs to be on something. Let’s do something to calm them down.

Dangers of over prescribing drugs for children
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I have a good friend who counsels young children, does a lot of work with the Suicide Prevention Program.