Essential Reading on Parenting, Learning and Play

There are so many wonderful books that have taught and inspired us immensely on our journey. This list includes some of the titles that resonated with us the most, with insights on parenting, learning and the importance of play. We hope these books will inspire and guide you, too. This is just the beginning-our list will continue to grow as we discover more gems to share.

Nonviolent Communication & Emotional Health

Nonviolent Communication: Disarming and Effective Communication - Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D.

Inner Child Journeys: How Our Children Grow Us Up - Robin Grille

Child Development & Emotional Well-Being

Crying and Tantrums: What to do when babies and children cry - Aletha Solter, Ph.D.

Cooperative and Connected: Helping Children Flourish Without Punishments or Rewards - Aletha Solter, Ph.D.

Unconditional Parenting: From Punishments and Rewards to Love and Reason - Alfie Kohn

Punishments and Rewards: The downside of performance rewards and prizes - Alfie Kohn

The Magical Parent-Child Connection: Why parents are more important than friends - Dr. Gordon Neufeld & Dr. Gabor Maté

Educational Approaches & Pedagogical Philosophy

Natural Learning: A Study of Children's Learning and the Nature of Education - John Holt & Peter Gray, Ph.D.

Free to Learn: Why the urge to play makes children happier, more confident and better learners - Peter Gray, Ph.D.

Children are not puppies: The Power of Self-Direction in Education - Jürgen Peeters

Principles of Learning - Aletha Solter, Ph.D.

Play, Nature & Outdoor Learning

Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children - Angela J. Hanscom

The last child in the forest: Save our children from nature deficit disorder - Richard Louv