This week we're reading Chapter Ten from Free to Learn by Peter Gray, "Trustful Parenting in Our Modern World." In this chapter, Gray explores what it means to practice trustful parenting in today’s world. He describes how trusting children’s natural abilities to learn and grow (rather than controlling or over-directing them) creates space for independence, confidence, and responsibility. We discuss the tension many modern parents feel between societal pressures for achievement and the instinct to give kids freedom. Gray emphasizes that children flourish when adults provide safety, support, and resources while stepping back enough for curiosity and play to guide development. In our conversation, we reflect on how this perspective can shape our work as speech therapists.

We're discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're reading Chapter Nine from Free to Learn by Peter Gray, "Free Age Mixing: A Key Ingredient for Children's Capacity for Self-Education." In this chapter, Gray focuses on the unique value of age-mixed play, where younger and older children learn together. He shows how younger kids benefit from observing and modeling older peers, while older children gain patience, empathy, and leadership skills by guiding the younger ones. We discuss how these interactions create a natural cycle of learning that is often missing in age-segregated classrooms. Gray emphasizes that age-mixed play mirrors real-life communities, making it one of the most powerful settings for both academic and social growth.

We're discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're reading Chapter Eight from Free to Learn by Peter Gray, "The Role of Play in Social and Emotional Development." In this chapter, Gray explains how play is essential for children’s social and emotional development. Through play, kids practice cooperation, negotiation, empathy, and conflict resolution in ways that can’t be taught through direct instruction. We discuss how these experiences help children learn to manage emotions, build friendships, and develop resilience. Gray emphasizes that mixed-age, self-directed play provides especially rich opportunities for growth because younger children learn from older ones and older children practice leadership and care. In our conversation, we connect these ideas to speech therapy, reflecting on how play-based interactions support not only communication skills but also the social-emotional foundations that make learning possible.

We're discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're reading Chapter Seven from Free to Learn by Peter Gray. In this chapter, Gray explores the “playful state of mind,” showing how play supports creativity, flexibility, and resilience in learning. He explains that play isn’t just an activity but a mindset where mistakes become opportunities and curiosity leads the way. We talk about how this state helps children take risks, problem-solve, and develop confidence without the fear of being judged. Gray contrasts this with the rigid, high-pressure atmosphere of traditional schooling, which often suppresses playfulness and intrinsic motivation. In our discussion, we reflect on how speech therapists can intentionally use playful contexts to reduce anxiety, encourage exploration, and make communication practice more meaningful.

We're discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're reading Chapter Six from Free to Learn by Peter Gray, "The Human Educative Instincts." In this chapter, Gray explains that humans are born with powerful instincts that drive learning, including curiosity, play, and sociability. He shows how these natural tendencies have been essential for survival throughout history, helping children acquire the knowledge and skills of their communities. We discuss how traditional schooling often suppresses these instincts, replacing intrinsic motivation with external rewards and punishments. Gray emphasizes that when children are free to follow their interests, these instincts guide them toward deep, meaningful learning. In our conversation, we reflect on how speech therapists can tap into curiosity, play, and social connection to support communication growth in more natural and motivating ways.

We're discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're reading Chapter Five from Free to Learn by Peter Gray, "Lessons from Sudbury Valley: Mother Nature Can Prevail in Modern Times." In this chapter, Gray shares insights from the Sudbury Valley School, a self-directed learning environment where students choose how to spend their time. He describes how, even without traditional classes or grades, children naturally develop critical skills like reading, problem-solving, and collaboration when given freedom and responsibility. We explore how the school’s democratic structure, where students have an equal voice in decision-making, fosters independence and respect. Gray argues that this model shows Mother Nature’s methods of curiosity, play, and social interaction can thrive even in today’s world. In our discussion, we connect these lessons to speech therapy, considering how creating space for choice and self-direction can empower children’s communication and growth.

We're discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're reading Chapter Four from Free to Learn by Peter Gray. In this chapter, Gray lays out what he calls the “seven sins” of our current education system, each one showing how forced schooling undermines children’s natural drives to learn. He critiques practices such as coercing children to work, segregating them by age, judging them through constant testing, and replacing curiosity with fear of failure. We talk about how these systemic issues can stifle creativity, motivation, and self-confidence in ways that affect children far beyond the classroom. Gray emphasizes that these “sins” are not flaws in individual teachers but are baked into the structure of the system itself. In our discussion, we reflect on how these themes connect to speech therapy, highlighting the importance of honoring children’s voices, autonomy, and unique learning paths.

We're discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's new app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're reading Chapter Three from Free to Learn by Peter Gray, "Why Schools Are What They Are: A Brief History of Education." In this chapter, Gray traces the history of formal education and explains how schools developed to meet the needs of agricultural and industrial societies rather than children’s natural ways of learning. He shows how early schools emphasized obedience, memorization, and conformity, shaping students into disciplined workers rather than independent thinkers. We discuss how this model has carried into modern education, often clashing with what we know about play, curiosity, and intrinsic motivation. Gray highlights that many of today’s struggles in education stem from this outdated framework. In our conversation, we reflect on how understanding this history can help us reimagine learning environments that better support children’s growth and communication.

We're discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group!

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's new app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're reading Chapter Two from Free to Learn by Peter Gray, "The Play-Filled Lives of Hunter-Gatherer Children." In this chapter, Peter Gray describes the play-filled lives of hunter gatherer children, using the story of Kwi, an eleven-year-old Ju/’hoansi boy from the Kalahari, to illustrate his points. In these societies, children grow up without formal schooling and instead learn through self-directed play, exploration, and imitation of adult activities. They spend their days engaged in games and creative projects that mirror hunting, tool-making, building, music, and dance, naturally developing the skills they will need in adulthood. Mixed-age play groups help them learn cooperation, empathy, negotiation, and self-control, while the culture as a whole values autonomy, sharing, and equality. Gray suggests that modern education could take inspiration from this model by creating more opportunities for children to learn through play and personal choice rather than through rigid, adult-led instruction.

We'll be discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group.

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's new app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New book alert! For the next couple months, we're reading Free to Learn by Peter Gray. We kick off this week with the Prologue and Chapter One. In the Prologue, Gray introduces his concern that modern schooling suppresses children's natural curiosity, playfulness, and drive to learn. He explains that his perspective shifted dramatically after witnessing how his own son thrived in a self-directed learning environment. In chapter one, "What Have We Done to Childhood?," Gray argues that modern society has drastically reduced children's freedom to play, explore, and pursue their own interests. He explains that increased schooling, adult control, and structured activities have led to a rise in anxiety, depression, and a decline in creativity and independence among children. Gray calls for a reevaluation of how we treat childhood, urging a return to more self-directed, play-based learning.

We'll be discussing this book on WhatsApp! Click here to join the group.

Head to patreon.com/theslpbookclub/membership to become an SLP Book Club supporter! You'll get episodes early and ad-free and a resource from Laura's TPT store every month.

You can check out Adrianne's new app, Say Hello, by going to sayhellospeech.com/say-hello-app.

View the app in the Apple App Store here and on Google Play here.

Find great shirts, sweatshirts, and wall art for SLPs in Laura's Etsy shop, Sunshine Speech Studio.

If you love what we're doing at the SLP Book Club, please consider leaving us a 5-star rating and review wherever you listen. This is the best way to support the podcast and help other SLPs and educators find us!

Connect with us on instagram @slp_bookclub

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.