Resources
Books, ideas and words that have shaped my thinking
Over the years I have been influenced by many writers, psychologists and educators who think deeply about childhood, curiosity and the conditions that allow people to flourish.
Below are a few resources that families sometimes find helpful, along with a small collection of poems and words that capture something of the spirit of this work.
A Thought on Freedom
“Birds born in a cage think flying is an illness.”
This quote reminds me how easily environments can shape our expectations of what learning — and life — can be.
Words that inspire my work…
Some ideas are difficult to explain in theory but are expressed beautifully through poetry and literature. The following pieces have stayed with me and continue to shape how I think about childhood, learning and the human experience.
Do Not Try to Save the World
Martha Postlethwaite
Do not try to save
the whole world
or do anything grandiose.
Instead, create
a clearing
in the dense forest
of your life
and wait there patiently,
until the song
that is your life
falls into your own cupped hands
and you recognize and greet it.
The Guest House
Rumi
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Hope Is the Thing With Feathers
Emily Dickinson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers —
That perches in the soul —
And sings the tune without the words —
And never stops — at all —
Lightly
Aldous Huxley
It is dark because you are trying too hard.
Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly.
Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply.
Wild Geese
Mary Oliver
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
On Children
Kahlil Gibran
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
Suggested Reading
If you are interested in exploring some of the ideas behind this work, you might also enjoy books by thinkers who write thoughtfully about childhood, learning and human development.
How Children Learn — John Holt
A classic book exploring how children naturally learn through curiosity, exploration and meaningful experiences. Holt’s observations continue to resonate with many families who are thinking differently about education and childhood.
Changing Our Minds — Naomi Fisher
A thoughtful exploration of why some children struggle within traditional school systems and how families can support learning in ways that respect children’s individual needs, particularly for neurodiverse learners.
Free to Learn — Peter Gray
This book looks at the evolutionary roots of play and curiosity, and how children’s natural drive to explore and learn can flourish when they are given freedom and trust.
Punished by Rewards — Alfie Kohn
A powerful critique of reward systems and extrinsic motivation, exploring how curiosity and intrinsic motivation can be undermined when learning becomes focused on performance and outcomes.
The Gardener and the Carpenter — Alison Gopnik
A beautiful reflection on childhood and parenting, suggesting that children are not projects to be shaped but individuals to be nurtured — more like gardens to cultivate than sculptures to carve.
