The Learning Household: How to Help Your Child Get More out of School (on sale August 5), by Ken Bain, author of the classic What the Best College Teachers Do, a leading voice in education, has spent decades changing how top universities think about teaching. Now, in his first book for parents, he brings that transformative insight home.
The Learning Household is written for parents and focuses on how to create a home environment that supports deep, meaningful learning. It’s not a collection of personal stories or quick fixes. Instead, it’s grounded in decades of research, including insights from brain science, and offers practical guidance on helping kids think critically, stay curious, and build resilience.
What makes The Learning Household stand out from other parenting books?
- Looks beyond grades and test scores: Instead of focusing on boosting GPAs or acing tests, the book helps parents identify and remove the “weed patches” that get in the way of real learning. It rethinks what school is for, putting the spotlight on each child’s growth, creativity, and ethical development.
- Emphasizes deep learning and critical thinking: The book encourages parents to help kids move beyond memorization. It explains how to support the kind of thinking that helps children weigh evidence, ask big questions, and apply what they know to new situations.
- Centers on the role of the family: Parents don’t have to rely only on schools. The book shows how to create a home where learning is woven into everyday life and conversations, and where kids are encouraged to follow their interests and passions.
- Backed by serious research: This isn’t just opinion or personal experience. The book draws from a wide body of research, including learning science and brain science, and highlights concepts like growth mindset that have strong evidence behind them.
- Doesn’t shy away from tough topics: It takes on issues that many books overlook, like the downsides of certain types of praise, perfectionism, bullying, and how kids deal with success and failure.
- Organized and practical: The book is structured around seven key areas, offering clear, doable advice for parents of kids from infancy through college. It’s about helping at every stage, and it’s never too late to start.
- Expands how we think about higher education: It challenges the idea that college is just about getting a high-paying job. The book values different paths, including liberal arts and trades, and argues for education that helps kids think deeply and live meaningfully.
- Encourages parents to build community: It isn’t just about one household. The book invites families to connect with teachers, neighbors, and each other to advocate for better learning and stronger schools.
- Built from real collaboration: This book has been in the making for over 20 years. It reflects the input of many families, readers, and educators, and is rooted in the idea that learning is a shared effort.
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