{"product_id":"restoring-childhood-how-to-set-kids-free-in-the-age-of-anxiety-by-peter-gray-preorder","title":"Restoring Childhood: How to Set Kids Free in the Age of Anxiety by Peter Gray (Preorder)","description":"\u003ch3\u003eRelease date: September 15th, 2026\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat if the answer to the youth mental health crisis isn’t\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eless\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003escreen time—but instead,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003emore\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eindependence?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe have spent the last few decades laser-focused on improving safety for children. We have supervised them more, and made their lives more achievement-oriented, with the good intentions of helping them find success in the increasingly competitive adult world. But what if all that protection is part of the reason kids are now struggling?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eRestoring Childhood\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, author, researcher, and psychology professor Peter Gray argues that children need something that seems to be missing from modern childhood: the freedom to play, explore, solve problems, and take age-appropriate risks without adults constantly directing them. When we assume children are fragile, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Overprotection leads to increased rates of anxiety and depression in children; but, as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eRestoring Childhood\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e shows, independence builds children’s confidence, resilience, and emotional strength.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eRestoring Childhood\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a radical examination of how certain societal trends—from round-the-clock news coverage, to increasing reliance on cars, to the introduction of Common Core, to growing wealth inequality—conspired to create a fundamentally anti-child environment. And if we continue to tighten the leash on our kids, no amount of screen-time restriction will reverse the alarming mental health crisis we see our kids enduring today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe must restore childhood to children. We must, individually and collectively, prioritize adult-free play, and the time and space for it—in our schools, in our neighborhoods, and as parents.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nottawa Cottage Bookstore","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44171288477783,"sku":"9798217046430","price":44.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0603\/6488\/2007\/files\/TBMBookmanagerImage_33_67e14138-b306-4668-b448-884a916ce4d0.jpg?v=1786823647","url":"https:\/\/nottawacottagebookstore.ca\/products\/restoring-childhood-how-to-set-kids-free-in-the-age-of-anxiety-by-peter-gray-preorder","provider":"Nottawa Cottage Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}