Ep. 241: What Does ‘Restoring Childhood’ Look Like?

Brave Parenting · Oct 2, 2026 · 46m

In his new book Restoring Childhood, evolutionary psychologist Peter Gray argues that declining childhood independence, excessive adult control, and achievement-driven education – not smartphones or social media – are responsible for the decline in youth mental health. While Gray rightly points to societal shifts that have led to the loss of childhood, including the responsibility parents must own, he misunderstands today’s online environment and how formative it is for children. He suggests that video games and social media are a way to restore childhood autonomy and…