Raising Joyful Lifelong Learners
How to Support Children's Natural Learning Processes
by Aletha Solter, Ph.D.
Publication date: June 1, 2025
Do you wonder how best to support your children's learning?
Are you concerned about school-related stress?
Are you looking for educational alternatives?
Based on research in child development and education, Raising Joyful Lifelong Learners explains the benefits of teaching approaches that support children's natural ways of learning. This innovative approach for children up to age twelve will help you:
- Trust your children by following their interests
- Recognize the importance of play
- Avoid punishments and rewards
- Understand the causes of learning difficulties
- Identify symptoms of school-related stress
- Support your children with homework
- Learn about school options and homeschooling
Aletha Solter is a Swiss/American developmental psychologist living in Southern California. She studied with Dr. Jean Piaget in Geneva, Switzerland, where she earned a Master's Degree in human biology. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of California. Dr. Solter is the founder of the Aware Parenting Institute (www.awareparenting.com) and is recognized internationally as an expert on attachment, trauma, and non-punitive discipline. Her parenting books have been translated into many languages.
Please click on the following links for more information:
Full news release and author bio
Full cover image (front and back cover)
Look inside the book (front matter, table of contents, and introduction)
Twelve principles of learning (summary of Chapter 8)
Aware Parenting Institute home page
Podcast interview with Aletha Solter about this book
Reviews and endorsements
"I really enjoyed this book! Aletha Solter promotes revolutionary ideas as if they were simply a matter of course—something that any reasonable parent or teacher would want to consider adopting because the opposite (grades, testing, competition, direct instruction) has absolutely nothing to recommend it. I especially liked her practical examples and quotes from people directly implementing her ideas into practice with kids... She is a strong advocate for the deeper needs of children, especially with regard to the negative impact of trauma on their lives, which she does such a great job of highlighting."
—Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D., Executive director of the American Institute for Learning and Human Development; author of several books, including The Power of Neurodiversity and The Power of the Adolescent Brain.
"As a parent and educator for the past 45 years, I read Raising Joyful Lifelong Learners and was reminded of some of the most important aspects of nurturing children, including the value of play, self-directed learning, and the role of emotions in the learning process. Aletha Solter clearly articulates a comprehensive and concise overview of the field, grounded in her own childhood, educational history, and extensive teaching experience. Her passion for the subject is obvious. While embracing the possibility that children may have learning challenges, a key element in her approach is trusting children to unfold and grow in their own unique ways. Her timeline of progressive educators at the end of the book highlights the foundation on which her work is built. She leaves the reader with concrete, practical strategies summarized in her 12 principles of learning. I highly recommend this book to all parents and educators."
—Wendy Kanter, early childhood and elementary school teacher, parent educator, and winner of the Crystal Apple Educator Award.
"I highly recommend this book to all parents and anyone who wants to understand more about the learning process and the effect of cultural beliefs on that process, as well as how to help children stay connected with their innate love of learning and motivation to learn."
—Marion Rose, Ph.D., Level 2 Aware Parenting instructor and regional coordinator for Aware Parenting in Australia, New Zealand, and Indonesia; author of several books, including The Emotional Life of Babies.