The powerful ideas and elegant prose in this book--with its mind-expanding mix of narrative, history, research, and science--make it destined to become a parenting classic. Ken and Marsha Bain illuminate how parents can create a learning household, one that will nurture children who thrive in school and in life.--James M. Lang, author of Distracted

Bain and Marshall Bain provide a warm, thoughtful exploration of how families can create spaces where questions are encouraged and ideas are debated in respectful ways...The Learning Household is not a rigid parenting manual. Instead, it is a book dedicated to joy and discovery.-- "Forbes" (8/13/2025 12:00:00 AM)

A practical and well-researched guide to help parents and guardians create an environment conducive to children's learning.--Lydia Olszak "Library Journal" (6/20/2025 12:00:00 AM)

[The authors] make a strong case in this smart manual for encouraging children's natural inquisitiveness to build their love of learning...Educators and parents looking to deepen children's love of learning should check this out.-- "Publishers Weekly" (5/16/2025 12:00:00 AM)

This inspiring, science-informed, and practical guide helps you turn your home into a launchpad that prepares your children not only for school but also for the awaiting world. Full of suggestions for how to develop the curiosity and courage needed to ask fundamental questions about life, this is a wonderful contribution to the parenting tool kit. Thank you, Ken and Marsha Bain!--Daniel J. Siegel, MD, coauthor of the New York Times bestseller The Whole-Brain Child

In this essential guide, Ken and Marsha Bain offer a transformative vision for how parents can nurture their children's natural love of learning. Drawing on compelling research and real family stories, they show how any parent can create an environment where curiosity thrives and setbacks become opportunities for growth. This book is a much-needed antidote to the perfectionism and disengagement that result from our narrow focus on school performance, offering parents practical ways to foster curiosity, deep learning, and a growth mindset instead. At a time when many children feel pressured to chase grades rather than understanding, The Learning Household provides practical wisdom for raising kids who don't just succeed in school but develop the creative and critical thinking skills they'll need throughout their lives.--Dr. Laura Markham, author of Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids

This book provides excellent information about sparking curiosity, successful learning strategies, regulating emotions, the powers and dangers of technology and social media, and much more. The Bains base their recommendations on research and their experiences in education over many years. I highly recommend it.--Henry L. Roediger III, coauthor of Make It Stick

When Ken Bain was my professor during my first semester of college, I benefited directly from his masterful instruction. Years later, when I became a professor myself, that experience profoundly shaped my own teaching. The Learning Household has shown me once again--this time as a parent--that understanding how to tap into children's natural curiosity matters deeply for cultivating committed lifelong learners.--John Carlson, Director, Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, Arizona State University

Publisher: Belknap Press

Pub date: 2026-09-01

Length: 304 pages