Klein argues that adult success is often established in the developmental preschool years. She shares advice for parents on how to promote such success-driving positive attributes as resilience, self-regulation, and empathy.
Ideal reference book of activities for anyone wanting to develop children's learning outdoors. "Play underpins all development and learning in young children" Practice Guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2008, page 7). Learning through play is at the heart of the EYFS, and this series aims to give the practitioner as many play ideas as possible to support children's learning.
**Why We Should Encourage Outdoor Play for Kids** Unlock the myriad benefits of outdoor play with *Why We Should Encourage Outdoor Play for Kids*. This insightful guide offers a comprehensive look into how outdoor activities contribute to your child’s physical, mental, and emotional development, providing a compelling case for making outdoor play a priority in today’s digital age. This essential read explores the substantial physical health benefits of outdoor play, including enhanced physical coordination, improved gross and fine motor skills, and a robust immune system. It also underscores the importance of vitamin D absorption and the role of outdoor play in stress reduction. But the benefits extend far beyond physical health. *Why We Should Encourage Outdoor Play for Kids* delves into the impact of outdoor play on mental and emotional well-being. Learn how outdoor activities foster independence, resilience, and self-confidence in children, while promoting a lifelong appreciation for physical activity and limiting screen time to combat digital addiction. Discover how outdoor play cultivates a deep connection with nature, instilling early environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. The book also highlights the educational advantages of outdoor play, from science and nature education to math and physics concepts, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Social development is another key focus. This guide emphasizes how outdoor play enhances social skills, encourages quality family time, and promotes social interaction and play. By integrating outdoor activities into your child's routine, you provide them with opportunities for overall well-rounded development, improved concentration, and a richer learning experience. *Why We Should Encourage Outdoor Play for Kids* is an indispensable resource for parents and caregivers seeking to enrich their child's life through the simple yet profound act of playing outside. Embrace the power of outdoor play and watch your child thrive in every aspect of their development.
The Book That Launched an International Movement Fans of The Anxious Generation will adore Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv's groundbreaking New York Times bestseller. “An absolute must-read for parents.” —The Boston Globe “It rivals Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.” —The Cincinnati Enquirer “I like to play indoors better ’cause that’s where all the electrical outlets are,” reports a fourth grader. But it’s not only computers, television, and video games that are keeping kids inside. It’s also their parents’ fears of traffic, strangers, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus; their schools’ emphasis on more and more homework; their structured schedules; and their lack of access to natural areas. Local governments, neighborhood associations, and even organizations devoted to the outdoors are placing legal and regulatory constraints on many wild spaces, sometimes making natural play a crime. As children’s connections to nature diminish and the social, psychological, and spiritual implications become apparent, new research shows that nature can offer powerful therapy for such maladies as depression, obesity, and attention deficit disorder. Environment-based education dramatically improves standardized test scores and grade-point averages and develops skills in problem solving, critical thinking, and decision making. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that childhood experiences in nature stimulate creativity. In Last Child in the Woods, Louv talks with parents, children, teachers, scientists, religious leaders, child-development researchers, and environmentalists who recognize the threat and offer solutions. Louv shows us an alternative future, one in which parents help their kids experience the natural world more deeply—and find the joy of family connectedness in the process. Included in this edition: A Field Guide with 100 Practical Actions We Can Take Discussion Points for Book Groups, Classrooms, and Communities Additional Notes by the Author New and Updated Research from the U.S. and Abroad
Say YES with joy! "If you know you are ultimately going to drive your child to the mall, let your daughter have a 3-person sleepover or allow your son an extra cookie after dinner - just go straight to a happy YES! When you offer up an awesome gesture as if you are doing your kids a big favor, it takes the fun out of it. It is so easy to add joy to your delivery with "Sure!" or "I'd be happy to!" or "Let's do that!" Your enthusiasm will make your child feel even better about your YES, but best of all, it will make you feel great."(Parenting Golden Rule #1) In this collection of readily actionable tips, parenting mentor Sue Groner distills the best parenting wisdom into one easy-to-read book, providing simple, fun, and effective guidance. Chapters are divided into easy to explore sections. Parenting Golden Rules Family Time Rules and Respect Perspective and Judgment Gratitude and Attitude Food and Dining Forbidden Phrases Life Skills Family Management One Last Tip With gentle guidance from Susan Groner, the founder of The Parenting Mentor, Parenting with Sanity and Joy will help parents feel more confident as they navigate one of the most important roles they will ever take on. “The most beautiful thing about the advice in this book is that it all comes with a deep wisdom and love based on years of experience, and a positive energy that any kid would want in their parents!” –Katya Libin, co-founder and CEO of HeyMama “To call Sue a miracle worker is an understatement. Sue has coached me through it all...teaching me various tools and prompts to stay firm on the important things and let the little things go. She’s a light in our family’s life." –Hitha Palepu, author and entrepreneur Highly recommend for parents, grandparents, teachers and anyone else who wants to help children." - Talar, Goodreads
"Angela Hanscom is a powerful voice for balance." —Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods In this important book, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of TimberNook shows how outdoor play and unstructured freedom of movement are vital for children’s cognitive development and growth, and offers tons of fun, engaging ways to help ensure that kids grow into healthy, balanced, and resilient adults. Today’s kids have adopted sedentary lifestyles filled with television, video games, and computer screens. But more and more, studies show that children need “rough and tumble” outdoor play in order to develop their sensory, motor, and executive functions. Disturbingly, a lack of movement has been shown to lead to a number of health and cognitive difficulties, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion regulation and sensory processing issues, and aggressiveness at school recess break. So, how can you ensure your child is fully engaging their body, mind, and all of their senses? Using the same philosophy that lies at the heart of her popular TimberNook program—that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis—author Angela Hanscom offers several strategies to help your child thrive, even if you live in an urban environment. Today it is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing trees, or spinning in circles just for fun. We’ve taken away merry-go-rounds, shortened the length of swings, and done away with teeter-totters to keep children safe. Children have fewer opportunities for unstructured outdoor play than ever before, and recess times at school are shrinking due to demanding educational environments. With this book, you’ll discover little things you can do anytime, anywhere to help your kids achieve the movement they need to be happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit.
When a little boy plants a carrot seed, everyone tells him it won't grow. But when you are very young, there are some things that you just know, and the little boy knows that one day a carrot will come up. So he waters his seed, and pulls the weeds, and he waits ... First published in 1945 and never out of print, this timeless combination of Ruth Krauss's simple text and Crockett Johnson's eloquent illustrations creates a triumphant and deeply satisfying story for readers of all ages.
“A must-read . . . Takes you inside a child’s gut and shows you how to give kids the best immune start early in life.” —William Sears, MD, coauthor of The Baby Book Like the culture-changing Last Child in the Woods, here is the first parenting book to apply the latest cutting-edge scientific research about the human microbiome to the way we raise our children. In the two hundred years since we discovered that microbes cause infectious diseases, we’ve battled to keep them at bay. But a recent explosion of scientific knowledge has led to undeniable evidence that early exposure to these organisms is beneficial to a child’s well-being. Our modern lifestyle, with its emphasis on hyper-cleanliness, is taking a toll on children’s lifelong health. In this engaging and important book, microbiologists Brett Finlay and Marie-Claire Arrieta explain how the trillions of microbes that live in and on our bodies influence childhood development; why an imbalance of those microbes can lead to obesity, diabetes, and asthma, among other chronic conditions; and what parents can do--from conception on--to positively affect their own behaviors and those of their children. They describe how natural childbirth, breastfeeding, and solid foods influence children’s microbiota. They also offer practical advice on matters such as whether to sterilize food implements for babies, the use of antibiotics, the safety of vaccines, and why having pets is a good idea. Forward-thinking and revelatory, Let Them Eat Dirt is an essential book in helping us to nurture stronger, more resilient, happy, and healthy kids.