When originally published, this book filled a void in child therapy literature. Counselors and therapists, in schools, mental health centers and private practice, embraced this book. It is the largest selling book on the subject in the world. This brand-new 2nd edition includes over 300 pages of methods, materials, and techniques for working with children and adolescents. Also included are session transcripts, case examples and discussions. This edition includes a new introduction by Oaklander's long-time professional colleague and friend Christiane Elsbree and concludes with an in-depth interview with Oaklander by Elsbree.
This classic edition of Violet Oaklander’s groundbreaking book presents her pioneering approach to engaging with children who enter therapy. A new introduction by Peter Mortola reflects on the ways that Hidden Treasure continues to inform therapeutic practice all over the world. Most of the literature available on working with children is written from a traditional `play therapy’ point of view; the Gestalt therapy-based approach detailed here provides a more effective method for psychotherapeutic work with children of all ages. With a focus on the relationship between the therapist and the client, Violet Oaklander shows a wide variety of creative, expressive, and projective techniques in her work, and each chapter reflects and exemplifies the use of this work in the service of therapy. This dynamic approach is applicable to a wide variety of ages as well as individual, family, and group settings. This book will interest child and adolescent psychotherapists, psychologists, social workers, counsellors, school personnel, and parents, as well as graduate students.
“The children and nature movement is fueled by this fundamental idea: the child in nature is an endangered species, and the health of children and the health of the Earth are inseparable.” —Richard Louv, from the new edition In his landmark work Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv brought together cutting-edge studies that pointed to direct exposure to nature as essential for a child’s healthy physical and emotional development. Now this new edition updates the growing body of evidence linking the lack of nature in children’s lives and the rise in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Louv’s message has galvanized an international back-to-nature campaign to “Leave No Child Inside.” His book will change the way you think about our future and the future of our children. “[The] national movement to ‘leave no child inside’ . . . has been the focus of Capitol Hill hearings, state legislative action, grass-roots projects, a U.S. Forest Service initiative to get more children into the woods and a national effort to promote a ‘green hour’ in each day. . . . The increased activism has been partly inspired by a best-selling book, Last Child in the Woods, and its author, Richard Louv.” —The Washington Post “Last Child in the Woods, which describes a generation so plugged into electronic diversions that it has lost its connection to the natural world, is helping drive a movement quickly flourishing across the nation.” —The Nation’s Health “This book is an absolute must-read for parents.” —The Boston Globe Now includes 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
Completely updated, this popular guide provides teachers with a proven method for documenting (collecting, analyzing, and displaying) young children’s work. Written by teachers for teachers, it also shows principals, curriculum coordinators, and directors of early intervention programs how to develop children’s portfolios to share with parents or to use for assessment and other accountability purposes. “This lively, informative book poses a remarkable challenge to teachers—to grow themselves while growing young children. Being creatively accountable is hard work and the stories told here describe both the work, how it’s done, and its joyful rewards for teachers and children.” —Elizabeth Jones, Pacific Oaks College “This book provides a set of windows on children’s lives and how teachers can enter into those lives and enrich them through high-quality teaching. The authors have created an inspiring volume, a challenging set of ideas, and an invaluable resource for early childhood educators.” —Samuel J. Meisels, University of Michigan “[A] thoughtful, up-to-date guide to assessing and documenting children’s work. . . . The authors give clear, practical advice on how to collect, analyze, and display children’s work in meaningful ways.” —Scholastic Early Childhood Today (on first edition) “Many teachers find it frustrating to hear the rich and exciting learning experiences they provide described as ‘nothing.’ Windows on Learning skillfully addresses the challenge faced by early childhood educators wishing to share classroom experiences with parents, administrators, and peers. The authors offer a timely and fresh approach to documenting children’s learning and work.” —Childhood Education (on first edition)
How do children emotionally heal and regain equilibrium after suffering trauma? How do adults understand and help them in a therapeutic relationship? These questions are at the heart of Violet Oaklander's approach to play therapy and her methods for training adults to work with children and adolescents. In this text, Peter Mortola uses qualitative and narrative methods of analysis to document and detail Oaklander's work in a two-week summer training attended by child therapists from around the world.
A new, interactive approach to storytime, The Whole Book Approach was developed in conjunction with the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and expert author Megan Dowd Lambert's graduate work in children's literature at Simmons College, offering a practical guide for reshaping storytime and getting kids to think with their eyes. Traditional storytime often offers a passive experience for kids, but the Whole Book approach asks the youngest of readers to ponder all aspects of a picture book and to use their critical thinking skills. Using classic examples, Megan asks kids to think about why the trim size of Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline is so generous, or why the typeset in David Wiesner's Caldecott winner,The Three Pigs, appears to twist around the page, or why books like Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express and Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar are printed landscape instead of portrait. The dynamic discussions that result from this shared reading style range from the profound to the hilarious and will inspire adults to make children's responses to text, art, and design an essential part of storytime.
Windows is an uplifting story of how humanity has pulled together during the Coronavirus pandemic. Written from Patrick's own experience of having to leave the family home due to his son's Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Windows shows how five kids from different parts of the world connect and draw strength from their communities, all from behind the safety of their own windows. Heartwarming, hopeful and surprisingly funny, Windows will resonate with families all over the world and become a valuable time capsule of what life was like in 2020.
Kenny dreams of a fabulous land where he would like to live always, and in his search for it discovers many things about himself and about growing up. ‘An unusual, imaginative story . . . in which reality blends with make-believe.' 'SLJ. 1956 Children's Spring Book Festival Honor Book (NY Herald Tribune)
