Reclaiming Childhood: Letting Children Be Children in Our Achievement-Oriented SocietyMacmillan, 2003 M02 6 - 271 pages An expert in child development champions the importance of an unhurried childhood As our children are pushed harder than ever to perform so that they will one day "make the grade" in the adult world, parents are beginning to question the wisdom of scheduling childhood's basic pleasures. Across the country there have been parent rebellions against the overburdening with homework of young children by school officials bent on improving standardized test scores. And the "birth to three" movement has sparked a national debate on child development and educational policy. In Reclaiming Childhood, William C. Crain argues that rather than trying to control a young child, the best a parent can offer is "a patient and unobtrusive presence that gives the child the security and the freedom to explore the world on her own." He examines how children find their way to natural development through experiences with nature, art, and language, and makes a strong case for child-centered education-a movement that may be under fire, but that is very much alive. |
Contents
Introduction Our Obsession with the Childs Future | 1 |
1 Following Natures Plan ChildCentered Parenting in the EarlyYears | 10 |
2 The Child as a Dramatist | 31 |
3 The Child as a Naturalist | 43 |
4 The Child as an Artist | 69 |
5 The Child as a Poet | 91 |
6 The Child as a Linguist | 107 |
7 How Did the Future Gain Its Grip on the Modern Mind? | 123 |
8 Questioning Technology | 143 |
Other editions - View all
Reclaiming Childhood: Letting Children Be Children in Our Achievement ... William Crain Limited preview - 2004 |
Reclaiming Childhood: Letting Children Be Children in Our Achievement ... William Crain Limited preview - 2004 |
Reclaiming Childhood: Letting Children Be Children in Our Achievement ... William Crain No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
academic activities adults age of seven animals Ariès Arnheim artistic attention baby become believe biophilia hypothesis bird Charlie Brown chil child-centered approach child-centered educators childhood children's drawings Chomsky Comenius Crain create creative develop developmental dreams dren E. O. Wilson early Edited environment example experience explore feel four-year-old Gardner Gary Nabhan gestalt give goals grade grammar Hart help children Hilda Conkling Howard Gardner Huck human imaginary companions intentionally left blank Kamii language lives make-believe play Maria Montessori Montessori Moore mother National natural world nature area nature's observed parents Peppermint Patty Piaget poems poets Press problems psychologists Robin Moore Roger Hart Rousseau Sally Sally Brown Schulz sense social society standardized tests standards advocates standards movement tadpole tag questions talk tasks Taylor teacher teaching things tion toddler trees Twain WILLIAM CRAIN York young child young children