Children's Lively Minds

Author: Deb Curtis
Publisher: Redleaf Press
ISBN: 160554695X
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 281

Book Description
Teachers often see repetitive behaviors in toddler and preschool classrooms, such as building and knocking down block towers or dumping out toys. When children do these actions over and over it can be irritating to teachers and parents, but viewing these actions through the lens of schema theory, developed by Jean Piaget, can help understand what’s really going on in children’s brains when they display these repetitive behaviors. Children’s Lively Minds is filled with stories about real children exploring schema, followed by reflection and questions about what children might be learning. Schema theory in your work with young children whether you know it or not. Understanding it, putting intention behind it, can help families and teachers ease frustration with young children’s repetitive behavior and allow adults to better support brain development.

The Child's Discovery of the Mind

Author: Janet W. Astington
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 9780674116429
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 240

Book Description
Three-year old Emily greets her grandfather at the front door: "We're having a surprise party for your birthday! And it's a secret!" We may smile at incidents like these, but they illustrate the beginning of an important transition in children's lives--their development of a "theory of mind." Emily certainly has some sense of her grandfather's feelings, but she clearly doesn't understand much about what he knows, and surprises--like secrets, tricks, and ties all depend on understanding and manipulating what others think and know. Jean Piaget investigated children's discovery of the mind in the 1920s and concluded that they had little understanding before the age of six. But over the last twenty years, researchers have begun to challenge his methods and revise his conclusions. In The Child's Discovery of the Mind, Janet Astington surveys this lively area of research in developmental psychology. Sometime between the ages of two and five, children begin to have insights into their own mental life and those of others. They begin to understand mental representation--that there is a difference between thoughts in the mind and things in the world, between thinking about eating a cookie and eating a cookie. This breakthrough reflects their emerging capacity to infer other people's thoughts, wants, feelings, and perceptions from words and actions. They come to understand why people act the way they do and can predict how they will act in the future, so that by the age of five, they are knowing participants in social interaction. Astington highlights how crucial children's discovery of the mind is in their social and intellectual development by including a chapter on autistic children, who fail to make this breakthrough. "Mind" is a cultural construct that children discover as they acquire the language and social practices of their culture, enabling them to make sense of the world. Astington provides a valuable overview of current research and of the consequences of this discovery for intellectual and social development.

Really Seeing Children

Author: Deb Curtis
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780942702644
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
A collection of teaching and learning stories to inspire an everyday practice of reflection, observation, and joyful presence with children.

Learning Together with Young Children

Author: Deb Curtis
Publisher: Redleaf Press
ISBN: 1929610971
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 273

Book Description
Provides early childhood teachers a framework for collaborating with children to create a dynamic, emergent curriculum.

Understanding Schemas in Young Children

Author: Stella Louis
Publisher: A&C Black
ISBN: 140819435X
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 113

Book Description
What are schemas and why do they matter? Again! Again! provides an introduction to understanding and supporting schemas and schema play in young children. Practitioners will find an overview of schemas with guidance on where they fit within the EYFS. There are examples of schemas, with illustrations and descriptions of common behaviour patterns, and these are set within the general context of child development. The intention is to help early years practitioners identify schemas and to understand both how important they are and the vital role they play in the growing child's learning. The aim is to help the reader understand how they can develop, plan and resource activities which support children's learning through experiment and play.

What's Going on in There?

Author: Lise Eliot
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0307575381
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 546

Book Description
As a research neuroscientist, Lise Eliot has made the study of the human brain her life's work. But it wasn't until she was pregnant with her first child that she became intrigued with the study of brain development. She wanted to know precisely how the baby's brain is formed, and when and how each sense, skill, and cognitive ability is developed. And just as important, she was interested in finding out how her role as a nurturer can affect this complex process. How much of her baby's development is genetically ordained--and how much is determined by environment? Is there anything parents can do to make their babies' brains work better--to help them become smarter, happier people? Drawing upon the exploding research in this field as well as the stories of real children, What's Going On in There? is a lively and thought-provoking book that charts the brain's development from conception through the critical first five years. In examining the many factors that play crucial roles in that process, What's Going On in There? explores the evolution of the senses, motor skills, social and emotional behaviors, and mental functions such as attention, language, memory, reasoning, and intelligence. This remarkable book also discusses: how a baby's brain is "assembled" from scratch the critical prenatal factors that shapebrain development how the birthing process itself affects the brain which forms of stimulation are most effective at promoting cognitive development how boys' and girls' brains develop differently how nutrition, stress, and other physical and social factors can permanently affect a child's brain Brilliantly blending cutting-edge science with a mother's wisdom and insight, What's Going On in There? is an invaluable contribution to the nature versus nurture debate. Children's development is determined both by the genes they are born with and the richness of their early environment. This timely and important book shows parents the innumerable ways in which they can actually help their children grow better brains.

Keeping Your Child in Mind

Author: Claudia M. Gold
Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books
ISBN: 073821485X
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 242

Book Description
Bringing the magic of empathy to daily life with a child

Schemas: A Practical Handbook

Author: Laura England
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472949595
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 98

Book Description
Why is there always one child who persistently plays with the door, who mixes sand with water or throws objects across the room? Can these repetitive behaviours, known as schemas, be useful in targeting children's next steps within the EYFS? Is there a way to use them to unlock learning in young children? Schemas: A Practical Handbook not only explains what schemas are and how to identify them, but also expands on that knowledge. With the use of pragmatic ideas, rather than being based solely on theory, it explores how schemas are useful in developing children's learning alongside what they already do. The standalone chapters each revolve around a particular schema and feature case studies to discuss how that schema can be used to help children progress within the seven areas of learning, as outlined in the EYFS. Laura England further supports this development with suggestions for enhancements to the environment, core resources and activities. This step-by-step guide is essential for practitioners wishing to further their understanding of children's learning.

Loose Parts

Author: Lisa Daly
Publisher: Redleaf Press
ISBN: 160554275X
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 229

Book Description
Use loose parts to spark children's creativity and innovation Loose parts are natural or synthetic found, bought, or upcycled materials that children can move, manipulate, control, and change within their play. Alluring and captivating, they capture children's curiosity, give free reign to their imagination, and motivate learning. The hundreds of inspiring photographs showcase an array of loose parts in real early childhood settings. And the overviews of concepts children can learn when using loose parts provide the foundation for incorporating loose parts into your teaching to enhance play and empower children. The possibilities are truly endless.

A Moving Child Is a Learning Child

Author: Gill Connell
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing
ISBN: 1575425327
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 338

Book Description
In order to learn, kids’ need to move! Grounded in best practices and current research, this hands-on resource connects the dots that link brain activity, movement, and early learning. The expert authors unveil the Kinetic Scale: a visual map of the active learning needs of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and primary graders that fits each child’s individual timetable. Teachers, parents, and caregivers will find a wealth of information, actionable tips, and games they can use to support children’s healthy development—all presented in a lively, full-color format with demonstrative diagrams and photos. A final section offers easy-to-implement activities geared to the Kinetic Scale. Downloadable digital content includes printable charts, games, and activities from the book plus a PowerPoint presentation for professional development, parent handouts, and bonus activities. An ideal tool for coaches, mentors, and trainers.Introducing the Kinetic Scale unique framework encompassing all the elements of movement: reflexes, sensory tools (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, balance, and intuition), motor tools (power, coordination, and control), and language based on six stages of movement development from birth to age 7: snugglers, squigglers, stompers, scampers, scooters, and skedaddlers designed to foster a balanced diet of physical activity that helps each child move, grow, and learn on the child’s individual timetable