Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #552038 in Books
• Published on: 1986-04-18
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Not everyone will agree with Striker's liberal views on childrearing (especially in the area of discipline), but she argues convincingly that parents should encourage creativity and independence during their children's first four years. Striker, author of the successful Anti-Coloring Books, illustrates her approach by noting that when her son was born she decided: "I would not say 'no' to him until he was two." This refusal to interferewhenever possiblewith a child's exploration of his or her small universe underlies Striker's advice on such subjects as providing a stimulating home environment, planning excursions, making sure a child has playthings that require imagination, and encouraging experimentation with art, music and movement. The author also offers pointers on a variety of specific topics, from giving birthday parties to choosing a nursery school. An intelligently presented alternative to more traditional parenting books. Foreign rights: RLR Associates, N.Y. February
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
In this book the creator of the successful Anti-Coloring Book series attempts to cover the ways in which parents can encourage creativity in their children's preschool years. As a professional in art education, Striker is at her best in giving tips and reassurances about preschoolers' needs and preferences in art. She has done her homework, and quotes from other sources, such as the excellent Susan D. Shilcock and Peter A. Bergson's Open Connections: the other basics (Open Connections, 1980) and David Lewis's How To Be a Gifted Parent (Berkeley Bks., 1979). Though she rambles a bit and might have done better to exclude general child-rearing material, parents will find this a valuable source of ideas. Macmillan Book Club alternate. Allayne C. Heyduk, Riverside Sch., Oneonta, N.Y.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful child-rearing advice
I loved this book. I read it when I was working as a nanny. It inspired me. The author believes that it is the primary role of a caregiver to stimulate the child's creativity. The book tells you how to do this. The chapters are arranged by age, starting from infancy. She gives advice about encouraging creative behavior through movement, music, art, language, etc. The baby I was taking care of at the time also loved the activities. Believe me, this book is worth the money.

This book dramatically affected my parenting style!
I'm amazed at so few reviews...this book is in my top 5 fav parenting books. It just totally blew my mind! It's not just ideas for fostering creativity...no, it is so much more than that!

It's really about a mindset regarding our children.

For example, how many times have you seen a parent try to calm a fussy or rambunctious child by giving them their 'favorite toy?' What does the child do? Often, the child throws the toy aside, much to the parent's dismay!

Why? Why didn't the child eagerly grab the favorite toy?

Because the child has ALREADY EXPLORED that toy! The child is much more interested in the light switch, or the stereo, or tv remote control.

The child is inquisitive...always learning. Toys are educational to a young child. While parents may think of toys as just amusement, something to keep the child busy, they are totally missing the point. The child is interested in your new camera not to be obnoxious, because it is something NEW! Something to be EXPLORED!

This book totally blew my mind. After reading it, I understood why my baby delighted in turning the light switch on and off...why my toddler just HAD to go thru the childhood ritual of unrolling the entire tube of toilet tissue.

How many parents let their children unroll the toilet paper? It's a definite NO, right? And yet, these same parents spend so much on brain-dead toys for their children.

Guess what! My child only unrolled the toilet tissue about 3 times...for a total cost to me of, what, a dollar or so?

What an inexpensive way to stretch his mind!

That's just one example among many...I don't think the author is saying that you MUST let your child have free reign over your entire house...obviously you can't let him play with your expensive gadgets. But hey, why not save the OLD, broken camera and let him take it apart? Then he'll get it out of his system and maybe won't have the need to take your new camera apart (and you still need rules and discipline, and still need to keep stuff like that out of reach, of course). The point is in your thinking...to recognize what is driving your child's curiosity...the desire to learn about his environment.

AWESOME BOOK!

Doesn't understand Montessori at all!
I have three boys in a Montessori school and have assisted in their classrooms, and am now the Chair of the Governance Council. I'm sorry this author did not do her own research on Montessori. My children have had a FABULOUS experience in Montessori and are heavily involved in art and drawing. It is structured, organized, but encourages creative and fun time as well. The entire premise of the Montessori education is based on manipulatives. Where children not only learn the concepts but also get to "see" how it works. There is not one lesson taught in a Montessori environment that doesn't involve some piece that is touched and handled.

One of my personal favorites... they literally grew butterflies in their classrooms. I haven't seen so much excitement on little faces as the day we released them. I actually have pictures if anyone is interested in seeing them! Also, one of my sons has created an entire amusement park out of construction paper... I'd say that's pretty creative! Two of my boys had an artist come in and draw portaits of them and then my boys painted their self portaits entirely by themselves... again, pretty creative! In addition to the soft skills taught in Montessori, this education allows children to advance beyond their grade level to the edge of their capabilities in the fundamentals. How many 1st grade boys can claim to do long division with remainders and long multiplication?

CHECK OUT MONTESSORI FOR YOURSELF, DON'T LET THIS AUTHOR SWAY YOU. SOME OF THE MOST CREATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL MINDS WERE RAISED MONTESSORI, JULIA CHILD, THE FOUNDERS OF GOOGLE, THE FOUNDER OF AMAZON, PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY... NEED I SAY MORE????