A Handbook for Parents, Carers and Teachers

"Have we come to misunderstand children? Have we forgotten that children's consciousness, their minds, is intrinsically different from ours? And is that why we are trying to train them to become `adults' rather than realizing we need to relearn our way of thinking in order to understand children?"Given the fast pace of modern life, the traditional qualities associated with childhood -- imagination, play, wonder, and even fun itself -- are in danger of being left behind. Surrounded by technology and pressures on parents toward early learning, today's young child is often bounced between television entertainment and computer games and then thoroughly unbalanced by premature intellectualization, early reading, and tests.

Sally Schweizer calls for a reevaluation of childhood and an awakening to the real needs of children. Being a mother of four and having spent more thirty years in education (as a kindergarten teacher, teacher trainer, and advisor), she is qualified to ask the hard questions and offer real solutions. Well, I Wonder is packed with practical suggestions, anecdotes, humor, and delightful quotes from Schweizer's students. Her approach is based on the study and practice of Rudolf Steiner's educational philosophy, as well as personal, firsthand knowledge gained from long experience.

The author guides us through the stages of childhood development, explaining children's need for daily rhythm, movement, and play. She emphasizes the importance of guarding children's imagination and the significance of festivals and celebrations. She offers helpful tips and wise advice throughout this well-illustrated book, which also features an eight-page color section on the evolution of children's drawings.

Available from Steiner Books, Rudolf Steiner Press (UK)