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Awakening Children's Minds: How Parents and Teachers Can Make a Difference
Parents and teachers today face a swirl of conflicting theories about child rearing and educational practice. Indeed, current guides are contradictory, oversimplified, and at odds with current scientific knowledge. Now, in Awakening Children's Minds , Laura Berk cuts through the confusion of competing theories, offering a new way of thinking about the roles of parents and teachers and how they can make a difference in children's lives.
This is the first book to bring to a general audience, in lucid prose richly laced with examples, truly state-of-the-art thinking about child rearing and early education. Berk's central message is that parents and teachers contribute profoundly to the development of competent, caring, well-adjusted children. In particular, she argues that adult-child communication in shared activities is the wellspring of psychological development. These dialogues enhance language skills, reasoning ability, problem-solving strategies, the capacity to bring action under the control of thought, and the child's cultural and moral values. Berk explains how children weave the voices of more expert cultural members into dialogues with themselves. When puzzling, difficult, or stressful circumstances arise, children call on this private speech to guide and control their thinking and behavior. In addition to providing clear roles for parents and teachers, Berk also offers concrete suggestions for
creating and evaluating quality educational environments--at home, in child care, in preschool, and in primary school--and addresses the unique challenges of helping children with special needs.
Parents, Berk writes, need a consistent way of thinking about their role in children's lives, one that can guide them in making effective child-rearing decisions. Awakening Children's Minds gives us the basic guidance we need to raise caring, thoughtful, intelligent children.
This is the first book to bring to a general audience, in lucid prose richly laced with examples, truly state-of-the-art thinking about child rearing and early education. Berk's central message is that parents and teachers contribute profoundly to the development of competent, caring, well-adjusted children. In particular, she argues that adult-child communication in shared activities is the wellspring of psychological development. These dialogues enhance language skills, reasoning ability, problem-solving strategies, the capacity to bring action under the control of thought, and the child's cultural and moral values. Berk explains how children weave the voices of more expert cultural members into dialogues with themselves. When puzzling, difficult, or stressful circumstances arise, children call on this private speech to guide and control their thinking and behavior. In addition to providing clear roles for parents and teachers, Berk also offers concrete suggestions for
creating and evaluating quality educational environments--at home, in child care, in preschool, and in primary school--and addresses the unique challenges of helping children with special needs.
Parents, Berk writes, need a consistent way of thinking about their role in children's lives, one that can guide them in making effective child-rearing decisions. Awakening Children's Minds gives us the basic guidance we need to raise caring, thoughtful, intelligent children.
304 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1901
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 15, 2015
This is a must read. As in, I must read it for my child development class. It's better than a text book, that's for sure.
Update: I've dropped the class that requires this book, and am giving the book away. That's how compelling I thought it was. Good information, but I'm just not that interested.
Update: I've dropped the class that requires this book, and am giving the book away. That's how compelling I thought it was. Good information, but I'm just not that interested.
February 25, 2022
Read for my parenting course at BYU.
April 24, 2012
In Awakening Children’s Minds by child psychology expert and university professor Laura Berk (published in 2001, Oxford University Press), I found a wonderful discussion of what parents and teachers can do to encourage imagination in their children, particularly those between the ages of 2 and 8. The opening chapters focus on what children need developmentally from parents and other caregivers, what parental behaviors stifle creativity, and the ways parents can encourage creativity by providing help in the “zone” of a child’s development. In fact, children need not just “quality time” with parents and loved ones but more quantity time as well. One does not replace the other. Berk provides a number of practical solutions for parents, and as I read I felt reassured that I’m doing okay in raising my son.
If Awakening Children’s Minds has a fault, it’s that it is academic at times, something that is good in its place but may be too much for the general reader. Professor Berk provides statistics and lab explanations for child development that are completely relevant, yet may overwhelm the parent not accustomed to academic nonfiction. To me, it was mostly accessible, and the beginning especially, gave me ideas for my own parenting.
More thoughts after first read (Sept 2010)
The message I received from Awakening Children’s Minds was slightly different this time around as well. Although it certainly is still about creativity in children, I noticed far more often the emphasis on parental involvement in teaching children emotional intelligence. The book is a manual for parents to teach children with patience, and how to do so by reaching them at their level. In short, Ms Berk reminds parents that children are human and need to be approached with respect and individuality. A cookie-cutter approach to education cannot meet children’s needs on an emotional, intellectual, or creative level; each child needs space in which to find their abilities, and parents and teachers are uniquely able to assist as they recognize each child’s needs.
More thoughts on second read (Apr 2012)
If Awakening Children’s Minds has a fault, it’s that it is academic at times, something that is good in its place but may be too much for the general reader. Professor Berk provides statistics and lab explanations for child development that are completely relevant, yet may overwhelm the parent not accustomed to academic nonfiction. To me, it was mostly accessible, and the beginning especially, gave me ideas for my own parenting.
More thoughts after first read (Sept 2010)
The message I received from Awakening Children’s Minds was slightly different this time around as well. Although it certainly is still about creativity in children, I noticed far more often the emphasis on parental involvement in teaching children emotional intelligence. The book is a manual for parents to teach children with patience, and how to do so by reaching them at their level. In short, Ms Berk reminds parents that children are human and need to be approached with respect and individuality. A cookie-cutter approach to education cannot meet children’s needs on an emotional, intellectual, or creative level; each child needs space in which to find their abilities, and parents and teachers are uniquely able to assist as they recognize each child’s needs.
More thoughts on second read (Apr 2012)
July 28, 2008
If you've ever taken a child development class, you've probably read Laura Berk. I believe I read her Child Development text in three different college courses.
I was excited to see what a book written for parents would hold, and overall I was pleased with the result.
Berk is very influenced by Vygotsky. She does an excellent job of explaining Vygotsky's theories in a way that is informative, but still easy to follow. She presents parents with a wealth of information on how to use scaffolding to enhance their relationships with their children.
My biggest critique of the book was in the chapter on children with special needs. Berk covered the development of children who are blind, deaf, or have ADD. I felt it a little lacking in information about other developmental disabilities, especially down syndrome and autism. I would have liked to see Berk discuss the use of scaffolding with children with autism. Of course, people who are experts in typical child development tend not to be experts in atypical child development, so let's give her a break.
Overall, I found her book informative and easy to read. I will definitely be recommending it to parents and other teachers in the future.
I was excited to see what a book written for parents would hold, and overall I was pleased with the result.
Berk is very influenced by Vygotsky. She does an excellent job of explaining Vygotsky's theories in a way that is informative, but still easy to follow. She presents parents with a wealth of information on how to use scaffolding to enhance their relationships with their children.
My biggest critique of the book was in the chapter on children with special needs. Berk covered the development of children who are blind, deaf, or have ADD. I felt it a little lacking in information about other developmental disabilities, especially down syndrome and autism. I would have liked to see Berk discuss the use of scaffolding with children with autism. Of course, people who are experts in typical child development tend not to be experts in atypical child development, so let's give her a break.
Overall, I found her book informative and easy to read. I will definitely be recommending it to parents and other teachers in the future.
May 25, 2009
I really enjoyed this book! It may be a little science-y for some, but I found the research-based nature of this book to be helpful. She talks a lot about the myth of "quality time" - not that quality isn't important when spending time with our children, but quantity is important too. We need to take the time with our children to learn about them, become familiar with their abilities and what the next step is, what their interests are, and give them the tools and building blocks to reach the next level. I wonder what the concept of "scaffolding" would mean for value development, in addition to physical and acadmic skills?
April 6, 2011
I saw this book and thought it look interesting so I got it from the library. A few chapters in I realized it was required reading for a class in college and I'd already read it. HA! I skimmed over the chapters I wanted a refresher in. I think the author has some really good information and some good suggestions for parents but she gets a little long winded in how much the United States sucks at quality child care and how every other country does it better and we need to get it together.
September 18, 2007
This is a great book that pairs research with real life experiences and stories. This book covers a variety of subjects and topics and helps one to understand how children think, develop and how best to help them learn.
I had to read this book for a parenting class but I learned a ton of interesting and practical knowledge.
I had to read this book for a parenting class but I learned a ton of interesting and practical knowledge.
June 8, 2008
Another great book for teachers and parents. Gives an overview of the basic developmental theories, then dives into how to apply the most recent and encompassing theories. Berk discusses the social aspect of children's learning, and stresses the importance of parents and teachers finding the "zone of proximal development" in teaching young children.
March 25, 2010
Okay, so I'm in the middle of too many books right now, it's true. But I found that I had to pick this one up again because Anthony is growing up before my eyes so fast! If I'm going to "make a difference," it has to be now!
October 17, 2011
I absolutely loved this book. It was the textbook for a Parenting and Child Enhancement class that I took but I will refer to it again and again. A great parenting and teaching guide! I think I will use it just as much with homeschooling as parenting!
Want to read
February 21, 2008I heard her speak and then had a little correspondence with her back when I was trying to decide if I was going to be a Child Development major. I would love to read anything she's written.
July 5, 2008
This has a lot of great insights. tons of research is cited as well
November 3, 2008
Great book!! I learned a lot about positive education principles and how I can help improve my childrens' education and love of learning as well as help improve the way schools teach.
March 10, 2011
This was a fabulous book on how teachers and parents can faciliate children's learning between the ages of 2 and 8. I wish more school teachers would teach using the methods illustrated in this book.
May 19, 2011
With all the competing child development theories it is nice to have a "guide" for comparing the many theories out there and applying them to real life.
Want to read
December 30, 2008RDI List for parent education
June 30, 2012
I wish every teacher of young children would read this book.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews