Children's Lively Minds: Schema Theory Made Visible

by Deb Curtis, Nadia Jaboneta

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 is happening in your work with young children whether you know it or not. Understanding it and 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.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published July 16, 2019

Reviews

[April Arevalo Selim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not an academic text, and not meant to be. It’s more of an inspiration on how to view children differently. The way they see and interact with the world is truly magic, and the authors do a great job of pushing that to the center when offering how to view behavioral challenges from a different perspective.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

And extremely clear, sympathetic and useful volume about the developmental themes young children exhibit and engage with, accompanied by stories and photographs.

[Kelly Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like how this book explained schemes. I bought one for each of my staff members. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to understand why our little ones do things over and over again.