Child's Play: Enriching Your Child's Interests, from Rocket Science to Rock Climbing, Stamp Collecting to Sculpture [Paperback]

Monica McCabe Cardoza (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

For parents who understand and appreciate the value and joy that comes from pursuing an interest, this book offers practical, hands-on advice for finding and nurturing the special interest that lies within their own children.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

If you’re like most parents, you’ve probably noticed that your child’s after-school schedule is almost as busy as your own. Between karate, ballet, music lessons, soccer, and scouting, your son or daughter is definitely getting a "well-rounded" extracurricular education. That’s good, right?

Well, it doesn’t hurt. But there are ways to discover what your child really loves to do, and there are sound reasons to help your child focus on one specific interest—whether it’s a fascination with flying kites, raising earthworms or photographing wildlife.

A real passion—as opposed to a passing fancy—for a particular hobby or skill instills a strong sense of self, as well as a natural love of learning. What’s more, taking your child’s lead on the path to a new interest allows you to "see" your child in new ways, and to create a special bond as you explore the passion together.

In Child’s Play, you’ll learn:

-Why nurturing your child’s interest is so valuable

-How to find what inspires your child

-What’s necessary to create an environment that encourages the pursuit of a particular passion

-How to include friends and family, and avoid common pitfalls

-How real-life mothers and fathers have nurtured their own children’s interests

Child’s Play also includes ideas and advice from educators who routinely weave students’ interests into the curriculum, a list of interests and resources to help parents get started, and inspiring profiles of children with interests.

"What’s surprising about passions is that too few parents try to find and nurture their own children’s, despite the fact that it doesn’t require specialized expertise or take much time or money," writes Dr. Ron Taffel in the foreword. "This book contains a road map for finding and nurturing your children’s interests, which is why I encourage all parents to pay attention to what’s on these pages."

From the Author

A byproduct of having children is a heightened awareness of the goings-on of other children. Three years into my son’s life it became painfully apparent that few children possess deep-seated interests—a fascination with kites, for example, or falcons or anything having to do with the Titanic.

Being a writer, I did what comes naturally. I interviewed educators and child experts, all of whom agreed with my observation that few children today have strong passions. They also pointed out that deep-seated interests provide children numerous benefits, including the experience of losing yourself to the pleasurable pursuit of a passion in a moment of quiet downtime.

Going to the source, I talked to children who have interests, as well as to their parents. What I learned is that children acquire their interests in different ways. But once interests "take," children make them their own. In doing so, children with interests acquire a strong sense of self, mastery and wonder.

We can learn a lot from these families, as well as from child experts who have devoted their professional lives to putting the spotlight on childhood interests. It’s for those parents who want to find that one interest that excites and fascinates their child that I’ve written this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Citadel (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806523387
• ISBN-13: 978-0806523385
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,219,402 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)