What Kindergarten Teachers Know: Practical and Playful Ways for Parents to Help Children Listen, Learn, and Cooperate at Home

by Lisa Holewa, Joan Rice

A kindergarten teacher's ability to guide children through an entire day of activities does not happen by accident. There are secrets teachers know about our kids that let them calmly and gracefully manage a group of students who only hours earlier were arguing and negotiating with their parents about getting dressed, eating breakfast, or brushing their teeth. What Kindergarten Teachers Know is for any parent who has imagined how much easier life would be if their three- to six-year old would cooperate at home just as they do with their favorite teachers. Lisa Holewa and Joan Rice offer creative tips, tools, and activities straight from the classrooms of award-winning teachers nationwide, translating them into things you can do at home to get your little ones listening, learning, and thinking independently. You’ll also get insight into what teachers know about the way kids develop and learn how to use that knowledge to keep them engaged throughout the day. Packed with real-life examples, creative ideas, and practical advice, you’ll learn how

Genres: Parenting

197 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2008

Reviews

[Marjanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A-MA-ZING! This one is going on my Christmas list, and I am excited to start trying the ideas from this book with my daughter. The author(s) explain some of the basics of child development that teachers learn, but most parents generally don't know. She also gives tons of ideas of how to take ideas that are used in the classroom and modifying them for home to help your children (ages 3-6) listen, learn, and be more cooperative. I've started using a few of the suggestions already and I am already impressed. I would give this 5 stars, but I have to try it out a little bit more. I am actually thinking about browsing back through the book and taking a few notes, though I'm hoping to get a copy of my own. I really appreciate that the book was easy to read, to understand, and did not take a long time.

[Nicole Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A valuable resource for parents to integrate principles of early childhood development into their home life while their kids are very young.

Most especially valuable is the section about emotional regulation and conflict resolution. It's so helpful to gift our children the tools of understanding emotions as temporary and how to calm their own nervous system responses in conflicts.

Personally, I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to read this. It's short, sweet and digestible, and it's been on my to-read list for years. It's less usable to me at this point, as I've been feverishly reading up on gentle parenting, emotional regulation and executive function skills since before my firstborn could talk. I also have a background in education, so a lot of this isn't new or groundbreaking. I'd definitely recommend it to most new parents!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very accessible and easy to read with no random filler - just lots of useful information! I'm sure my background as a teacher helped me understand this, but I really liked the way it took on the various topics and how they discussed the actual application of their ideas (and how it looks differently at home versus in the classroom).

[Catherine McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read and very practical tips. Recommend.

[Harmony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a light read. I thought there were certain points in the book that were extremely helpful to me. The author emphasizes that you should never do for a child what they can do for themselves because it undermines their independence and self esteem, and it also undermines your place as an authority figure. It places you in a position of servitude, and your role is a teach or parent, not a servant. The greatest service you can do for a child is to teach them to be independent and responsible for themselves. The author gave an example of not picking up a paper that a child has dropped. I realized how many times I have done something like that just because I wanted to be helpful and nice. I didn't realize that something as simple as that can lead to negative habits down the road.

The reading was fast and easy. The book had some good ideas about how you can bring what works in the classroom home. It wasn't the best parenting book that I've read however.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! I'm so glad my friend gave it to me to read. There are so many great tips that I got from this book....so much so that I plan on buying it so I can mark it up and re-read it over the years. Not only does it give you fun ideas but it tells you the reason why it helps your kid developmentally. Example, have your kids pair up their own shoes and line them up every day and this teaches them not only to organize but to start looking at things from left to right (for reading later on). I would recommend it to anyone with kids from ages 3-6.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a practical and helpful book that I enjoyed reading. One thing to note, most of the advice is for children ages 3-6, so kindergarteners are on the top end of the age range discussed. I wish I had read this as the parent of a 2-3 year old instead—it’s probably best read when your child is younger than kindergarten so that you have a chance to apply all the strategies.

Also, does anyone know how to get Goodreads to correct the typo in the book title?

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a 3-5 year old, I recommend this book. There are a lot of really good ideas in it and it is an easy read. At core of the book is a philosophy that there is no "right" way to parent; rather, it is important to do what fits a) your personal style and b) your child(ren)'s developmental needs.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not typically one for selp-help books, but this book caught my attention and I am glad I picked it up. It's nice to have a guide that encourages understanding rather than patience. I simply don't have enough patience, but understanding is definitely something I can work toward. Next on my self-help list--books on raising twins. Can't wait!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to get some ideas of how to get my daughter to be a better listener. I dog-earred about a fourth of the book - probably should have just been taking notes instead. It had a lot of good practical ideas that are easy (and some are already working)

[Feener44 · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent book, so helpful

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great and simple ways to communicate and keep your children focused. I think I may buy this book (used if I can find it) just for a reference.

[elizabeth sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by our Preschool Director. I loved it! Quick, easy to flip to chapters you want to focus on. Great ideas, practical and truly an important viewpoint to hear - teachers!

[Katy Smith]

I read a lot of parenting books. This one is chock full of great advice and strategies for parents to structure their home to help prepare kids for a formal school setting. Well worth the read.

[Nettie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. My son is only 2 years old but I found several great ideas to use at home.