The Wonder Approach
Rescuing Children's Innate Desire to Learn
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group
Published:26th Sep '19
Should be back in stock very soon
'This book is a must-read for parents and educators who want to refocus children's attention to one of the greatest secrets to long-term happiness - discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary' - Jessica Joelle Alexander, co-author of The Danish Way of Parenting
Children of the last twenty years have grown up in an increasingly frenzied and demanding environment so that, on one hand, education has been rendered more complicated, and on the other, the essentials have been lost to view. In order to ensure their future success, parents often feel that they must fill their children's schedules with endless activities that cause leisure, spontaneous activity, and the experience of nature, beauty and silence, to fade out of their lives.
This veritable race toward adulthood distances children more and more from the natural laws of childhood. A constant stream of loud and flashy stimuli disturbs the only true and sustainable learning that exists in them: that of calmly and quietly discovering the world for themselves and at their own pace, with a sense of wonder that goes beyond mere curiosity for the unknown or interest in novelty.
In a world such as this, it can be a daunting task for a parent or educator of young children to discern how to best raise their children. Catherine L'Ecuyer offers clarity, drawing attention to the findings of many studies of the last few decades on the effects of screen use, overstimulation and mechanistic approaches to education on young children, and suggests time exploring the real world, more silence and the 'Wonder Approach' as remedies.
Learning should be a wondrous journey guided by a deep reflection on what the natural laws of childhood require: respect for children's pace and rhythms, innocence, sense of mystery and thirst for beauty.
'Brilliant' - Pilar Jericó, El País
'In our increasingly overstimulated world, The Wonder Approach taps into one of the most profound wellsprings of learning, motivation and meaning in our children - their sense of wonder. Peeling back the screens, over scheduling and educational tools, this book is a must-read for parents and educators who want to refocus children's attention to one of the greatest secrets to long-term happiness - discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary. Highly recommended' - Jessica Joelle Alexander, co-author of The Danish Way of Parenting
'One of the most respected voices in the educational world' - Educación Docente
'Catherine L'Ecuyer is an island of common sense in a sea of people instructing you on the right way of parenting' - Rodrigo Gurtel, literary critic, Brazil
'Catherine L'Ecuyer predicted many of the problems that we face today: the overstimulation caused by hyper-education and the digital world which is blinding our children. Catherine is gifted in two ways: she writes for the wider public about scientific foundations which have been extraordinarily consistent; and she rightfully criticises our ingenuity when it comes to incorporating digital technology in our children's lives, however she does this without being pessimistic but by offering practical and beautiful alternatives' - Vicente Bellver, Professor in Philosophy of Law and Politics, Valencia University, Spain
'I highly recommend this book to all parents and teachers, to those in favour of immersing children in the natural world, to those concerned about the effects of excessive screen time and to everyone who cares about reclaiming childhood' - Kim Allsup, author of A Gift of Wonder
'Gentle and evocative, at the same time it is deeply thought provoking, like everything that is good, true and beautiful. Compulsory reading for all educators' - Iñigo Pirfano, orchestra director
'A pedagogical phenomenon ... a new education hypothesis' - COPE radio station
'After so many pseudotheoretical insanities on education, I finally find myself with a proposal that makes sense and that is based in reality' - Nancibel Webber, Doctor of educational philosophy, Catholic University of Santa Fé, Argentina
'Catherine L'Ecuyer's merits are not easily achieved in our times ... combining the rigour of the current neuropediatrician literature with the long-standing and consolidated expression of pedagogical and philosophical thoughts' - Hugo Lagone, Estadao newspaper, Brazil
'Uncomfortable and opportune, its presence graces the shelves that are usually filled with superficiality and conventionalism' - Santiago Álvarez de Mon, Professor at IESE Business School, Spain
'A breath of fresh air. The Wonder Approach is one of the educational bestsellers of the past few years' - Revista Magisterio
'A phenomenon' - Carles Capdevila, Ara journal
'An essential pedagogical testimony for a world with more screens than windows' - Pedagogía 350
ISBN: 9781472143853
Dimensions: 232mm x 152mm x 16mm
Weight: 200g
160 pages