Taking Back Childhood

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

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I have to admit, this is not the book I thought I was getting into, but it was a great book anyway. I thought this book was focused on formal academics in preschool, but it‘s more about child development and how American society is undermining healthy development in kids. Education is a big part of the discussion, but it‘s not all of the discussion. š‘‡š¸»š‘‡š¸»š‘‡š¸»

GingerAntics If you have kids, work with kids, like kids, thing kids are people too, this is a great book to read. It‘s a great read on ways we can help the children in our lives live happier, healthier, more productive, and more successful lives. It confirmed a lot of what I already knew from observation and taught me a few new things along the way. š‘‡š¸»š‘‡š¸»š‘‡š¸» 6y

GingerAntics If you‘re not American this book isn‘t going to apply to you as much. This book has truly confirmed my suspicions that America doesn‘t care about children, it only cares about making money. #NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #Education #ChildDevelopment #childhood 6y

Ericalambbrown My daughter will be 21 in July. I remember when she was small, like 3 or 4, there was a little girl in her day care whose parents had her scheduled out every night of the week - ballet, soccer, violin, etc. The poor little thing was obviously stressed out - she had no time to herself and to just be a kid. I don't know if the book mentions that sort of thing, but I thought my daughter learning to be still and enjoy her own company important.
6y

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GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown oh it definitely talks about that. Having unstructured play and time to unwind/decompress is important and a topic of conversation in this book. Parents are encouraged to do what that little girl‘s parents did, but it‘s damaging to children. They need time learn to entertain themselves as opposed to always being entertained. I definitely agree. It also says those activities make no sense to that age group. 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown so much of childhood is just absolutely developmentally inappropriate today. I don‘t get it. I want my child working in workbooks and I‘m organised sports long before it‘s developmentally appropriate, but when they hit puberty I‘m not going to tell them squat, so again they do not have developmentally appropriate information and activities. š¤¦š¸¼ā€¨ā™€ļø¸ Absolute fail. 6y

Ericalambbrown @GingerAntics I did let my daughter choose one activity every semester/summer to try. We'd give it go to expose her and then she'd give it thumbs up or thumbs down. I wanted to expose her to things and see what fired her up. It turned out horses and 4H really stuck in elementary school and then she picked up guitar in junior high. 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown I think that‘s the perfect way to do it. Kids get a feel for keeping a schedule and they have something to look forward to, but one is plenty when they‘re really young. As they get older they can get into multiple things, and like you said it lets them see what they‘re excited about. 6y

Ericalambbrown @GingerAntics When she got into late elementary/junior high I curbed censoring music/books/films as much, too. Living in the buckle of the Bible Belt, I see a TON of kids sheltered into risky behavior because they haven't been given good information, like you mention. (No, let's not censor Twilight because Jesus - let's read it and talk about if you really feel like that's a healthy relationship or if it's abusive, etc.) 6y

Ericalambbrown @GingerAntics Right? There's structure and then their baby bootcamp. LOL 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown exactly! It gets them active and they meet kids they might not go to school with or meet otherwise, which is great. The one thing she mentioned that I never thought of was sports for young kids (under 8 or 9). Apparently they can‘t keep the rules straight in their heads because they naturally only focus on one thing at a time and all the time waiting for a turn at bat or something is just boring to them. It makes sense. 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown I totally agree with all of that. All their friends are reading/seeing/listening to that stuff, so restricting it is alienating them from their peer group. She talked specifically about that, using those as discussion starters. Talk about those relationships, talk about the behaviours they see and if they‘re healthy/acceptable/kind/etc. I think she used the example of the movie Mean Girls. Exact same thing. 6y

Ericalambbrown @GingerAntics That does make sense, which is probably why they are always picking dandelions in the outfield š¤£ 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown exactly. It‘s cute to us but boring to them. The poor dears. She said if it was giving kids the equipment, teaching them how to use that equipment and just let them play, they‘d play slightly different rules every inning and they‘d all be happy about it. They‘d get healthy activity physically and emotionally. Instead, we‘ve got parents tracking who won between preschoolers and that‘s not healthy at all. 6y

Ericalambbrown @GingerAntics huh. What you describe is how kids used to play outside with their neighbor kids. š¤”š 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown EXACTLY!!! See, you‘ve got this! Yeah, kids just don‘t do that anymore. There is too much of this over scheduled, over stressed stuff happening. Kids are missing important social learning because they don‘t play outside anymore, schools are taking away recess and PE. Then people complain that their kids are overweight. Duh! They aren‘t running around anymore. They sit on their butts all day, like little adults. 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown it‘s not healthy for adults or kids. So school is becoming less effective because they‘re not learning in developmentally appropriate ways. She told the story of a 6 yr old who couldn‘t read yet, but she had spelling tests and the stress made her cry. That doesn‘t even make sense. I‘ve known kindergarteners who were held back because they couldn‘t read yet. That‘s not developmentally appropriate people! Of course she can‘t!!! 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown now Texas is going to make 2nd graders learn cursive. Never mind it‘s not developmentally appropriate for another year. Just add more stress where children are forced, yet again, to work against how their bodies and minds are actually capable of functioning. š™„ 6y

Ericalambbrown @GingerAntics I do not understand this sudden focus on cursive. It‘s senseless. 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown it actually helps students. Students who learn cursive at developmentally appropriate times have higher reading and math scores, and are better able to express themselves both in writing and orally. That‘s why it‘s making a come back. It helps more than just in writing. Plus, without learning it, very soon we‘re going to have no one who can read any document before the invention of the typewriter. 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown if America is screwed up now, how much worse is it going to be when no one can read the constitution or the Declaration of Independence for themselves? 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown ā€In fact, learning to write in cursive is shown to improve brain development in the areas of thinking, language and working memory. Cursive handwriting stimulates brain synapses and synchronicity between the left and right hemispheres, something absent from printing and typing.ā€¯ We also have a generation of kids who can‘t sign their own names. 6y

GingerAntics @Ericalambbrown It also helps students with learning challenges like dislexia to be able to read and write better. No one is (or should be) focused on mastery, but simply the ability to read and write it. SAT & ACT essays written in cursive score higher because they can write legibly, faster, so they can write out more of their ideas in a deeper way in the same amount of time. 6y

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

We‘re looking at you, Washington!!! This book was written in 2009. Now we have horrors that weren‘t even fathomable when this book was written (I‘m talking about you, Victim-in-Chief).
#NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #Childhood #ChildDevelopment

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

And demanding they do so isn‘t going to change that fact.

It‘s sad that this has to be said, but it‘s amazing how many people (including parents and teachers) who genuinely don‘t get this. Apparently they‘re still living in the early modern period when children were seen as tiny adults. š™„
#NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #childhood #ChildDevelopment #whyhistorymatters #whychildrenmatter

GingerAntics Then again, I‘m not sure a lot of adults think like adults at the moment. Just look at the Victim-in-Chief. 6y

jessinikkip I've never seen a more true sentence, I don't think. 6y

Weaponxgirl Yes! One of my fave things about my job is trying to work out sometimes how a young person got to a certain thought. What connections were made in their brain as it can be so out there sometimes. 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl don‘t you just love that? It‘s totally logical to them, and when they explain it to you, you completely understand how they got there and why they think it makes sense. Their little minds are just so awesome. 6y

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

America was ranked 20 out of 21 nations studied in these areas. For being ā€the greatest country in the world,ā€¯ we are seriously failing our children.
#NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #childhood #ChildDevelopment

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

Isles weren‘t color coded when I was a kid, but I do remember getting Legos, RC cars and planes, matchbox cars, etc and seeing only boys in the isle. Some would even say I couldn‘t be in that isle because it was a boys isle. It‘s worse now. I think I first noticed it in high school. Even baby and toddler toys seem to be divided by gender. It‘s ridiculous. I loved baby dolls and air planes (and books of course).

GingerAntics #NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #Education #ChildDevelopment #toys #genderinclusivity I‘ve always thought what made a toy a ā€boyā€¯ toy was that a boy was playing with it, and what made a toy a ā€girlā€¯ toy was that a girl was playing with it. (edited) 6y

Weaponxgirl Hell yeah! It‘s weird to assign certain life skill toys to only one gender. Let them play with what they wanna play. One of the boys I work with wanted his nails done and lipstick and then proceeded to play pirates whilst calling himself Blackbeard. I loved every moment of that game! 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl horrible things have been done to boys (by their parents) who do that sort of thing around here. Sadly, a lot of parents have jumped on this gender divided toy store/section thing. They‘ll yell at and smack kids who are found looking at toys from the wrong isle. It‘s ridiculous. 6y

Weaponxgirl @GingerAntics I once saw a man tell a small kid he didn‘t want the umbrella because it was for girls. I was hoping it was because of the design which would be bad enough but seriously a umbrella? 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl that‘s ridiculous. I hope the guy got soaked. That‘s just ridiculous. š¤¦š¸¼ā€¨ā™€ļø¸ 6y

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

I never thought of the toys kids have access to playing such an important role in the way they play. I also didn‘t know that blocks and play dough were no longer popular toys.
#NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #Education #ChildDevelopment

Lcsmcat They are for my granddaughter (who turns 3 tomorrow.) 6y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat it does seem to be related to parents and if they just buy toys their kids want because they want them or if they want their child to play actively and creatively. Blocks and play dough were some of my favourite toys as a kid. That and baby dolls. I can‘t imagine childhood without those. I‘m glad your granddaughter loves them, too. I think my favourite thing from preschool/daycare was making peanut butter play dough we could eat. š‚ 6y

Lcsmcat @GingerAntics Peanut butter play dough! That‘s a thing? 6y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat Google it. It‘s one of several homemade play dough recipes (there are probably multiple versions now). We made a big batch and everyone got the same amount and we played with it all day and then we all got to take home ours in a plastic bag. It doesn‘t have all the salt in it so it‘s safe to eat, then you add a little peanut butter so it actually tastes good. It was fun to make, fun to play with, and I we all eventually ate it all. 6y

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

The other side of this coin is that they can also learn to hate. It‘s amazing how much of that can be seen in the world. It‘s amazing how many people, knowingly or unknowingly, teach their kids to love only people who are just like them or believe just like them. The ā€I don‘t want my kids having any friends that aren‘t Christianā€¯ is a perfect example.
#NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #Education #ChildDevelopment

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

Let‘s face it, American society doesn‘t give one hoot about children. American society is only concerned with giving the rich what they want and ignoring common sense at every possible opportunity. I don‘t know how parents handle this madness. I‘m reading this book and I‘m so glad I don‘t have children right now. Yes, I want them, but maybe it‘s better to just not.
#NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #ChildDevelopment

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

I wasn‘t nearly as shocked as I should be that lobbyists over ride science in America. It‘s bad for our kids, but companies and lobbyists want adult content (violence, coercion, aggression, advertising) promoted to our children, so child welfare and child development experts are thrown out the door so companies can make more money. Our priorities are entirely out of whack around here.
#NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #ChildDevelopment

Caroline2 Yes!! š‘¸ 6y

Weaponxgirl That‘s awful! 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl it‘s also why we force 3 year olds into academic environments where they sit and listen to a lesson/lecture and then sit and work in a workbook even though it‘s developmentally inappropriate and has no positive effects for education. I agree with what this author says that most parents don‘t know enough about basic child development to properly care for their children. It‘s sad, really. 6y

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GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl it‘s why our suicide statistics start at age 5 in this country. How screwed up have we made school and childhood that a five year old can‘t bear to face life anymore? 6y

Weaponxgirl It‘s gotta be hard for parents when there are so many voices talking at you. Who is really telling the truth and has the kids best interests at heart. Things like Lego are obviously there to make money but it is the sort of toy that is very valuable for helping them develop. I can‘t imagine how hard it is for parents to tell the difference, especially when you add in tiredness ect. 6y

Weaponxgirl That‘s just ridiculous! No one at any age should feel that way. 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl exactly. People are purposely playing these parents and it‘s not cool. Hell, if parents even read books about children or babies, they read this one outdated book that has been totally debunked, but it‘s still the most popular book. Then the internet is more concerned with scaring you into doing some crazy shit. š¤¦š¸¼ā€¨ā™€ļø¸ We are entirely screwing over children. 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl I feel like whatever child development organisation we have (if we even have one) should put a seal or stamp on books and info that is accurate and healthy. 6y

Weaponxgirl I completely agree I also think there should be consequences for actively targeting parents with false scaremongering ā€informationā€¯ we have anti vaxers putting people at risk and awful things being done to children with autism because of it. 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl no one should ever feel that way, I totally agree. I‘m totally confused about why people who insist they must hit their children are concerned their child will commit suicide if they don‘t hit their child. What? That‘s not even logical. Then again, we don‘t do that here. We don‘t protect children here. We lobby to find new ways to torture them. 6y

Weaponxgirl Duo guys get CBeebies? It‘s kinda awesome with some of its programs, educational fun and I‘m a huge fan of mr tumble. He teaches sign language and has lots of children with disabilities on it to help it be normalised for children to see people that may be different from them from the start 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl I totally agree. We have got to crack down on that immediately. Especially when these people bully and threaten the physical safety, even lives, of people who try to put real information out there. It‘s ridiculous. I‘m sorry, by FB has got to step up and stop allowing this BS on their site. They ARE responsible whether they like it or not. 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl no, that‘s a BBC station. Most children‘s programming is amazingly violent, racist, and sexist here. Plus, parents put infants in front of the TV. The American Paediatric Association (or whatever it‘s called) is having to tell people to restrict screentime for children under 5 and no screen time for children under 2, but people don‘t listen. 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl that‘s one of the topics of this book. Children under 6 or 7 really don‘t learn from screens. Children under 2 can‘t learn from a screen, it actually hinders their verbal and cognitive development. Still, people plop their kids down. Under 6 or 7, kids learn through active, creative play. The TV is the opposite of that. 6y

Weaponxgirl Mr tumble works best when you are doing it together with the child. If you are sitting there interacting with the programme it can actually be quite fun. One of my friends swears by CBeebies as she can then use stuff from the programmes that have caught her daughters interest for activities to do together. I agree too much is not healthy but they are pretty great in my experience 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl I agree with that. Under 2, a kid can‘t follow a screen. They don‘t understand what‘s going on, their vision is still developing so they can‘t see the screen properly. After that, if the parents are watching with the kids, great. It‘s not a babysitter. This book is discussing if your child plays out a scene and they never deviate from what they see on the screen, that‘s a problem. 6y

GingerAntics @Weaponxgirl there are ways to use children‘s programming positively, and it seems your friend has found that balance. It‘s just that most parents, at least here, use it as a babysitting and even young kids spend hours in front of the tv. Once they start school they‘re in organised sports and crap and they have no free time, no down time. It‘s sad, really. 6y

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

This shouldn‘t be surprising to anyone, but ā€No Child Left Behindā€¯ absolutely screwed up people‘s views of school. This is shocking news to so many people. I have no idea what‘s wrong with people. We need to stop letting people who have never taught a class in their lives, who haven‘t been in a classroom for 30+ years make education decisions.
#NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #Education #ChildDevelopment #education #whatarewethinking

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GingerAntics

Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids | Nancy Carlsson-Paige

If only our political leaders (especially the Mussolini-in-Chief) had been raised and educated this way.
#NancyCarlssonPaige #TakingBackChildhood #Education #ChildDevelopment #empathy #love #compassion #creativity #communicationskills

Bookwomble Please, I like mangoes - don't spoil them for me! š‰ 6y

GingerAntics @Bookwomble it is probably highly offensive to mangos. Fair point. 6y

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