"A remarkable book. Whether you are an educator, parent, or simply a
curious reader, you will come to see, hear, and understand children in
new ways."
--Howard Gardner, author of Multiple Intelligences
Adults easily recognize children's imagination at work as they play. Yet
most of us know little about what really goes on inside their heads as
they encounter the problems and complexities of the world around them.
Susan Engel brings together an extraordinary body of research to explain
how toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children think.
A young girl's bug collection reveals how children ask questions and
organize information. Watching a boy scoop mud illuminates the process
of invention. When a child ponders the mystery of death, we witness how
ideas are built. But adults shouldn't just stand around watching. When
parents are creative, it can rub off. Engel shows how parents and
teachers can stimulate children's curiosity by presenting them with
mysteries to solve, feeding their sense of mastery and nourishing their
natural hunger to learn.
"A fascinating read for parents who wonder, simply, what is my child
thinking? Why do they love collecting? Where did that idea come from? A
celebration of children's innovation and sense of wonder."
--Emily Oster, author of Expecting Better
"Combining insight, scientific acumen, and exquisite narrative, The
Intellectual Lives of Children allows readers to peer into the minds of
infants, toddlers, and preschoolers as they explore and learn in
everyday moments, emphasizing what constitutes real learning."
--Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Science
