Ready, Start, School!

From Barnes & Noble

The Barnes & Noble Review
What skills should my child be developing between the ages of three and five? What should I do if something seems wrong? How do I know when my child is ready for kindergarten? All of these common questions, and many more, are answered thoroughly, with compassion, and with your child's best interests at the forefront in this invaluable book from education expert Sandra Rief. The issues facing parents these days as their toddlers approach school age are many, and they are complex: widespread and complicated testing, increased awareness of learning disabilities, and renewed focus on social and behavioral skills are a source of great anxiety for some parents. Rief offers solid, practical advice that will help parents make choices that will put their children on the right path to a satisfying learning experience, both inside the classroom and out. Commendably, the book never fails to take into consideration different temperaments and learning styles that different children exhibit, thus avoiding the one-size-fits-all mentality that renders much advice on this topic too rigid to be helpful. To the contrary, this guide is a useful tool for all parents, whether their child is struggling or is already launched on a successful classroom career. (Karen Burns)

Publishers Weekly

In Ready... Start... School! Nurturing and Guiding Your Child Through Preschool & Kindergarten, Sandra F. Rief emphasizes that "[t]he message of this book is to enjoy your young child." This educator, who specializes in learning disabilities, concentrates on the crucial years from three to five, when great brain activity occurs and kids absorb enormous amounts of information. The most important thing is learning language, which facilitates reading, and each child develops individually within predictable stages. Enrolling a child in preschool or kindergarten can be a difficult decision and depends on the readiness of the individual child. Rief offers reassurance in short simple sections with checklists for each stage of development and an emphasis on talking with children and listening to them. She also provides ideas for developing cognitive and math skills, lists of resources and advice on what to do if there are signs of disabilities or difficulties. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.