Magic Trees of the Mind : How to Nurture Your Child's Intelligence, Creativity, and Healthy Emotions from Birth Through Adolescence

Rating:
Summary: Many Positive Suggestions That Parents and Teachers Can Try
Review: This book was required text for one of my education courses on brain-based learning. I will admit that outside of the appendix, I read little else. However, the "resource" of enrichment tools (games, toys, and activities) made me sick! Here are just some of the MANY examples:
*p.335 musical instruments for 1-yr olds: girls-piano, boys-drums.
*p.342-3 games and toys for 3-yr olds: girls-dolls and dress-up clothes/jewelry, boys-action figures and train set.
*p.416-7 outings and trips for 14-yr olds: girls-mall(!!!only entry!!!), boys-9 listings including river rafting and science camp

The lists do throw in some male-dominated activities (sports, science) for the girls, but for every suggestion, they give the boys several more (i.e., p.413 lists telescope and rocket models for adolescent girls, but car, rocket, ship, airplane, Corvette, and engine models for boys) . Note also that these sex-based suggestions start from infancy, when children do not yet understand gender roles. Is this a resource to help your children grow cognitively or help them fit nicely into the cookie-cutter princess/g.i. joe roles?

Now, the authors explain that these listings are from survey results and that "no sexism (is) implied and we hope none taken." Well, as educated authors supposedly trying to help CHANGE traditional views about learning, this is just not a good enough excuse for me. Women are constantly made to feel inferior because we are supposedly not as good in math and sports...but did we ever have a chance when "resources" like this are being so highly recommended reading to parents and educators?

One more note: take a look at the author bios. Both are educated women. Diamond was the first female graduate student in her field and Hopson is a columnist for Science News and Outside magazines. Does anyone else see the irony?

THANK GOODNESS MY MOTHER NEVER READ THIS BOOK! I quite enjoyed math (and was always best in my class), sciences, action figures, and rolling around in the mud growing up...and I still do!

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding! Up-to-date brain research for regular people!
Review: This is an outstanding book. It presents up-to-date brain research in an easy-to-digest writing style with applications for all educators, both in the classroom and at home. This should be required reading for all people working with children's developing brains.