Child Learning

Our preteen years, ages nine to 13, can present some of the most difficult times in our young lives, a period of tremendous physical and emotional change. We're eager to leave the "kid" stage, yet we're uncertain about what adolescence will bring; we start hearing the familiar refrain "wait until you're older" far too often. Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul is a companion guide for these transitional years.

Can you teach your child to be kind? This vital question is taking on a new urgency as our culture grows ever more abrasive and divided. A world-renowned developmental psychologist, Dr. Thomas Lickona has lead the character education movement in schools for 40 years and now he shares with parents the vital tools they need to create a culture of kindness at home. Kindness doesn’t stand on its own. It needs a supporting cast of other essential virtues - like self-control, good judgment, courage, and gratitude.

Stories of magic, superstition, and witchcraft were strictly forbidden in the little town of Salem Village. But a group of young girls ignored those rules, spellbound by the tales told by a woman named Tituba. When questioned about their activities, the terrified girls set off a whirlwind of controversy as they accused townsperson after townsperson of being witches.

William Stixrud, PhD, and Ned Johnson have 60 years combined experience talking to kids one-on-one, and the most common question they get when out speaking to parents and educators is: What do you say? While many adults understand the importance and power of the philosophies behind the books that dominate the parenting bestseller list, parents are often left wondering how to put those concepts into action. Johnson and Stixrud show how to engage in respectful and effective dialogue, beginning with defining and demonstrating the basic principles of listening and speaking.

Author Angela Gachassin shares the moving chronicle of her and her son's daily experiences as they struggle to conquer his autism symptoms. Glenn was a nonverbal child diagnosed with severe autism at the tender age of two. Yet with very little help from doctors, Angela incorporated lifelong skills and strategies into his daily life, which allowed him to live with endless possibilities to soar.

Mountains are made of it. Buildings can be too. Listen more to find out the facts on rocks.

If a boy flies or a dog goes to school, you're enjoying fiction. How else do you know? Quick, fun examples help you understand the make believe of fiction.

What does it mean to stay private online? Why is privacy important? Even the youngest learners need to know this important concept. Give listeners the tools they need to be successful and safe users of all types of media.

Advertisements are everywhere! Younger and younger students are exposed to them every day. What do they need to know to evaluate ads? Kickstart the media literacy conversation with young listeners.

When her best friend and neighbor Margaret comes to her with a problem, Clementine goes to many lengths to help her friend. This sets off a rollicking adventure-filled week that finds Clementine getting into and out of further trouble, while learning valuable life lessons.

The Deerslayer is the first of the Leatherstocking Tales of James Fenimore Cooper. Here we meet Natty Bumppo as a young man living in upstate New York in the early 1740s. The action begins as Bumppo, called "Deerslayer", and his friend Hurry Harry approach Lake Glimmerglass, or Oswego, where the trapper Thomas Hutter lives with his daughters, the beautiful Judith and the feeble-minded Hetty. Hutter's floating log fort is attacked by Iroquois Indians, and the two frontiersmen join in the fight.

Why America's sons are underachieving, and what we can do about it. Something is happening to boys today. From kindergarten to college, American boys are, on average, less resilient and less ambitious than they were a mere 20 years ago. The gender gap in college attendance and graduation rates has widened dramatically. In Boys Adrift, Dr. Leonard Sax delves into the scientific literature and draws on more than 20 years of clinical experience to explain why boys and young men are failing in school and disengaged at home.

Pressure and anxiety often get in the way of learning multiplication tables making it take way longer than it should to master those math facts. By creating a pressure-free story-driven book, you can easily listen through. If you've ever said, "I'm not a math person," this is the book for you. It will build memorable stories for anyone who wants to finally master the math they need to succeed. The examples are step-by-step with all of the tips and tricks that make math a lot easier to learn.

Many kids say the Pledge of Allegiance every day in school. But what does it mean and where did it come from? Francis Bellamy wrote it more than 100 years ago. Join Bellamy in The Pledge of Allegiance for more of the story.

Should your baby sister play with your library book? Find out how good manners can help everyone enjoy library books.

If I were a movie star, I would jet to places around the world. I would wear fancy costumes and get my hair and make-up done. I would make audiences laugh and cry. Dream big, and see what fun it is to be a movie star.

All of us play a part in creating a great school community. Sharing, raising hands, and listening are just a few ways we can use good manners in school. Good manners make school a great place to be. How can YOU make your school a better place?

Welcome to Russia! Look at the fairy-tale castles of Moscow. Search forests for endangered Siberian tigers. Learn about the people, places, and traditions of the world's largest country.

Deadly frostbite, mine collapses, and shipwrecks. Some jobs come with more than their fair share of risks. Are you brave enough to apply? Get your training in some of history's most dangerous jobs.

Dr. Robert Melillo's Brain Balance program has helped thousands of families across the country, offering a drug-free, scientifically based method for addressing a wide range of conditions, including autism spectrum disorders and ADHD. In The Disconnected Kids Nutrition Plan, he presents the nutritional side of the Brain Balance Program, featuring guidelines, tips, and kid-friendly recipes based on the latest scientific research on how food affects the brain.