Why is it that we expect children to sit quietly in their seats while they’re being taught in school?  We even use the word “seatwork” to describe this behavior.  I want to know who made this decision.  I can imagine some grizzled old scholar somewhere in Europe during the late eighteenth century thinking:  “You know, I really like...Read More

During my recent visit to the Philippines, I had the pleasure of visiting two exemplary schools that meet my definition of “best schools” as described in my book The Best Schools:  How Human Development Research Should Inform Educational Practice.  They were the Explorations Preschool and its sister school, the Keys Grade School, both in Mandaluyong, part...Read More

Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulemia are serious illnesses that affect millions of adolescents and young adults in this country.  While much attention has been focused on these disorders, less has been said about how its seeds may be sown in the preteen years.  Surveys have shown that the more kids are exposed to...Read More

Fast food chains, snack food companies, and beverage manufacturers that target young people are creating a health crisis that is like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode sometime in the next few decades.  Through promotional tie-ins, two-for-one deals, free beverage refills, and access to public schools and other places where kids congregate, corporate pushers...Read More

On January 22, 2007, the American Library Association awarded The Newbery Medal (the most prestigious book award for children’s literature) to Susan Patron for her book “The Higher Power of Lucky.”  The book is about a ten year old girl named Lucky living in a tiny town in the California desert who fears being abandoned...Read More