Developing Young Minds: From Conception to Kindergarten

Shore, a parent and experienced educator at the college and high school levels, makes an argument for stimulating, complex, and brain-conscious early childhood education, relying on her long-standing interest in “how and why learning occurs in the brain the way that it does.” The book’s first third outlines scientific findings about the brain that demonstrate the need for a stimulating, language-filled environment during the early years of a child’s life. The next section promotes art, dance, and music for the developing brain. Although this can be done cheaply and easily, the author includes an endorsement for a set of Bach CDs she produced. The last section, punctuated with useful childcare checklists and an age-by-age guide, encourages parents to provide enriching learning environments that are developmentally appropriate and allow young children to grow at their own pace. At times, the author seems uncertain whether she’s writing for parents, early childhood educators, or early childhood education advocates. There’s a little something for all these audiences, but the summaries placed at the end of each chapter suggest the book’s most natural home is the classroom. (Nov.)