Discover the World: Empowering Children to Value Themselves, Others and the Earth. - book reviews

Children Today, Jan-Feb, 1992

Making use of innovative approaches that can be used by teachers, parents and other caregivers, Discover the World: Empowering Children to Value Themselves, Others and the Earth, provides a holistic framework for integrating personal, social, global and environmental responsibility into the developmental experience of children, ages 3 through 12. Edited by Susan Hopkins and Jeffry Winters. the 158-page hands-on workbook seeks to foster children's individual self-discovery and self-esteem while enabling them to become respectfully aware of others.

Spotlighted are tools, insights, exercises and learning experiences that are geared to help children develop and deepen: understanding and appreciation of themselves, other cultures and the natural environment; communicate their feelings, needs and problems in productive, creative ways; and become empowered to make the world a better place. Discover the World was published in cooperation with Concerned Educators for a Safe Environment (CEASE), a 12-year-old national network of parents, teachers and other child care advocates who have a special interest in creating a safe, environmentally healthy world for children and their families.

More than two dozen early childhood educators share a wide variety of easily applicable ideas and resources. Lesson plans are organized into activity charts,: which are designed to promote understanding of diversity and respect for the earth through art, music, science, large and fine ~ motor skills, and language. Sections in the book focus on self awareness, conflict management and problem resolution, environmental appreciation, awareness of others, peace concerns and celebrations, global awareness and current events, and special calendar days. Activities encouraging appreciation for African-American, Native American, Asian-American, Nicaraguan, Pakistani, Hawaiian and Irish cultures are among the book's highlights.

Discover the World also features discussions--such as "Countdown on Children's Television" and "Friends with Physical or Mental Limitations"--which offer tips on how to communicate social concerns in ways that are developmentally appropriate for young children. Daily learning activities, charts, songs, poems, recipes and suggestions are supplemented by extensive resource lists that list books, tapes, organizations and programs supporting children's healthy development.

Lana L. Hostetler, President of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, believes the resource underscores central themes and concepts that further young children's social, emotional and cognitive growth. She concludes: "By examining similarities among people, Discover the World lays a foundation of understanding about human beings and their commonalities, and about our responsibilities for another and for the resources of our planet. At the same time, the book stresses both the importance of multi-cultural experiences infused throughout the curriculum and the need to provide experiences that enable each child to understand his or her uniqueness."

Copies of Discover the World--priced at $14.95 each for the paperback edition and $39.95 each in hardcover--may be ordered from New Society Publishers, P.O. Box 582, Santa Cruz. California 95061.