GB444 (10th Anniversary Edition) Joyful Child: Montessori, Global Wisdom for Birth to Three
$19.95
(2023 Introduction by Judi Orion) "'The Joyful Child' is extremely informative for parents and other educators and for anyone interested in the phenomenal work done by children under the age of three. We sometimes need to be reminded that from birth to age three years the child is constructing himself as a human being. The foundation for the development of the personality, for the language, for the control of their body in space—both the entire body and the hand—are created during this period of three short years. Adults often see children this young as helpless beings that need lots of help from us. When we provide an environment that is suited to the developmental needs and as those needs change, the environment is altered, we are supporting, to the best of our abilities, the child’s unique growth and development.
The information found in these pages began in 1970 as Susan wrote monthly parents’ newsletters for her own school in Northern Michigan. Over the years it has expanded based on conversations, consultations for schools, lectures, and new information gleaned while working as an oral examiner for AMI 0-3 courses.
Since the publication of the first edition in 2013 there have been many exciting uses of the information. It became clear to the author—who had taught ages 2-18 before taking the 0-3 training—that knowledge of the first three years of life improves teaching at any level. One of the most helpful uses of this book is in presenting human development in the first three years of life to teachers of children and young adults; it has been used as a text for studying human development in Montessori middle and high schools.
The first translation of The Joyful Child was published in Japan and was used to guide parenting classes throughout the country. It was the first Montessori book published in Mongolia and Romania. An Iranian engineer purchased a copy at a Montessori teacher training center in the USA and was so impressed with its value that she arranged to have it published in Iran, subsidized by the government and available for the equivalent of US$1. This Persian translation was then shared with the parents and teachers a MEPO, (The Montessori Educational and Peace Organization) orphanage in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Translations of chapters, or the complete book, have been published by either individuals, Montessori organizations, or publishing houses, into Spanish, Portuguese, French, Arabic, Chinese, Polish, Russian, Vietnamese, and Serbian, and more translations are in progress.
Many practical solutions are offered here; solutions based on years of observational research across cultures. For more than 10 years now I have given this book as a gift to new parents everywhere because the information is logical, practical, and easy to implement, all things that new parents—and their children—need."