A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity and Free Time Create a Successful Child

Physical activity specialist, Rae Pica values childhood. In her wonderful new book, "A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity and Free Time Create a Successful Child" Pica gives guidelines that will help parents raise children with the right balance of structured activity and free play. Today's children seem to go non-stop from one structured afternoon activity to another with little time to themselves to be creative and solve problems. Before children can become successful adults, they need to be children and children learn through play. The best way we can give them a "running start" is to help them to succeed naturally, exploring the outdoors, enjoying and inventing their own games. Parents will hopefully use the phrase "Go Outside and Play" more often after reading this excellent book, written by an internationally recognized educational consultant, who really knows kids! Kudos, Rae, from Marianne Berkes, author of nature-awareness picture books for children.

Rae Pica has a full grasp of what is, and what isn't important in the raising of healthy kids. Stressing that the 'right' pre-school, the 'right' kindergarten, etc. may not necessarily be right, and may not be necessary. Not hurrying childrens' skills, not enrolling them in every activity under the sun, not aspiring FOR them - these are excellent points made in the book. In one of her Reality Checks, Rae quotes Booker T. Washington when he said "The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts". This could be the title of this book; and it's an excellent read if you're wondering whether or not your children are getting lost in an "electronic world". And if you are wondering, they probably are, and you should read this very good book!

In "A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity and Free Time Create a Successful Child," Rae Pica, an internationally recognized educational consultant in early childhood and movement education, shares her techniques for raising children "with the right balance of free play and structured activity." According to Pica, "Today, we have considerable research proving that . . . movement, play, and physical activity contribute to brain and intellectual development." Too often, she contends, we're so focused on "achievement" and "competition" that we're not allowing our children just to have their childhoods. We buy them the most high-tech gadgets and hurry them from one class to another, but "old-fashioned play and physical experiences offer the best opportunities for brain development"--NOT "the latest gadgets and gear." This book is also sprinkled with Play & Learn Activities that provide great ideas for parents to bring fun and play back into their homes and yards.

The "Running Start" is essential reading for every parent of a young child. Many parents are feeling the stress of lives that are filled with too many commitments----that are suppose to be benifical for their child. They are concerned about the negative behaviors they are seeing in their pressured child: irritability, acting out, and refusing to participate. Pica, a national expert on early childhood development, provides pratical suggestions that will help parents create a more balanced life for their young child. Her techniques and activities are based on sound developmental theory and current research. Following these ideas will help a parent design a wonderful environment that will nuture their young child's development in all domains: physical, cognitively, and socially/emotionally. I highly recommend this book----I believe it will provide support to parents and others who are invovled in the lives of young children. It will help them make good decisions for the child and their family.

What a terrific new book! A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity and Free Time Create a Successful Child is a MUST READ for any parent with a young child. Raising a child in todays fast pace world is sometimes confusing and frustrating. Parents face an array of decisions (many of which are commercially driven) about what is best for their child's development. Those who can afford to spend thousands of dollars every year in the hopes of helping their child develop the skills to be successful in a very competitive world. Those who can't afford to often feel guilty because they are not giving their children what they need. Author Rae Pica gives parents and educators of young children a very straightforward and thought provocative case for letting children be children and not trying to force their development. She does an excellent job of helping parents to understand the importance of authentic movement and learning experiences in the life of a healthy young child. The information contained in this book is very relevant to raising today's children. It is based on sound child development research and practice and brings in the best of current brain research on how young children learn. This is an easy to read book filled with "superkid" myths and alerts, reality checks and practical answers for some of today's most difficult issues in raising a successful child. I have found this book to be very comforting and assuring to parents who truly want to give their child the best start in life. I am ordering a copy today for my daughter and her partner who are raising my precious granddaughter. Patricia Stevens, MA Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Principal & Head Start Director, Midland, TX.