How Children Learn Paperback – 28 Mar. 1991

My daughter has just turned 3 yesterday. I bought this book about 2 weeks ago and once I started reading it, I just could not put it down. It was a very entertaining experience reading about the behaviour of children, I was so struck by the truth and familiarity of what the author described that I laughed till I cried. It made me start looking at how I had been raising my daughter so far, and made me look back at my childhood years (of which I have very strong memories of), thinking why in the world I had sometimes been doing to my child the way I'd use to hate as a kid when my parents did the same to me. Sometimes people just end up acting like their parents, I think because that was the only living example of parenting they had experienced in their lives, and since their lives had not turned out disastrous, they assumed it was probably an acceptable, if not, one of the many correct ways of "parenting" which will not hurt their children.Its surprising (and somewhat daunting) to realise just how many people (including my own parents) have been misguided so deeply in thinking that sending their own children to school is the best way for children to grow up learning and becoming smarter, useful people in the society. What's worse is that some parents think that school is *the* only proper way of educating kids, and they would never entertain any thoughts of educating their own kids themselves - with care and attention. They just leave it to the school teachers in school (who by the way, are often too overburdened with work to provide enough individualised attention to pupils. In a school system, it is often impossible for any teacher to teach each child according to their own learning pace - so children who are quicker to learn can get bored if the teacher's going too slowly, and children who are slower to learn try desperately (in many cases, in vain!) to catch up.Bottom line is : if parents leave all or most of the responsibility of education to the school system, their kids will miss out on a lot more knowledge they could possibly benefit from, if their parents had played a more active and supportive role in taking up the educational responsibility for their kids. This is not to say that by taking an active role, parents should adopt a "school-teacher"-like approach to their kids by reprimanding them, setting up too many limits at home, constantly correcting their children, etc. In my opinion, one of the best points John Holt has made in this book about educating children is that kids learn better if the learning experience itself has been pleasant and free, rather than having the parent constantly hovering over the child correcting the child constantly. Children must be allowed to explore the world by themselves. Yes, rules are sometimes absolutely necessary. Rules like "Do not go near the hot stove", for example, are necessary for health and safety. Otherwise, children should be left free to explore the workings of the things around them and make their own mistakes. The best way of learning (for children and adults alike) is always to keep an open mind and play by trial and error and not be afraid of making mistakes. Mistakes only help us grow.I just wish I had read this book sooner. I know that at times, I can act towards my daughter just like the way my parents did to me, and it didn't really produce any good at all. Just a nagging feeling of guilt all the time for trivial things really. Looking back, I wish I could just take back all those instances and replace them with positive ones for my daughter. Now I hope its not too late to reverse some of the damage I might have done!This book's educational value is unsurpassed. If you're already checking out the book's reviews on Amazon now, I suggest you just get a copy of the book and see for yourself what every reviewer here has been raving on about. It's a small book - short and sweet, yet laden with so many ideas and tips on parenting, and to top it all off, it makes for a very entertaining to read. The language is informal, almost diary-like, and what's more, all the ideas presented are well-researched, tried-and-true methods.The book also makes for a rather nostalgic read for me, as I found myself identifying traits of my own behaviour when I was a child and wondering "what if" things were done differently back then. I wouldn't dare say this book is the authoritative guide on parenting, but it has the definite potential to surprise and enlighten many people - albeit people whose parents shoved them to school since they were young and never knew any better. It can and will possibly contradict many preconceived notions you may have about what makes for proper, good parenting.

Think the one-star review showed a classic lack of understanding, in that parents sometimes pick up these kind of books expecting something to help their child have an edge in school. In fact, it's not that kind of book at all. Having read a few of his books, John Holt has the central idea that children can, and do, learn a great deal more than we realise without being "taught" at all. If that idea surprises you, then get this book and find out more. You may finish it agreeing with him to a greater or lesser extent, but there is no doubt that the case studies he gives show us the processes children go through when they learn, and how our efforts to "teach" them can in fact out them off whatever it is we are trying to teach them. Of course, this goes counter to a lot of my accumulated beliefs: as a parent, I feel it's my job, even my duty, to guide and teach my daughter. But as we have just decided to homeschool her, I have started to read up on educating children outside the schoolroom, and this book was my starting point. Whatever you may think of Mr Holt's central tenets, there is no doubt he comes across a wonderful man who genuinely listened to children and attempted to see the world as they did. It's a humane and loving work which I think should be on the bookshelf of every parent...not that I would try to force that view on you of course. That would be far too much like teaching!

Seems like an ok study copy - book received as described.

Being a mom to a 2 year old boy and having to handle his tantrums quite often lately prompted me to start looking for books related to this. This book appealed to me because of its almost 99% positive review.I couldn't put the book down the moment I started reading the first page. I was constantly aware that this book was first written some 30 odd years ago so I often reminded myself to look out for points of the author that might come across as irrelevant in today's time, but I couldn't - based on my personal experience learning as a child and right through my high school days and from my observation of school-going kids today. The author's keen observation and conclusion of the children he was in contact with were generally as relevant as what I could relate to today as someone who has been a child, then a student and now a mother.His writing is concise and yet engaging - there were light moments when I actually laughed reading his description of the toddlers or children he was observing but the conclusion he drew from that particular scene that I found funny was not the least light at all, but rather sobering.After finishing this book, I see my son in a different light now where I am more appreciative of his mischief and incessant curiosity. This book has definitely moved me...

Holt shows through anecdotes how children can learn skills and concepts all by themselves. Have you ever wondered how you might teach some complex concept to a 4 year old? If the child has the desire to know and the ability to explore then they will teach themselves. Sadly, the latter is the problem - children have unlimited desire to know, but often their ability to explore is curtailed. All you need to do is create an environment that allows learning to happen. Give them the opportunity; gentle encouragement; and answers only when they need them.6 Stars.

Has some interesting points in but is quite dated and doesnt always reflect the current educational needs and abilities of todays children.

Fascinating, inspiring, wonderful, brilliant book. I bought this for a teacher friend of mine as a gift but ended up reading it from front to back in 3 hours. I just couldn't put it down. Now, I don't have kids or work with kids but I remember when I used to be one :)and I took me wayyyy back. What he says probably applies to all learning not just kids. I find myself looking for other books by the Author.