It’s OK to Go Up the Slide questions standard wisdom in homes and schools and offers a brand-new set of renegade rules for children in the preschool and elementary school years (ages 2-10). Rules like:
- It’s OK to Talk to Strangers
- Ban Elementary Homework
- Recess is a Right
- Banish Calendars at Circle Time
- It’s OK Not to Kiss Grandma
- Don’t Force Participation
- Princesses are Powerful
Delve into more hot-button issues, from technology and homework to risk and kindergarten. If you find you’re entertaining your children, patrolling their homework and longing to give them an authentic childhood with fewer pressures and daily conflicts, it’s time for you to go up the slide.
Sometimes being a good parent means breaking all the rules.
About The Author:
Heather Shumaker is a national speaker on parenting and early childhood topics, and is the author of It's OK Not to Share. An advocate for free, unstructured play in homes and schools, she lives in northern Michigan with her family.
A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to read Heather's first book, It's OK Not to Share and it revolutionized how I educare young children and how I parent. Now Heather has come out with a second book, that looks at more topics that tend to cause stress and angst for adults and children alike.
It's OK to Go Up the Slide will challenge you and really make you think about how one parents and also teaches (if you are an early childhood educator or even elementary school teacher). Shumaker uses both personal stories from her life and others, as well as technical statistics to help parents let go of fear so that our children can soar! The book is so well organized, with each chapter building on the next. There were a few sections and chapters that don't yet apply for my family (homework rarely comes home) but other things that I have experienced and loved the reminder that I am doing things right. Shumaker writes in a very conversational manner, is easy to read and I love how easy her ideas are to incorporate into everyday life. My fave sections were on Recess is a Right, Ban Homework and Don't Force Participation.
Two of my favorite quotes were:
"Life is bout change, challenge, risk, and growth. We can't be alive without risk. Our children can't be fully alive - and learn what they need to learn as growing humans - without the benefits of risk. Encountering risk gives children their change to claim the world 0 to be who they are, in the world they find"
"Children need real world experience, interaction, and practice these challenging parts of being human"
This book has so many wonderful nuggets of truth and I will absolutely be reading through it again.
I highly recommend this book and give it a thumbs up!
BUY IT: You can find options for purchasing It's OK to Go Up the Slide here, on Heather's official website.
***I received a complimentary copy of this book, courtesy of the author, for the purpose of review on this blog. All opinions expressed are my own and I have not been compensated in any other manner***