This is a book for teachers and parents as well who seek to develop such self-directed, “can-do” children.

Because unsupervised free play is nature’s way of teaching us the skills we need as adults – the skills of cooperation, making and enforcing rules, compromise, negotiating conflicts, accepting defeat, children have been dependent on others to regulate them. More and more they have become “other directed.” It is no surprise then that during the days of self-quarantine, when schools, playgrounds and other recreational activities were shut down, children were subject to the emotional stresses of having to find their own way. Their self-direction having had little chance of development failed them when they needed it most. This is a book for teachers and parents as well who seek to develop such self-directed, “can-do” children.

Preface

Introduction

Section I: Building Blocks of the Can-Do Child

Chapter 1: Developing Personal Power Roots of the Power-Control Theory

Chapter 2: Building Blocks of Empowerment: Respect for Children and Their Choices

Chapter 3: Building Blocks of Empowerment: Active Learning Experiences that Genuinely Challenge Thinking

Chapter 4: Building Blocks of Empowerment: Creative, Unsupervised Play In Support of Play The Play’s the Thing Conclusion

Section II: Applications of the theories to Practice

Chapter 5: Introduction to the Activities

Chapter 6: Debriefing: Using Interactions that Promote Reflection

Chapter 7: Serious Players: The Arts

Chapter 8: Serious Players: Language Arts

Chapter 9: Serious Players: Social Studies

Chapter 10: Serious Players: Science

Chapter 11: Serious Players: Math

Chapter 12: Serious Players: Moral and Ethical Dilemmas

Section III : Epilogue

Chapter 13 : What’s Important?