Product reviews for Parents First

As teachers we are regularly asked by parents "How can I help my child with their school work and homework?" We are delighted that they are interested enough in their child's learning to ask the question, but how on earth do we begin to answer it? Invariably we focus on one small thing of immediate relevance to the topic being taught at the time and hope that the parents will understand what we mean.

Well, from now on, all you need do is recommend this book. It is full of sound, practical advice as to how parents can help with their child's learning. It is a very readable book and the suggestions are easy to follow and are offered in a variety of learning styles. The everyday stresses of being a parent are acknowledged, as are the everyday expectations of today's youngsters. Everything is treated in a positive way, for example in the chapter on Effective Communication it details how to achieve a win-win situation for both parent and child. The text is also interspersed with quotes and reminders such as, "Mistakes are opportunities for learning' and "Success comes in cans, not can'ts.

The first chapter deals with confidence and self-esteem and offers check lists and exercises. Chapter 2 addresses communication and questioning, not only between parent and child but also between parent and teacher. Again there are exercises and examples. Chapter 3 is short, but pertinent, dealing with the essential conditions for learning, that of environment and physical needs. The next chapter is entitled "Building a healthier brain for learning' and is not only rich with ideas but also tells you, in simple language, why they are good. Chapter 5 offers practical strategies and is a good introduction to Mind Mapping®. The following sections cover learning styles and multiple intelligences, asking "How is your child intelligent?' and explaining what these intelligences look like, how to assess which ones both you and your children have and how you can use them to help your learning. The chapter on solving problems is a real chunky chapter and there is a danger of the reader becoming bogged down and switched off. Some examples are also very specific and whilst there is more than one right answer they are quite likely to put parents off unless the parents are confident with the subject and have the required knowledge. The remaining chapters cover various memory techniques, some good and some rather complex ideas for helping with spelling and a good, succinct summary on making learning effective.

All in all, an excellent book for parents and a good read for teachers too being both informative and enabling consolidation of knowledge.