Preschool clues : raising smart, inspired, and engaged kids in a screen-filled world /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The award-winning creator of Blue's Clues , Super Why! , and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood shares the secret sauce behind her shows' powerful, transformative results in the form of eleven research-based, foundational "clues" to ensure that preschoolers flourish academically, socially, and emotionally during this critical time.

The preschool years--when children are between the ages of two and five--are the most influential, important years in a child's life. Studies show that pausing to interact, playing to solve problems, diffusing with humor, and using repetition are the hidden clues conscious parents use to raise successful kids and help them learn critical thinking skills, foster empathy, and nurture their sense of self-worth.

Angela C. Santomero, MA, the award-winning creator of children's television phenomena knows this better than anyone and has spent decades working to instill confidence in her young viewers. In Preschool Clues , she breaks down the philosophy behind her shows--educating, inspiring, and empowering kids--into concrete strategies that parents and educators can incorporate into their family and classroom to set their preschoolers up for success, such as:

-Intentionally pausing to foster bonding, independence, and resilience
-Developing empathy and confidence through soliciting preschoolers' help
-Becoming "fluent" in the language of preschoolers: Play
-Igniting your preschooler's curiosity
-Being an involved co-player everyday
-Designing a healthy media diet

In Preschool Clues , Angela shares the latest research from top thinkers in child development and education. Through her practical, straightforward advice and inspiring, conversational approach, you will not only understand exactly what your children are learning from the shows they watch and why these shows are so effective, you'll know exactly how to apply these same proven approaches in your daily life and with the same powerful results.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Foreword (p. ix)
• Note from the Author (p. xiii)
• Guilt: Introduction (p. xv)
• Watch, Learn, Know
• Watch: The Big Question (p. 3)
• Should preschoolers be watching television at all?
• Learn: Building Your Healthy Media Diet (p. 9)
• Watch TV, not too much, make it interactive and educational
• Know: Laying the Groundwork (p. 25)
• Inspire our preschollers to learn and grow
• Play, Pause, Repeat
• Clue #1 Play (p. 39)
• Playing Opens the Door to a Preschooler's World
• Clue #2 Pause (p. 63)
• Pausing Helps Preschoolers Find Their Voice
• Clue #3 Repeat (p. 83)
• Repetition Leads to Learning and Mastery
• Think, Resolve, Respect
• Clue #4 Think (p. 105)
• Unlocking the Genius Within
• Clue #5 Resolve (p. 121)
• Conflict Develops Grit, Coping Skills, and Strategies
• Clue #6 Respect (p. 142)
• Respectfully Communicating Builds a Preschooler's Self-Worth
• Help, Model, Observe
• Clue #7 Help (p. 167)
• Asking Preschoolers "Will You Help Me?" Develops Empathy and Confidence
• Clue #8 Model (p. 187)
• Modeling Shapes Our Preschooler's Behaviors and Experience
• Clue #9 Observe (p. 205)
• Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary Can Spark Our Preschooler's Passion
• Laugh, Sing, Celebrate
• Clue #10 Enjoy (p. 227)
• Singing and Laughing Makes Parenting Easier
• Clue #11 Celebrate (p. 246)
• Celebrating Small Things Grows Preschoolers' Sense of Optimism and Intrinsic Motivation
• Epilogue (p. 265)
• Notes (p. 269)
• Acknowledgments (p. 277)
• Index (p. 283)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

In Santomero's first book, the cocreator of the award-winning PBS program Blue's Clues, Super Why, and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, shares the inspiration behind her educational, live-action, animated series, which incorporates both child development and early education principles. Admitting her major influence was Fred Rogers, Santomero gives readers "clues" to help preschoolers thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. She begins with the controversial question of whether screen time should be allowed for preschoolers and argues that, like the best children's media, parent time with kids should include play, thinking, learning to help others, and laughing, all elements she believes led to the hit success of her programs. Each chapter concludes with "Angela's clues," a succinct section that provides suggestions for implementing the author's tips. VERDICT Fans of Blue's Clues and Santomero's other popular children's shows will enjoy her practical advice and conversational tone. Educators and parents will likely find a takeaway or two in this breezy, informative read. © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly Review

In this practical and research-based guide, Santomero, Blue's Clues cocreator and creator of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood and other children's TV shows, helps parents of preschoolers understand how to use media effectively and age appropriately. The book is divided into five parts, with an introductory section focusing on the importance of learning in the preschool years. Santomero addresses the "elephant in the room" immediately and head-on, namely, should preschoolers watch any TV at all? Her answer is yes, as long as it is interactive, educational, and "not too much." In subsequent chapters Santomero presents 11 "clues" to help maximize preschoolers' learning potential. For example, in a section entitled "Play, Pause, Repeat," she explains how playing is the preschooler's work, how pausing "helps preschoolers find their voice," and how repetition enhances learning and enables skill acquisition. Although Santomero is an "educational media advocate," she clearly values time spent away from screens, and the book is jam-packed with activities parents can share with their children-some inspired by Blue's Clues or Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, others based on Santomero's knowledge of preschool education. Parents will find plenty of fresh ideas for raising "smart, inspired, and engaged" preschoolers in this wise and enthusiastic text. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

School Library Journal Review

In Santomero's first book, the cocreator of award-winning programs such as Blue's Clues, and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood shares the inspiration behind her educational, live-action, animated series, which incorporate both child development and early education principles. Admitting her major influence was Fred Rogers, Santomero gives readers "clues" to help preschoolers thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. She begins with the controversial question of whether screen time should be allowed for preschoolers and argues that, like the best children's media, parent time with kids should include play, thinking, learning to help others, and laughing, all elements she believes led to the hit success of her programs. Each chapter concludes with "Angela's Clues," a succinct section that provides suggestions for implementing the author's tips. -VERDICT Fans of Blue's Clues and Santomero's other popular children's shows will enjoy her practical advice and conversational tone. Educators and parents will likely find a takeaway or two in this breezy, informative read.-Julia M. Reffner, Richmond, VA © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Booklist Review

This well-researched parenting guide is not a polemic on preschoolers and screen time. In fact, Santomero, one of the creators of popular children's shows Blue's Clues and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, believes that television can have a positive role in preschoolers' emotional, social, and intellectual development if parents play an active role in choosing the right programming and guiding their children's viewing. With coauthor Reber (Doable, 2015), she carefully explains how certain clues used in educational programming curriculum including play, pause, repeat, think, resolve, respect, help, model, observe, enjoy, and celebrate can be used by parents as part of their daily interactions with their children. She offers sample situations and scripts for parents and also gives advice for evaluating the shows their children watch. As media makes an ever-increasing imprint on early childhood development, parents are looking for answers about how it will impact their children's future. Santomero and Reber help them understand how their children's favorite characters can be important teachers, and how they must be, too.--Walker, Aleksandra Copyright 2018 Booklist

Kirkus Book Review

A children's TV programming creator shares her insights into how toddlers learn.The co-creator of Blue's Clues, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and other educational programs, Santomero explains the methods and approaches behind the shows that she and her colleagues have created. Early on, she acknowledges the significant influence of Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and how that show prompted her to create her own engaging, entertaining, and educational storylines for children. She breaks down episodes of Blue's Clues so parents can understand the dynamics of the show and how toddlers learn from it. "The single most important factor in ensuring children become successful, productive, happy adults isn't the quality of their education or how high they score on an IQ or achievement testit's what happens during a child's preschool yearshands down. This is a high-stakes game. Luckily, preschoolers are also the cutest and funniest human beings on the planet." Researchers believe that 90 percent of a child's brain development occurs by age 5, so Santomero explains why play, repetition, and pausing long enough for a child to formulate answers are so important. She incorporates numerous examples of day-to-day interactions with toddlers as well as handy charts and bulleted lists that get to the heart of each chapter, condensing the important information into bite-size bits for the busy parent. Resolving conflicts, showing respect for others, convincing toddlers to help around the house, and modeling good behavior are just a few of the topics Santomero and her team cover through the creative use of a puppy named Blue and a tiger named Daniel. The author alleviates the fear of oversaturation by helping parents understand that these specific shows are actually beneficial to the child, not just mindless fluff that suck up time.An entertaining and educational analysis of how toddlers learn and why specific TV shows are actually useful for preschoolers. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Angela C. Santomero is a published author and a creator of children's books. Her books include books in the Blue's Clues series.