Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman had me interested before I even opened their new book, Growing an In-Sync Child. I was already familiar with the Out-of-Sync Child books, written by Kranowitz as a toolbox for helping kids with Sensory Processing Disorder. I had actually just picked up one of the resources to use with some of the consulting work I do when I was given a copy of this newer book.
The premise of the new book really struck me, and yet seemed so obvious. The work that Carol and Joye had devoted more than 70 combined years to, has been life-changing for children with SPD. But children with SPD are not the only ones who become out-of-sync. We all have our out-of-sync moments. In fact, today’s pace and culture seems often to perpetuate this out-of-sync state. As Joye and Carol question in their book, “Is it the child that is out of sync – or is it the world?”
The rough-and-tumble childhood that many of us enjoyed has been displaced in many corners by technology or litigated beyond recognition. opportunities for movement and real life experience are often being traded for computer games and seat work in the name of academic progress. But are we ignoring how children are naturally wired to develop, grow, and learn?
“Instant gratification may be possible when booting up a computer, but it is impossible when raising a child. Times may change, but the time required for a child to grow and develop never will. Human development permits no shortcuts.” (pg 5)
So Carol Kranowitz and Joye Newman applied their vast experience in the areas of education, human development, occupational therapy, and motor therapy to supply parents and caregivers with a very reader-friendly guide for giving ALL children playful opportunities to develop their bodies and minds.
Their book explains the theory within the first fifty short but compelling pages. It outlines the necessary components of development contributing to a state of being in-sync, falling into the three categories: sensory processing skills, perceptual motor skills, and visual processing skills. They discuss, with great examples, how these skills that we often take for granted are developed through experience and why they are critical for any one of us just to get through the day.
Even seat work, they point out, relies upon skills gained through these playful experiences. As they so poignantly write, it takes “years of moving to prepare the child to sit quietly at a desk.”
The bulk of the 200+ page book is devoted to playful application. It’s an organized, user-friendly resource full of in-sync activities you can do with your child with just a few minutes and some everyday objects. You’ll recognize some of the activities as fun games from your own childhood, but after reading the background, you’ll see them (and many other everyday activities) from a whole new perspective.
This book is a fantastic resource for parents, teachers, and caregivers and one of you will win a free copy this week! Just hop onto Twitter and follow Carol and Joye (@InSyncChild) and me (@NotJustCute) and then leave a comment here letting us know you’re in! I’ll select someone at random and let you know right here along with the Weekend Reads on Saturday morning.
So Get Moving!
Learn more at www.in-sync-child.com, www.joye&carol.com, Carol’s website www.out-of-sync-child.com, or Joye’s website www.kidsmovingco.com.
Both Joye and Carol will be appearing on The Coffee Klatch on Blog Talk Radio on Wednesday, April 20th!
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