I know this entire country's education system was founded on Piagetian theories of child development. I know. I know. But it shouldn't have been! And I will go so far as to say that it is a damn shame it is. It's part of why our country is trailing so far behind in education compared to other countries. Vygotsky was a child developmentalist who died before his time and with our problems with the Soviets led to his work not being translated and his theories not being implemented during a critical time in our history. All of my clients with young children get recommended this book because part of my work with families is to ensure optimal human development in academics, social, emotional, physical and cognitive. And the truth of it is that without adult supervision and challenging a child in a very particular way (read this to learn about the 'zone') they may not read abstract or advanced development in any of these domains.

If you care about the development of your little ones, go off the beaten path and read this. Who cares if nobody will know who you are talking about! You will. And you're child will really be the better for it if you parent with this developmental theory in mind and heart. ( )