What IF Everybody Understood Child Development? It seems a simple and slightly obvious question to ask, but the answer is more complicated than you might think. Rae Pica, education consultant and author, is at it again, doing what she does best, using her passion and research to push the envelope by asking tough questions and speaking her mind.

What If Everybody Understood Child Development? has been referred to as a pocket-sized powerhouse of educational philosophy, sure to inspire conversations.

“What a pleasure to read common sense wisdom about what young children need!”
Diane Ravitch, Research Professor of Education
New York University

“This amazing book does far more than chase down the myths about how to ensure that children are successful. If offers real, research-backed practical strategies every teacher and parent can use. It belongs on every desk for quick and handy use!”
Eric Jensen, Director
Jensen Learning, Maunaloa, HI

“Rae Pica has a deep understanding of childhood development and she has delved into every facet of it so that educators, parents, and policymakers will come to that understanding, too. This book needs to not just be on everyone’s shelves, but open in everyone’s hands.”
Peter DeWitt, Author/Consultant and Former K-5 Principal

Rae Pica knows what she’s talking about. With over 35 years in the field of education, she’s realized that what’s missing from our approach to schooling is an understanding of the connection between how children develop and how they learn. In this collection, Pica keeps children front and center as she provides thought-provoking commentary and actionable insights on topics such as the Common Core, the self-esteem movement, and standardized testing. You’ll find

• 29 short essays on topics critical to best practice in child development and education
• Opinions of experts supported by research and anecdotal evidence
• Real-life stories shared by teachers and parents
• References to related articles and interviews with experts

I have been looking forward to this book for nearly a year. I appreciate Rae’s tenacity for the early childhood field and speaking up about best practice for children. Unlike in generations past, we have multitudes of research to guide our decisions. Let’s not flounder in past practices simply because “it’s what we’ve always done.” We know better! Let’s stand united together for the betterment of education for young children. Let’s use research, passion, and our voices to send a unified message. We need to push for policies and implement practices that really reflect how children learn and grow. After all, WE are the experts in the field!

TUNE IN to my interview with Rae where you’ll gain inside access about the book, including a brief book teaser.

Did I mention there’s a FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY?! Come back tomorrow (to this blog) for your chance to win this book!

Planning to attend NAEYC’s upcoming PDI conference? Rae will be presenting on Sunday, June 7th at 10:30am! Her session is titled Why Does Sitting Equal Learning?

More about Rae Pica…
Rae has been an education consultant, specializing in the development and education of the whole child and children’s physical activity, since 1980. A former adjunct instructor with the University of New Hampshire, she is the founder and director of Moving & Learning (now Rae Pica Keynotes & Consulting) and the author of 19 books, including the text Experiences in Movement and Music (in its 5th edition), the award-winning Great Games for Young Children and Jump into Literacy, and A Running Start: How Play, Physical Activity, and Free Time Create a Successful Child, written for the parents of children birth to age five. Her latest book is What If Everybody Understood Child Development? (Corwin Press, June 2015).

Additionally, Rae has contributed to numerous other publications, including George Morrison’s Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education, and Beginnings and Beyond: Foundations in Early Childhood Education by Ann Gordon and Kate Brown. She has been a columnist for Young Children, Education.com, and Teaching Elementary Physical Education, and currently blogs for Huffington Post Education.

From 1985 to 1989 Rae was co-creator and host of “Move for a Minute,” produced by New Hampshire Public Television and broadcast nationwide, most often between Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Known for her lively and informative workshop and keynote presentations, Rae has shared her expertise with such groups as 

• Sesame Street Research Department, 
• Head Start Bureau, 
• Centers for Disease Control, 
• President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, 
• Nickelodeon’s Blue’s Clues, 
• Gymboree, 
• Hasbro,
• Mattel,
• Nike, and 
• state health departments throughout the country. 

Rae served on the task force of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (now SHAPE America) that created national guidelines for early childhood physical activity, is a member of several advisory boards, and serves on the executive committee of the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences International.

In addition, Rae is co-founder of the BAM Radio Network, the world’s largest online education radio network, where she currently hosts Studentcentricity, interviewing experts in education, child development, play research, the neurosciences and more.