Childrens Minds

(Paperback)

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Margaret Donaldsons seminal work on child development, first published in 1978, has become a classic inquiry into the nature of human thought.
In this concise and brilliantly readable book, Margaret Donaldson shows that context is key when it comes to the development of language and thought, and how the right support can ensure children are skilled in these areas before they even start school. She revisits earlier theories of child development, notably those of Jean Piaget, to expose flaws in the accepted wisdom on child psychology and to suggest a range of new strategies to help children combat difficulties.

As wise and perceptive today as it was when it first appeared, Margaret Donaldsons bestselling work is essential reading for anyone interested in child development and child psychology.

Reviews

One of the most powerful, most wisely balanced and best informed books on the development of the childs mindIts implications for education are enormous. Jerome Bruner

A book of great, and very general significancea classic. Jack Tizard

Author Bio

Margaret Donaldson was educated at the University of Edinburgh, where she continued as a teacher after ceasing to be a student and where, in 1980, she was appointed Professor of Developmental Psychology. Her main research interest has always been the study of human thought and language. At an early stage in her career she spent some time at Piagets research institute in Geneva and was much influenced by that experience, though she later came to question some important aspects Piagetian theory. She spent a year in the United States as the holder of a John Hay Whitney Fellowship and has also worked there with Bruner on curriculum development projects. She is the author of A Study of Childrens Thinking and Human Minds. Along with Robert Grieve and Chris Pratt, she has edited a book of readings entitled Early Childhood Development and Education.