Book Information

About the book

Reviews

Children's Special Places Exploring the Role of Forts, Dens, and Bush Houses in Middle Childhood David Sobel

From the ages of five to twelve, the middle years of childhood, young people explore their surroundings and find or construct private spaces. In these secret places, children develop and control environments of their own and enjoy freedom from the rules of the adult world. Children's Special Places enters these hidden worlds, reveals their importance to children's development and emotional health, and shows educators, parents, and other adults how they can foster a bond between young people and nature that is important to maturation.

"Children's Special Places is geared toward teachers and others who work with children of elementary school age. Sobel ... focuses on the importance of special places (e.g., forts, playhouses, etc.) to children, and examines how this sense of place can be used in a curriculum to foster the study of geography, social problems, and environmental issues. The material is based on the author's international research, and is augmented with lovely woodcuts by artist Randy Miller. This sensitive, valuable book reflects Sobel's belief that young people should have opportunities for growth and education related to real world concerns." — Kay Brodie, Library Journal

Landscapes of Childhood Series $26.95s paper / ISBN 0-8143-3026-6 176 pages / 6 x 9 8 illustrations