Inspiring new parenting book: 100 Things to Learn before you're 10

A new parenting book with a difference and possibly the mostuseful parenting book you'll ever read.

The ground-breaking100 Things To Learn Before You're 10is a road map for parents to help them help themselves and their children navigate the obstacles and misunderstandings that often arise during the first ten years of their childhoods.

Written by Gail Hugman, an experienced educator, this indispensable handbook has been written as a guide for parents to show them how to prevent and resolve common childhood problems that she has seen come up time and time again in her 40 years of teaching.

Gail wrote the book because so many children disengage before the age of 10, and she knows from experience that if parents put into practice the information in the book, they will discover that these common problems are avoidable.

Nothing like this has ever been written before for parents. It shows them, step by step, how to help their children stay switched on and engaged at school so that they can grow up into confident, motivated and happy children, armed with tools that they will use for life.

Many parents just don't have the "know how" and lack the confidence to help their children, and end up in rows or stalemate situations. This book tells them how to avoid these situations and will teach them how to help their children in their most formative years to master vital key skills such as self-control, self-discipline and responsibility that will stand them in good stead for the rest of their lives.

Easy to read, with many familiar scenarios that parents encounter daily, the book uses games, anecdotes, visualisations and exercises that are both fun and engaging for parents and children.

Each chapter starts with a short story about an issue that parents and children will easily relate to. For example, the chapter about comprehension clearly shows that the child has no idea that comprehension is not just about reading but about interpreting too. No one has ever explained to them why they need to be able to interpret information and parents don't realise they need to explain them.

The chapter then tells parents how to explain the concepts and breaks them down even further with practical tools. Each chapter has short exercises to help children understand why, for example, comprehension is an important skill, not just for English lessons but for life.

While it is aimed at parents of under 10s, the lessons are relevant for children up to 18 and beyond, Gail believes that the earlier we can instil the principles outlined in the book the better. There are some "light bulb" moments in the book that parents will certainly relate to and benefit from.

Gail has packed the book with lots of different tools, methods and techniques because, "everyone learns in a different way. All children face challenges, for example, some children can't concentrate in class because they are distracted, so there is the bubble visualisation to help them stay focussed. This is a tool they will be able to use for the rest of their lives. Because children's brains are so plastic these skills get embedded at an early age and become automatic, they won't forget how to concentrate once they have learned that skill, or any of the others in the book. They will become incorporated naturally into their daily actions, both conscious and subconscious".

The book is peppered with wonderful, inspiring poems written by Gail that really get to the emotional heart of the message of the book, helping children understand the world at large, their home life and school life and their place in the world.

"It's so inspiring to see children flourish and become excited when they start learning the skills in the book and of course the whole family reaps the rewards too. When children become willing participants in their self-development life become easier for them, especially when they understand the reasons behind these essential concepts. They grow in confidence and self-esteem because they know that they have the tools to handle school, family life, the playground and beyond", says Gail.

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http://lessonsalive.com/

100 Things To Learn Before You Are 10 ISBN978-908941-98-5 Available from good bookshops andAmazon

For further information, j-pegs and interviews please contact: Caroline Ratner, Caroline Ratner Communicationscaroline@carolinecomms.com07976 765453

Notes to Editors

Gail started teaching primary aged children in London in 1974. During her 30 years in schools, she has held various senior management positions and been praised OFSTED on several occasions for her resourcefulness, creative teaching and her ability to bring out the best in even the most challenging of children.

In 2005, Gail established Lessons alive as a private teaching and development service. Her experience in schools and her private work with parents and children in their homes has given her a unique perspective on the real issues facing young learners, parents and teachers too. 100 Things To Learn Before You're 10, has been written to bridge the gap between where children are and where they need to be.