As codirector of the Albany Free School, Chris Mercogliano has had remarkable success in helping a diverse population of youngsters find their way in the world. He regrets, however, that most kids' lives are subject to some form of control from dawn until dusk. Lamenting risk-averse parents, overstructured school days, and a lack of playtime and solitude, Mercogliano argues that we are robbing our young people of "that precious, irreplaceable period in their lives that nature has set aside for exploration and innocent discovery," leaving them ill-equipped to face adulthood. The "domestication of childhood" squeezes the adventure out of kids' lives and threatens to smother the spark that animates each child with talents, dreams, and inclinations. There is plenty that those involved with children can do to protect their spontaneity and exuberance. We can address their desperate thirst for knowledge, give them space to learn from their mistakes, and let them explore what their place in the adult world might be.

This is a life-saving book written for children that children understand! Inspired by all the tragic events shown on the news: Innocent children who get abducted and murdered by strangers. It is a fear that all parents feel, and that affects everyone. Grand Master Ho Sik Pak and Ursula Escher have come to the rescue with a life-saving book that is easy for children to understand. The writing is short, simple and direct. The pages are very colourful and children will learn by reading or by simply looking at the pictures. The book teaches children about strangers, important safety tips, martial arts techniques, practical applications and much more. More importantly, the series of Martial Arts self-defence techniques are designed specifically for children, their strengths and weaknesses, and their mentality. Self-defence tips include: How to deal with bullies, what to do when a friend needs help, how to defend against someone your own size or bigger than you, and how to use everyday objects for self-defence. This is a book no family should be without!

Each month is gay, each season nice, when eating chicken soup with rice./DIV