Elsa Barnouw was a pioneer in the field of early childhood education, convinced that children are naturally creative and possess an innate love of learning. Educated at Horace Mann School for Girls, Mt. Holyoke, and Columbia, she was engaged in the teaching of young children for most of the 20th century. After graduating from Teachers College at Columbia with a degree in elementary education, Barnouw opened a nursery school in Morningside Heights, Manhattan. The school is still open under the name the Children’s Learning Center. She lived in Manhattan to the age of 102, and is known for saying, "Planning that [nursery school] and working there, those were my best days." 

Adventures with Children in the Early School Years was written to give parents and educators a lively and accurate picture of what good nursery and kindergarten experiences might provide for young children. There is really no such thing as...

Adventures with Children in the Early School Years was written to give parents and educators a lively and accurate picture of what good nursery and kindergarten experiences might provide for young children. There is really no such thing as "pre-school"�, as children two years old to six are at a crucial learning phase already. With its focus on the needs of young children, the book has been chosen by Directors of many Head Start and full-day programs and as a guide for private day-care centers. Very different learning experiences are appropriate for children aged two, four or six. Many experienced teachers have contributed observations about how children learn from active, first-hand sensory experiences, to help teachers in training explore attitudes and activities that contribute toward the child's healthy development.