The Happiest Preschool: A Manual for Teachers

All of the strategies presented in this manual will increase teachers’ enjoyment and effectiveness and enrich a preschool, regardless of its affiliation.

Increasingly progressive educators are focusing on play-based learning and social-emotional development, but The Happiest Preschool: A Manual for Teachers is unique in providing a comprehensive and thorough discussion of this focus and illustrating all precepts with teachable examples. In addition there are sections on understanding and helping children with the feelings underlying fantasy play; on the importance of partnering with parents; and on informed ways of helping children who are under emotional stress.

Moreover the manual is an invaluable asset for parents trying to choose a preschool or kindergarten for their child.


What the experts are saying:



“The Happiest Preschool: A Manual for Teachers is a strong advocate for high quality preschool, which is what every child needs and deserves as a springboard for academic success and the development of social-emotional skills and self-confidence. Teachers will learn and benefit from comprehensive topics and specific examples that illustrate how to create an exciting, cooperative, caring, inspiring classroom culture." — Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education and CEO of Chicago Public Schools.


“The Happiest Preschool is so consistently positive that I was smiling as I read every page. The classroom examples were specific and the photos from the program really helped make the book come alive. Think my favorite section was Unnecessary and Inappropriate Rules. This section really nails it: guidance that teaches rather than the punishments implicit in rule enforcement. I also particularly enjoyed the practical material explaining caregiver responses versus personal reactions and on cultivating Partnerships With Parents. Especially, I thought the material on gender fluidity was perceptively matter-of-fact, needed, and helpful. The Manual paints the picture of a child-responsive early childhood program worth emulating." — Dan Gartrell, author of The Power of Guidance: Teaching Social-Emotional Skills in Early Childhood Classrooms and Education for a Civil Society: Teaching Young Children to Gain Five Democratic Life Skills, Second Edition.



“The Happiest Preschool is the go-to book for teachers eager to turn state-of-the-art ideas about how to create a preschool where children will thrive into on-the-ground reality in their classroom.” — David Kirp, University of California-Berkeley public policy professor and author of The Sandbox Investment.



How does a classroom managed and running on Smart Love principles differ from other preschools?

First and foremost, you see teachers actively playing with students and working on projects, not just reading or lecturing or observing. You hear loud enthusiastic voices with no one saying, "Use inside voices." You see children engaged in projects they chose that are not imposed. You see children making choices about who they want to play with, or not play with, without requirements about including others.

If a child is unruly, you see a teacher go with them out of the room and stay with them until they are ready to come back in. No time-outs or isolation. You see teachers focusing on the feelings that lead to anti-social behaviors rather than lecturing about the behaviors themselves. You see children who aren't ready to use the toilet wearing diapers or Pull-ups and teachers changing them when necessary. You see normal resistance about things like washing hands met with creative fun solutions rather than threats or disapproval.