As I searched for books, for personal use, on early education I encountered this one, Better Late than Early. It carefuly and in an easy to read format explains the positive influences that delaying school entrance age to after 8 years. The first part covers the details concerning the state laws regarding school entrance requirement. And the second part guides you to the developmental stages of infancy, what to expect and how to provide, at home, proper stimulation for optimal skill development. An excellent book for those willing to go the extra mile to provide their children with an education begining at home!

This was probably one of the best books I have read on Home Schooling. The Moore's get back to the basics with the teachings of our children. The information is nothing new, but it is something that hasn't been done in the last 50 yrs. They have brought back the training of kids from how it had been done for hundreds of years to how it is done now. After reading the wonderful suggestions and life stories I feel I to can do this wonderful thing for my children. Thanks again Dr. and Mrs. Moore.

Though based on research from the 60's and 70's, I found this book invaluable. The addendum makes note that current research only confirms the earlier studies. Essentially, the first half of the book provides numerous arguments to support that children need nurturing loving homes first and foremost. It over and over again contends that formal education is better left until age 8-10. The research and arguments are vast. Resources are plentiful and convincing. Everything makes sense to me, a former educator, who is currently raising children of my own. The research provides a firm foundation regarding my choices for my children. The second half of the book is merely developmental ideas, but sound opinion nonetheless.

Reading is a valuable tool for life and what better way to learn but the old fashion way, Reading thru the scriptures and daily life experiences.

The Moore's homeschooled their own children many years ago, when they were living overseas. Both Dr. and Mrs. Moore have careers in the education field and so are well aware of what goes on in primary and secondary education in America. They don't spent time bashing the schools in this book but instead promote homeschooling as a superior education.

My short summary:
This book encourages children to be at home with a stay-at-home mother from infancy through school-age (avoiding preschool). Then they recommend not teaching reading until the child is ready, and that can fall between 8 and 12. They discourage forcing learning to read before age 8 citing eye problems and other problems may occur. Formal lessons in other subjects are to begin no sooner than age 8. There is no one right curriculum or method. The most important lessons in the early years are character formation and to form a close knit family bond. Don't run your home school just like a government (public) school. And lastly, have the child to volunteer work and be of service to others on a daily or weekly basis starting at a very young age. This they call "The Moore Formula" for success. Be forewarned: anyone who doesn't agree with these ideas will dislike portions of the book or the entire book.

My longer summary:
First off the book jacket states the book will help you pick a curriculum. Whether that is something you want or something that turns you off please know that I could not find that information anywhere in the book and I did read it cover to cover.

The book starts of with the most convincing argument I have found anywhere (including in general parenting books) as to the value of young children staying home with their mothers rather than attending preschool. In "Miseducation: Preschoolers At Risk", author David Elkind speaks to the problems that can occur when children go to preschool instead of staying at home with a parent but he doesn't spend a lot of time stating the true value of a strong bond with the at-home mother and Elkind doesn't focus hugely on the value of an intact and close knit family. The Moore's book does cover the value of a close-knit family in extensive detail. Character formation, instilling values and ethics and good social skills are the main goal of raising young children, according to the Moore's. This can only be accomplished when the children have a close relationship with their parents and when they are physically with their parents so the parent can guide them. Separation at young ages (i.e. going to preschool) prevents the parent from seeing the bad or inappropriate behavior and therefore not being able to correct it. I also feel that this separation can actually cause problems that then need to be fixed.

The authors have spent years researching child physiological development, cognitive development, and reading readiness. The Moore's feel that children should not be taught to read before the age of 8 as a minimum and possibly until 12. For more on this topic. Read their book "Better Late than Early". If reading instruction begins too early, whether at home or at school, if they have difficulty they are labeled learning disabled and they feel other problems crop up such as self-esteem issues, acting out with bad behavior, etc.. How you feel about this opinion on reading will heavily influence how you like the book. If you are looking for proof that waiting a bit to teach reading is OK then you will like this book and also "Better Late than Early". If you have strong opinions against this idea then you will not like that portion of the book!

In lieu of formalized lessons and reading instruction before age 8 or so, the Moore's recommend character formation as the main goal of home educating your child. Television viewing is to be kept to a minimum of quality programming if not banned entirely. Reading aloud to young non-readers is strongly encouraged. Being of service by volunteering is recommended on a weekly basis from a very young age. Parents should also model being of service to others by doing volunteer work themselves.

The bottom line is that if we as parents spend time raising children with good personalities and social skills they will be fun to be around and well liked by others. By delaying reading and formal teaching until at least age 8, a lot of stress is avoided.

The Moore's are Christian and I am guessing there are about 10 religious references overall made by the authors. Their faith is not noted on the book jacket. I mention this as some people seek out books written by Christian homeschoolers and other people prefer non-secular homeschooling books. There are 17 essays written by homeschooling families using the Moore method and some of those are laden with religious references such as saying that the Lord called them to homeschool or that they feel homeschooling is a responsibility dictated by the Bible. I have read other books where religious references outweighed the content, such as saying "to get the best curriculum for your child pray to the Lord and he will guide you". This book does not do that. The book is loaded with ideas, opinions, and references to studies, which provide substance.

The most confusing thing to me was that throughout the book they reference using "the Moore formula" to have a stress-free home school but they don't say exactly what it is until the last chapter which is only 5 pages long. This short chapter really belongs at the beginning. I advise reading this chapter first and then as they go on to explain their formula in detail throughout the book you will understand the references they continually make to "The Moore Formula".

If I could recommend one and only one book to anyone either looking into homeschooling, or struggling with homeschooling, this would be it! This book helped me see that we as parents are more than capable of homeschooling our children successfully. It gave me the absolute confidence to do it, and to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. Dr. and Mrs. Moore cover every question that you might have from "what to tell the neighbors" and "What if all I have is a high school education" to "What if my child is handicapped or has a learning disability." By the time you're through reading this you will have the confidence not just to answer the questions people ask you but also not to be intimidated or question yourself everytime you are confronted by critics. Besides just the confidence, the Moores teach you (with studies to back it up, and real life family stories as testomonials) how you can avoid just doing "school at home" and instead "homeschool". They give you study after study, and reason after reason, to let the rigid classroom structure and workbook method go out the window, and instead replace it with the loving and relaxed (and enjoyable!) way to teach your children even more successfully at home. I feel indebted to this book,and these authors, for the enjoyable and stress-free education I'm able to give my children at home!

I have been homeschooling for three years now, and I realized awhile ago that I had brought "school home" instead of homeschooling. This book gave me confidence to wait until my children are ready (one daughter is 7 and can read, but not well and she does not enjoy it) to even teach the basics. My son (10 yrs. old) hated to read, but backing off and not pushing him helped a great deal, and now he enjoys reading. This book is an excellent help in avoiding burnout. Homeschooling has become enjoyable again and the atmosphere of our home has changed drastically. Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore have much expertise in their field, but they have also experienced much of what they teach. They have a great website