How children cope in an ever-changing world is a subject that is becoming increasingly pressing.

Harrow author and leading education expert Jane Simister has been teaching for 15 years and what worries her is that today’s kids are taught how to pass exams, get the grades, jump through the hoops – but at a cost. By the time they leave school, they’ve learnt how not to think for themselves.

Jane, who graduated from Cambridge with a degree in Economics, tells me she felt her education had been too one-sided.

She says: I was a hardworking girl went through the academic process without questioning it. I realised it was possible to do really well and then suddenly find that wasn’t what it was all about - that there were other questions and skills that made people stand out. I came out of university feeling I couldn’t generate my own ideas and opinions.”

To address the problem, Jane devised an innovative school programme, which is designed to help children of all ages become more independent, more critical and more creative in their thinking. Jane launched the programme at her own school, Northwood College and has gone on to set up programmes with teachers in the UK and abroad. She has recently put together a practical, self-help book, The Bright Stuff aimed to give parents and eduators the tools they need to implement these skills, which will be launched at her book signing in Waterstone’s in Harrow.

“The book stems from work I’ve done as a primary school teacher and from my masters degree. Everything I’ve written about has been thoroughly tried and tested within my school and with my niece and friends children.”

I ask Jane if she envisages the programme being introduced to all schools through the National Curriculum.

“Schools are changing but they’re under such pressure to put other things such as league tables first. In the last year the curriculum has introduced personal, learning and thinking skills at Key Stage 3 for pupils aged 11 and upwards, which is another tick list for teachers to get fed up with and I think it’s too little too late. It’s far more important to get them at primary school level.”

Packed with ideas to “dip in and out of”, The Bright Stuff features 16 chapters with titles such as ‘How to encourage originality and creativity’, ‘How to learn from failure as well as success’, ‘How to discover the magic of persistence’ and ‘How to take the right sort of risk’.

Trying one of two ideas out with my son while on a tube journey I found the exercises both stimulating and a good way to pass the time. I also had to coax my boy to follow a particular line of thought, which was a good challenge for both of us.

Jane tells me she is now running workshops for parents who want to develop their own creative processes.

“I don’t think any of us recognise how fast the world is changing and how rapidly the technology of the next ten to 20 years will be developing. We wonder how we can possibly prepare our children for it. There is so much you can do to help your child flourish and shine. By developing a child’s creative potential and encouraging a resourceful, persistent and resilient mindset from an early age, parents can arm their children with the vital skills that will help them grow up able to face any challenge.”

Jane will be signing copies and presenting activities from of her book, The Bright Stuff, at Waterstone’s, Harrow on Saturday, December 12, 10.30am -3.30pm. Details: www.future-smart.com