Magic Trees of the Mind : How to Nurture Your Child's Intelligence, Creativity, and Healthy Emotions from Birth Through Adolescence

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Summary: Recipe for raising stressed-out, obsessive kids.
Review: If you think your child's brain works like a rat's, then you share the company of Diamond and Hopson. Better change your nursery into a crawl-through maze and trade in the play-pen for an exercise wheel. The idea that stimulation increases brain cell connections in rats is interesting and explained very well, but there is no way to test this in human infants. However, it makes a good case for over-achieving parents intent on establishing home baby academies. I read cover-to-cover looking for supporting evidence that adults who were over-stimulated as babies are filling Ph.D. candidate positions in our universities. It is a shame that the authors do not give more credit to the human brain's ability to stimulate itself, arguably a major distinction between animals and humans.

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Summary: Missed the mark
Review: On the surface, the authors seem to treat the subject of enriched environments for children throughly. However, there is no mention of the most basic tool for maximizing a child's brain power: breastfeeding! Human milk contains ingredients essential to the proper development of a baby's nervous system, most notably the myelination of nerves. In fact, some studies have shown that babies who are not breastfed lose up to 10 I.Q. points as a result. Why, then, have the authors of this book failed to cover this issue? This omission leads me to question the validity of the authors' theories. I would therefore not recommend Magic Trees of the Mind to other parents.

Rating:
Summary: Missed the mark
Review: On the surface, the authors seem to treat the subject of enriched environments for children throughly. However, there is no mention of the most basic tool for maximizing a child's brain power: breastfeeding! Human milk contains ingredients essential to the proper development of a baby's nervous system, most notably the myelination of nerves. In fact, some studies have shown that babies who are not breastfed lose up to 10 I.Q. points as a result. Why, then, have the authors of this book failed to cover this issue? This omission leads me to question the validity of the authors' theories. I would therefore not recommend Magic Trees of the Mind to other parents.

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Summary: Answers for parents and teachers on brain enrichment
Review: Our new book answers questions like these: How can parents help stimulate a child's brain development in appropriate ways? When are the best times to do so? Is there any danger of overstimulation? Does enrichment benefit all children? How can schools and teachers help?

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Summary: Attention ALL parents: You must read Magic Trees
Review: The school at which I work has immersed itself with brain research. This book was suggested to us by an administrator heavily involved with brain-friendly research activities. In her words: "If I could get every parent and every educator to read this book, my job would complete!" I have to say, I strongly agree. Anyone even thinking of having children or currently do have them will benefit immensely from this read. It is well written and easy to understand. Their are numerous ideas to try with your kids that are simple. I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed with Magic Trees.......mike limmer, beresford elementary

Rating:
Summary: Attention ALL parents: You must read Magic Trees
Review: The school at which I work has immersed itself with brain research. This book was suggested to us by an administrator heavily involved with brain-friendly research activities. In her words: "If I could get every parent and every educator to read this book, my job would complete!" I have to say, I strongly agree. Anyone even thinking of having children or currently do have them will benefit immensely from this read. It is well written and easy to understand. Their are numerous ideas to try with your kids that are simple. I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed with Magic Trees.......mike limmer, beresford elementary

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Summary: Mixed signals
Review: This book certainly is interesting in the first half, but as you inch towards the end, you come to a section that suggests books, toys, etc. for boys and girls of progressive age levels. This section takes a step backwards, when boys had boy toys and girls had girl toys. It is strange to see this as a 'modern' reference.

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Summary: A good addition to your parenting library
Review: This book explains in detail the results of numerous brain research studies. The most important part, though, are the implications for parents, in terms of the type of experiences, toys, and caring that we should provide at particular stages of child development. At first, browsing this book in a bookstore, I decided not to buy it because I also thought that it espouses a pressured, pushy kind of parenting. But now that I've read it, I realized I was wrong. In fact, the authors emphasize that a child's intellectual growth is inevitably tied to his or her emotionoal growth, and so an important part of stimulating our children's minds is to provide an emotionally stable home and unconditional love. I disagree with an earlier reviewer who said this book encourages parents to push their children into over-achievement. Instead, the book brings our attention to the fascinating changes and growth that our children's brains and intellect go through, with suggestions for gently nurturing them. In fact, on p. 167 the authors cite books by David Elkind, who "warns parents and educators about the dangers ... in teaching academic subjects to young children." The chapters are divided by age group. Each chapter discusses the particular stage in terms of development in language, math, science, music, etc. Then each chapter ends with a description of an "enrichment program" appropriate to that stage. The end of the book is composed of a resource guide and enrichment tools including books, games and toys, models and puzzles, muscial instruments, art materials, lessons and classes, outins and trips, sports equipment, cds/tapes/records, videos, and computer software. Altogether this book is a valuable resource for parents.

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Summary: Finally!! Brain research for every parent and educator.
Review: This book is a must read for parents and eductors. It approaches what is being learned about the brain and breaks it into sensible categories of chronological development that all parents can understand. Diamond and Hopson give practical insights and applications that can be used in homes and in classrooms. What an exciting adventure to be part of the process which shapes and molds a child's brain!!

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Summary: required reading for all parents
Review: This book should be required reading for all parents. Those individuals who criticize this book because of perceived differences between rat brains and human brains miss the point and have a poor understanding of neurobiology. Diamond has put together a very practical guide to educating the brain and, unlike many educational material, her suggestions are based on actual research rather than on what the current educational trend happens to be.