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Summary: The Publisher, Ten Speed Press
Review: "Here is an extraordinary work for those who want to develop a truly intelligent child, and, in the process, unlock new levels of their own intelligence and spirit." Nowadays parents are bombarded by any number of approaches about how to be with their children. This book introduces a new way of understanding the human being so that parents can be best equipped to serve as their own children's best teachers. Chapters include: --Caring for the newborn --Helping Your Toddler's Development --The Development of Fantasy and Creative Play --Nourishing Your Child's Imagination --Rhythm and Discipline in Home Life --Readiness for School and more
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Summary: The awakening of common sense.
Review: As a first time parent I bombarded myself with books about child raising and child develpment but this is the one to which I return to over and over again. It matters not that this book is aligned with Steiner principles, the information contained within its pages is timeless, and stirs a forgotten knowledge that can be found within all of us if we only take the time to look. In a consumer driven material world where we are bombarded with ten million ways in which to bring up our children, it is both refreshing and mellowing to find a book that gives power back to parents. Everything we need to know about raising happy, well adjusted, self-loving children is within us already. This book just helps to bring it into our conscious minds. If every new parent were given a copy of this book and put this forgotten knowledge into practice, what a wonderful childhood our next generation could enjoy.
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Summary: Should be on every parent's bookshelf
Review: Author writes with compassion and wisdom combined with a generous dose of common sense and practical advice. Most if not her entire philosophy of child development is based on the work of Rudolf Steiner, the child studies pioneer who founded the Waldorf schools
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Summary: A good book.
Review: I *mostly* liked this book and struggled with whether to give it 3 or 4 stars. It's a philosophy of childrearing that is insightful, meaningful and very compassionate. I think anyone could benefit from reading it and would recommend it as reading for anyone considering becoming a parent or a teacher, though it probably would not be the first book I would recommend. I like that the author writes from her conscience and isn't afraid of offending, yet manages to be gentle and non-offensive in doing so. On pages 144 and 145, the author says, "If you can possibly stay home with your baby for the first year, please do so. In fact, it is better to stay home for the first three years!" I agree with this statement and like the non-accusatory fashion in which it is phrased. Far from being derogatory towards working mothers, the author calls for across-the-board support for ALL PARENTS, regardless of job status, and acknowledges how very difficult it is to balance family with career. She doesn't offer an easy way out like so many authors do. I very much enjoyed the gentle, compassionate, pro-human-being tone of the entire book and I think it has some very valuable things to say. Yet I can't, in good conscience, give it 4 stars. Be forewarned that it is infused with Waldorf/Rudolf Steiner material. Some of that stuff is just too weird and cultish for me to consciously recommend. The "weird stuff" is interspersed throughout the book along with the useful parts. For example, on page 122 in a discussion about toddlers and books, "it is beneficial to read only one book at a sitting because each book has its own atmosphere, and mixing them can clutter the child's soul, especially at bedtime." HUH? The parts about "soul" sound more like a freaky religious message than a philosophy of childrearing, and the book is full of them. I wouldn't really worry about cluttering my child's soul. As an aside, the index is badly organized. I had to practically reread the whole book in order to find the examples I used for this review! Despite serious reservations about the weird religiosity in this book, still, I would recommend it to anyone who works with small children. It's a valuable point of view that will give you good ideas about how to understand and work with your child rather than trying to push your child into adulthood before he/she is ready. This is a good book.
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Summary: A gentle and peaceful guide to parenting
Review: I got this book because I was interested in Waldorf approaches to early childhood. I got that and lots more. What I really took away from the reading of this book was a sense of calm and peace that inspires me to provide the same for my toddler. I return to this book almost daily to reinspire myself on the road to creating a warm peaceful home and "learning environment" for him. If you are looking for a book to help you create a peaceful gentle environment from which your child can blossom and grow, than this is the book for you!
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Summary: Nothing new to me
Review: I haven't read a ton of books on child development. I have a nine month old. I check Dr. Sears' Baby Book every once in a while. Surprisingly, I felt like this book had very little to teach me. Most of it I had heard before or seemed like it was just common sense. The references at the end of each chapter seemed slightly out of date and far from comprehensive. I only read the beginning as my child is not yet a toddler. Maybe it gets better. But for babies it felt like a waste of money.
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Summary: Excellent
Review: I picked this book up when I began doing research on homeschooling. I found it to be a wonderful book about gently teaching children. This book focuses on leading children through a path of exploration in various areas (art, music etc.) It is especially geared towards little children and babies. Most of the activities suggested are easy and cheap using on hand materials and things found in nature. Although I didn't view this as a parenting book per say, I found it to be more of a philosophy of living with children. It certainly has influenced the way I parent and some of the activities I do with my children. As and added benefit, I did a lot of research taking off from this book on Waldorf schooling and found a lot I liked about it. I certainly do plan on using this method as I begin to teach my children. I certainly would suggest that this is a good book to read when you have a baby.
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Summary: Excellent source of spiritual and practical guidance.
Review: I read this book 8 years ago. I have read over 50 parenting books since then and this book is still my favorite. This book gives you the sense of stepping back and trusting your instincts and really enjoying your child. Ms. Baldwin gives wonderful resource lists for simple toys, games, beautiful music and additional books. This book gives a wealth of information on practical ideas for creating a harmonious, beautiful life for your child. All parents should read this book.
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Summary: The best parenting book I've ever read!
Review: I read this book just before I began my own licensed Day Care business in 1991. It totally changed my attitude toward many of the prior mindsets I'd had regarding child care.It was especially educational for me regarding the needs of infants. I have since passed it along to many new mom's, including my own daughter and her best friend. The Waldorf concept is magical with children. You will be a better parent, grandparent,or care giver if you read this wonderful book. You will find priceless insights into the world of growth and well being of infants and toddlers.
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Summary: Nothing new to me
Review: Just a quick note to say that I raised both of my children on the principles that this book puts forth--and they work! I have two amazing daughters--age 21 and age 17 and I couldn't be happier with the way they have turned out. The teen years were relatively sane--they are both top students, happy, outgoing, interesting, intelligent, passionate, hard-working and wonderful human beings. Their souls shine through--and everyone who meets them loves them. My eldest is a student in one of the top art schools in the US and doing well, despite the fact that most of the students are considerably older than her and that she works full-time (she loves working and earning money!). She is an avid gardener, cook and loves her pets and her tank-fulls of colorful fish. She has lots of friends and even manages a rock band! Although my role is now pretty much complete, I see her self-educating constantly. My youngest spread her wings and flew early--a top student in one of the best boarding schools in the world. In addition to getting an excellent academic, arts and sports education, she is dog-sledding, white-water canoeing, tall-ship sailing and traveling the world (next stop Barbados and then over Christmas building a science lab for the Masai tribe in Kenya). Both girls live life to the fullest and to their own full potential and I couldn't be happier!! Looking for the keys? Read this book. My best, Nancy in Pasadena. http://kino-team.com
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