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Summary: An Important, Heartfelt, and Engaging Book
Review: If the Quaker prophet John Woolman were alive today, and contemplating parenting issues, this is the book he would have written. Hunt's thesis is simple: a happy childhood lasts forever, and every child is no less a human being than we are, and must be treated as such. Adults behave as well as they are treated, and the same holds true for children. Adults generally do not improve their behavior when they are insulted, criticized, threatened, publicly humiliated, or beaten; or in the rare instances when they do so, the costs in fearfulness, anger, and resentment are extraordinarily high.Fortunately, argues Hunt eloquently, the seed of how to be with children is implanted within us. If we listen hard enough, the direction of how to act toward a child comes naturally. Crying, for example, is a signal provided by nature meant to disturb parents so they can seek out the causes of the child's distress. The Natural Child offers a consistent and compelling approach to raising a loving, trusting, and confident child, without resort to coercion or manipulation, simply by following the Parenting Golden Rule: "Treat your child as you would like to be treated if you were in the same position." This book is a must for every public and church library, and the perfect gift for the individual or couple expecting the arrival of their first "distinguished visitors".
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Summary: The book your children would most want you to read
Review: Jan Hunt's 'The Natural Child' is a timely and important classic belonging to a trend towards more compassionate, respectful and scientifically-informed parenting. First and foremost, it is a well-researched and authoritative text. Further, it is refreshingly simple and easy to digest, making it an inviting read. What I particularly loved about this book is that Jan Hunt is not afraid to challenge myths and misconceptions, and to confront commonly held negative attitudes towards children. This book is passionately written in advocacy of children's rights and their developmental needs. It exudes an uncompromising respect for children's dignity. My favourite section is the one about 'The Hidden Messages We Give Our Children'. In a delightfully humorous tone, this section challenges us to take a good look at ourselves as parents; the mixed messages we unconsciously give our children, and the painful double-binds this places them in. There is much we can all learn from these pages. I give this book a big thumbs-up.
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Summary: Love your child(ren) the Jan Hunt Way!
Review: Jan Hunt's book explains in a clear, logical, loving manner her wonderful theories on raising children based upon mutual respect. Hunt presents a strong case against punishment, including time-outs and advocates against traditional schooling. My favorite quote against traditional schooling is, "children learn by asking questions, not answering them."
The book is choc full of great advice. I will never put it away so I can refer to it often.
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Summary: The perfect gift for parents with a child of any age.
Review: Jan Hunt's book is a collection of valuable clips that read quickly and say a lot. Each "lesson" leaves you wanting to read one more. She touches all the little questions around parenting, discipline, educating, and communicating, with ideas that show us how really important such issues are, and how much we may want to evaluate our choices. Reading this book early in your baby's life will help you to formulate your responses and be ready before issues come up. The Natural Child is just as important to have on hand with growing children, as most topics covered are ageless, and continue to reapply as the child goes through the schooling years. Dr. Linda Folden Palmer, Author of "BABY MATTERS, WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT CARING FOR YOUR BABY" (Lucky Press, 2001)
Rating:
Summary: The perfect gift for parents with a child of any age.
Review: Jan Hunt's book is a collection of valuable clips that read quickly and say a lot. Each "lesson" leaves you wanting to read one more. She touches all the little questions around parenting, discipline, educating, and communicating, with ideas that show us how really important such issues are, and how much we may want to evaluate our choices. Reading this book early in your baby's life will help you to formulate your responses and be ready before issues come up. The Natural Child is just as important to have on hand with growing children, as most topics covered are ageless, and continue to reapply as the child goes through the schooling years. Dr. Linda Folden Palmer, Author of "BABY MATTERS, WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT CARING FOR YOUR BABY" (Lucky Press, 2001)
Rating:
Summary: "...of enormous importance..."
Review: Jan Hunt's newly published book on parenting is a rare combination of profound knowing conveyed in simple clarity by elegant prose. I believe it to be the single most important writing on the most urgent need of individuals and this society which is the nurturing of our children. Hunt's words speak from the heart offering each of us a gift that we alone may give to our children. That gift is a happy childhood ensuring a life of trust, empathy, and true affection.
Jan helps us identify the real needs of our children and how to respect and honor those needs. In a largely insane world, Jan distills the wisdom she has gathered through her own experiences as a parent, and child educator and advocate, offering a sane and appropriate alternative to the desperate chaos that currently too often dictates so many of us and our relationships with our children. Jan's book is based upon a sure philosphy of "trusting the child." It is also very practical and down to earth. What rang true within myself was what Peggy O'Mara wrote in her forward, "In regards to our children, it is not only wisdom that we seek, but also an acknowledgement of our participation in a deeper process." This is the knowing of Jan Hunt. Parenting is the most important "work" most of us will ever do in our lives. Jan Hunt is right on. I have one copy of "the natural child; parenting from the heart" and have ordered another copy for lending. Were I wealthy, I would order many hundreds and send them to everyone. For those who can hear in their heart Jan's words, that individual and every person whose lives they touch - especially child - will be the better for it. I am a parent, parent educator and child advocate and of the hundreds of psychology and parenting books I have read this book is - almost singularly - one hundred percent! My hat is off to you, Jan Hunt - for next to being a mother, helping others to parent from the heart is the most needed, felt and far- reaching work one possibly can do. Thank you, Jan!
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Summary: If I could suggest only one book, this would be the one.
Review: Let nature be the guide for raising your child. The advice is so simple and so obvious, yet many of us have lost sight due to the daily bombardment of information regarding "normal" child development. In a world where it's easy for parents to get bogged down in their efforts to mold children into perfect people, this book is like a breath of fresh air. Children are already perfect. They just need to be nurtured and allowed to develop to their full potential. I sincerely hope that the children raised today by the standards of Jan Hunt, will turn out to be the leaders of the next generation. It will be one step closer to a world where kindness and compassion come as our first instinct.
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Summary: The Natural Child, Parenting From The Heart
Review: Reading this book opened my eyes to a whole new world of parenting and finding happiness in it. It was given to me as a gift after the birth of my fourth child, and I wish someone had given it to me a long time ago. This book has given me exactly what I was looking for, and that is support in following what my heart tells me to do. Read this book, embrace its principles, and pass it on to someone you care about.
Rating:
Summary: The Natural Child, Parenting From The Heart
Review: Reading this book opened my eyes to a whole new world of parenting and finding happiness in it. It was given to me as a gift after the birth of my fourth child, and I wish someone had given it to me a long time ago. This book has given me exactly what I was looking for, and that is support in following what my heart tells me to do. Read this book, embrace its principles, and pass it on to someone you care about.
Rating:
Summary: A must-read for ALL adults ever in contact with children!
Review: Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Jan! This book has changed my life.
Having read literally hundreds of books, magazines and articles about AP/Gentle Discipline, I still didn`t know exactly HOW to treat my child. I knew what NOT to do, but not what to do instead. The Natural Child changed that.
The Natural Child gives lots of examples on how to treat your child as respectful as possible. This book shows you what should be obvious to us all: That we are all ecually worthy of respect, love and a second chance. There isn`t much more I can say. This book deserves to be read. By every parent out there. Every child in the world deserves to be treated like Jan Hunt wants us to treat our children.
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