How to Raise a Brighter Child

Rating:
Summary: Mindnumbing Psychobabble!
Review: The basic premise of this book is that you should create a stimulating environment in which your child will enjoy learning. Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Well, I thought so. I was very excited to read this book. As it turns out, I've never been so disappointed in a book. Since the title is "How to Raise a Brighter Child" I had expected that it would be a "how to" book. The author does give a handful of examples of activities and games to engage in with your child. However, in most of the book she simply regurgitates other people's experimentation and data attempting to prove that it is advantageous to teach your child at a young age. Well, I wouldn't have bought this book if I didn't believe that! I don't think the author had a single unique idea of her own. The 38 pages of references and bibliography speaks for itself! I did read the entire book while continually hoping that it would get better, which it did not. Save yourself the cost of this book. As I said, the basic premise is wonderful. Take that and use your own imagination to make it work. You'll be much better served!

Rating:
Summary: Good reading for all parents
Review: This book gently encourages and guides parents to stimulate their children's intellectual development - without pushing, without pressure. The authors emphasize that the aim of early learning is to raise happier children, not to turn them into geniuses or protegees. I particularly enjoyed the recommended activities, toys and other resources. This book taught me how to talk, listen and play with my child. In just a few days, my husband and I observed how our 4-yr-old's daughter simply exploded and her inquisitiveness and creativity bloomed. I wish I had read this book much earlier. In addition, the authors don't add to my guilt of being a working mother. Rather, they emphasize and any parent, even single mothers, can give their children early learning. This book has also reinforced my decision to teach my child to read at home (using "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons), a decision that I was not very confident about previously. Now I know that teaching my daughter to read is one of the best gifts we could ever give her. The small text, newsprint and unimaginative layout do not make for easy reading, however. Nevertheless, I have and will continue to give copies of this book as baby shower gifts to all my pregnant friends.

Rating:
Summary: The classic, comprehensive, most authoritative book
Review: This book is the best source of hundreds and hundreds of stimulating, enjoyable games and exercises -- ideas for playtime with a child from birth to 10. It is a classic and still the best on the subject of early learning. It does not argue for any extreme notions -- just loving, encouraging involvement with a child. Marvelous. No kiddin. My kids were raised with the book. Those college scholarships are in the pipeline for you, as they were for us!

Rating:
Summary: The classic, comprehensive, most authoritative book
Review: This book is the best source of hundreds and hundreds of stimulating, enjoyable games and exercises -- ideas for playtime with a child from birth to 10. It is a classic and still the best on the subject of early learning. It does not argue for any extreme notions -- just loving, encouraging involvement with a child. Marvelous. No kiddin. My kids were raised with the book. Those college scholarships are in the pipeline for you, as they were for us!