Building Healthy Minds: The Six Experiences That Create Intelligence And Emotional Growth In Babies And Young Children [Paperback]

Stanley I Greenspan (Author), Nancy Lewis (Author), Stanley I. Greenspan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2000

Every parent wants to raise a bright, happy, and moral child, but until Stanley Greenspan investigated the building blocks of cognitive, social, emotional, and moral development, no one could show parents how and when these qualities begin. In this book Dr. Greenspan, the internationally admired child psychiatrist, identifies the six key experiences that enable children to reach their full potential. In Building Healthy Minds, he draws upon discoveries made in his research and practice as he describes the many ways in which games, fantasy play, and conversations with and without words encourage this development. No one has looked so deeply into the very earliest stages of human development, and no other book makes such vital and effective information available to every parent.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wake-up call about the emotional origins of intellectual development." -- Science Books and Films

"An exciting aspect of Greenspan's new work is its synthesis of developmental psychology with new insights derived from genetics and brain physiology." -- Psychiatric News

"Delight with, and dedication to, families shines through on every page." -- Contemporary Psychology

"Greenspan generously shares his insights....which are brilliant and exciting.... a clear guide to the early stages of emotional development." -- T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.

"Groundbreaking work by a leading researcher, theoretician, and clinical psychoanalyst." -- Otto Kernberg, M.D.

"Optimistic and reassuring." -- Los Angeles Times

"Takes its place among recent writing such as Gardner's Frames of Mind, Damasio's Descartes' Error.... A wealth of examples from clinical practice...absorbing reading." -- Washington Post Book World --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D., author of the widely used and praised books The Challenging Child and (with Serena Wieder, Ph.D.) Engaging Autism, is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at George Washington University Medical School and lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738203564
• ISBN-13: 978-0738203560
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,023 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

135 of 138 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional book on parenting, a real milestone., April 5, 2000

By 

Dr.Z.T.Hornoch (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building Healthy Minds : The Six Experiences That Create Intelligence and Emotional Growth in Babies and Young Children : A Merloyd Lawrence Book (Hardcover)

I will become a grandfather soon and the young parents-to-be (both physicians) asked for a really outstanding book on parenting. I am very familiar with the classic literature on the subject, but I searched the Internet anyway. I found over 20 thousand books. I picked the most promising titles of the last few years. I scanned nearly one hundred books in libraries and bookstores and I actually read two dozens of them. I found Dr. Greenspan's book by far the best. He discusses the results of his own research but presents them in a practical way understandable to all parents. Dr. Greenspan identifies six crucial developmental stages and the healthy interactions babies need in each with their caretakers. He also shows how to adapt the principles to infants with different temperaments. Dr. Greenspan demonstrates not only first class science but also deep intuition and love of children. Many of his findings seem intuitively obvious in hindsight, yet, as far as I know, nobody talked about them before. Lucky are the babies whose parents will follow this exceptional guide. As adults they will be able to reach their full potential.

89 of 90 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dr Spock for this Century, July 11, 2000

By 

Kary P. Heuston, MD, PhD - See all my reviews

This review is from: Building Healthy Minds : The Six Experiences That Create Intelligence and Emotional Growth in Babies and Young Children : A Merloyd Lawrence Book (Hardcover)

As a parent, then a psychologist, and now as a psychiatrist in training, I have read hundreds of books which discuss parenting and child development. What a delight it was to open this book and discover the finest book on infant and toddler development and practical guide for their parents that I have read--ever. This book discusses in detail how children develop from birth on, and explains ways that everyday interactions with their caregiver shape their mind, their sense of themself and their view of their world. It also has numerous examples of children with very different personalities, detailing in particular how a given sensory or cognitive under- or over-sensitivity can be a hurdle in the development of the child and of their relationship with their parents. The real gift of this book lies in the down to earth examples of ways that sensitive parents may intervene to help their child over the hurdle and continue along thier joyful developmental trajectory. I have never read anything else that comes even close to describing the child-eye view of the world that is so eloquently yet simply described here. Next time I need a shower gift for an expectant parent, some reading for a parent who is particularly curious about what is going on inside her babies mind, a resource for a friend who is puzzled or distressed by her child, or a primary resource for anyone who is working in the field of child development, this is the first book I am reaching for.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Terrific Book by Greenspan, January 22, 2005

By 

Bradley D. Horton (Jefferson, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Building Healthy Minds: The Six Experiences That Create Intelligence And Emotional Growth In Babies And Young Children (Paperback)

I read this as a borrowed book and I agree with the majority of the previous reviewers as to its incredible value to parents. I completely disagree with the reviewer who recommended "The Continuum Project". That book describes a nice general theme but doesn't get into specifics. Greenspan's book is just the opposite...raising a caring child is truly more complex than just holding them 24/7.

My problem is that, as a teacher, while I am held solely responsible (see "No Child Left Behind") for a child's academic struggles...reality suggests we can only deal with that which families and/or society delivers to us...in short, we are not miracle workers or human laundry mats where children enter school one way and somehow come out "clean" on the other end. It's so much easier to attack education than it is to solve issues dealing with the family isn't it? As one researcher pointed out...we don't have a crisis in education...we have a crisis of the family...how true. In his books Greenspan clearly holds parenting responsible and, most importantly, recognizes (as most good teachers do) that a child with emotional deficits will hinder their academic gains...No Child Left Behind conveniently separates the logic from emotion as we have done for years...BUT, as Greenspan points out wonderfully...emotion always leads learning.

We each come at books, music, movies, and so on and define it by our own experiences. I come from the perspective of a parent and a teacher who sees the results of all types of home environments. From this experience I can honestly say that this book, along with many of Greenspan's other books, should be a must read for all parents and caregivers.