"The Continuum Concept" introduces the idea that in order to achieve optimal physical, mental and emotional development, human beings - especially babies - require the kind of instinctive nurturing as practiced by our ancient relatives. It is a true 'back to basics' approach to parenting. Author Jean Liedloff spent two and-a-half years in the jungle deep in the heart of South America living with indigenous tribes and was astounded at how differently children are raised outside the Western world. She came to the realisation that essential child-rearing techniques such as touch, trust and community have been undermined in modern times, and in this book suggests practical ways to regain our natural well-being, for our children and ourselves.
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About the Author
Jean Liedloff has written for the Sunday Times and was a founding member of the Ecologist magazine. She lectures and broadcasts around the world to students, doctors, parents, psychotherapists and the general public. She lives in London.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I read Jane Lieloff's book about a year ago. Where I first heard about it was at the Ishmael Community.
What I got from the book was that humans have expectations that have been passed on from our predecessers that need to be met in our human experience. Unfortunately due to our culture's mythology's about child rearing a lot of the human expectations go unmet in our human experience.
Liedloff pointed out to us that the Yequana still use the child rearing instincts of our predecessers. And as a result their children behave a lot differently from the children raised in civilization. And all in all the people of the Yequana tribe are more content in their living situation than we in civilization are.
A different cultural perspective on child rearing. Everybody who was raised and is raising children in our Taker Culture should read!!!
What I got from the book was that humans have expectations that have been passed on from our predecessers that need to be met in our human experience. Unfortunately due to our culture's mythology's about child rearing a lot of the human expectations go unmet in our human experience.
Liedloff pointed out to us that the Yequana still use the child rearing instincts of our predecessers. And as a result their children behave a lot differently from the children raised in civilization. And all in all the people of the Yequana tribe are more content in their living situation than we in civilization are.
A different cultural perspective on child rearing. Everybody who was raised and is raising children in our Taker Culture should read!!!
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
The simple and pure continuum concept will stay with me throughout my parenting years to come. I am very glad to have read of it before my first child is born. To hold your children, partner and friends in need, and to restrain from labelling them, makes wonderful sense to allow for their free, confident yet supported development.
However, the book contains some unworthy and potentially dangerous tangents, which are ignorant and poorly researched. The most harmful is the negetive view of homosexuality and ignorance about its causes. The damage done by expressing unsupportive and negative views about a sexuality different to your own could wipe out any benefit of having used the continuum concept in all else.
I am also not comfortable with the implied strict division of male and female roles. Although most children will fit into these expectations conveniently enough for narrow minded parents, we are all at different points along a spectrum of male and female behaviours, and should not be pigeon-holed. Other primative cultures do allow for this, and one of the benefits of the modern world is that we are relatively free to find our own place in it, and I celebrate this.
This book would be much improved by thorough revision and complimentary scientific research (which does not seem to have been done for the 1986 revision on reading the reviews here). It could then become a truly inspiring work.
So, to whoever reads this book: please watch out for its flaws for yourself and do not to take every word as the truth, but distill and absorb the beauty at its core.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book opened my mind to see beyond our own culture and view parenting and the family from a truly human perspective - taking into account the basic needs and expectations that are natural to the human condition, no matter in what culture one lives.
I recommend this book to anyone who ever has a child, is thinking of having children, or ever was one.
Parenting with this book as a guideline can change our society for the better, one individual at a time.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ok, but very narrow minded
This book is good in that it explains the benefits of attachment parenting/baby wearing and the need for a simpler existence to keep ourselves/our babies healthy and happy. Read more
Published on April 19, 2010 by joeswife
My mom used this on me
I have never read this book but my mom did and used this concept on me when I was a baby. She said it was supposed to promote a secure inner feeling like everything is right with... Read more
Published on January 28, 2010 by K. Frey
Read the Original!
Did you know that Dr. Sears' first book was essentially an instruction manual on applying the Continuum Concept ideas to modern parenting practices? Read more
Published on July 25, 2009 by Mama Bean
It has changed my life!
Definetely not a light read but a very very important read for everybody in North American society. This book sheds light on some of the really ridiculous perspectives we have in... Read more
Published on November 13, 2003
Outstanding! Must Have!
I was fortunate and DID find the book (though quite by accident) before my first child was born. He is now 20 and doing splendidly in this confused world. Read more
Published on June 14, 1999 by Ravenous Reader
A wonderful book for our society's problems.
I found out about this book from reading Daniel Quinn's Ishmael. He credited this book for some of his thoughts. Read more
Published on October 15, 1998 by TNSSCOTT@chicago.avenew.com
Beautiful!
This book is remarkable and I think it should be mandatory for new parents. If we still treated our children in this way, perhaps they would not be bringing guns to school or... Read more
Published on July 15, 1998 by bellablue@hotmail.com
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