The Magic Years: Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood [Paperback]

Selma H. Fraiberg (Author), TK (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 1996

To a small child, the world is an exciting but sometimes frightening and unstable place. In The Magic Years, Selma Fraiberg takes the reader into the mind of the child, showing how he confronts the world and learns to cope with it. With great warmth and perception, she discusses the problems at each stage of development and reveals the qualities -- above all, the quality of understanding -- that can provide the right answer at critical moments.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Magic Years is almost 40 years old, yet this book still offers a wonderful way of looking at how kids think, and why they act the way they do based on their cognitive and emotional abilities. The Magic Years refers to the psychological sense of discovery and magical power a young child feels. This book is used in many child development courses, but is a good read for anybody wanting to understand the young child's mind as he grows, acquires knowledge, and moves into more logical thought patterns. Selma Fraiberg's respect for children radiates from the pages. Take a little bit of time with this book; as Fraiberg says, "It is the quality of our understanding ... that provides us with the right method at critical moments."

Review

Parents' Magazine An expert with a gift for writing describes how children mature from birth to six years old....[Fraiberg] discusses theories and facts about feeding, talking, sex education, fantasy, self-control, fear and other subjects in the practical terms of daily living.

Mental Health Bulletin The Magic Years is far and above the best description of this early developmental period.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (December 9, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684825503
• ISBN-13: 978-0684825502
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,482 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, absorbing and clear read about how kids think, October 17, 1999

By 

lisamcmil - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Magic Years: Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood (Paperback)

As a psychotherapist who has worked with many children, I cannot praise this delightful work highly enough. This fascinating book is an easy to read and brilliantly conceived glimpse into the child's reality. Though written decades ago, The Magic Years is still standard assigned reading for psychologists in training. Fraiberg describes the development in childrens' reasoning (e.g., how they perceive and interpret things through the use of "magical thought"; hence the title). She also discusses kids' changing emotional and intellectual needs as they develop through these years from toddlerhood through grade school. Her vivid grasp of the child's perspective allows anyone to relate better to children. It is never too early or too late to read this book. A must-read for parents or for anyone who wants to better understand the logic behind how young kids work. A great gift for the new parent!

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unequaled, April 1, 2004

By 

John C. Leopold "JL" (colorado springs, co United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Magic Years: Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood (Paperback)

This book is must reading for anyone who is around kids a lot. I am a pediatrician and have learned more from this book than any other, including Nelson's Text of Pediatrics. Selma Fraiberg offers us a window into the mind of children, from the 8 month old to kindergartener. She teaches us what is not in textbooks. She has an amazing way with words and many of anecdotes are hilarious and touching. Read what she has to say about how children and parents handle loss. Here is an excerpt from "The Missionaries Arrive", about the toddler: "The missionaries have arrived. They come bearing culture to the joyful savage. They smuggled themselves in as infatuated parents, of course. They nurtured him, made themselves indispensable to him, lured him into discovery of their fascinating world, and after a decent interval they come forth with salesmen's smiles to promote higher civilization." Ms Fraiberg teaches us child development and gives us the tools to handle developmental bumps in the road. Buy and cherish.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A valuable resource for anyone working with children, September 4, 2001

By 

M. Schuster (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Magic Years: Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood (Paperback)

I have owned several copies of this over the years, and reread it every year or so. It is the best book for understanding development from the young child's perspective. I use examples from this book in my workshops. It is readable, enjoyable, and although it is 40 years old, is one of the most up-to-date and clear books I have read on children's emotional development. She was a woman ahead of her time!