Customer Reviews

Nurturing Your Child with Music: How Sound Awareness Creates Happy, Smart, and Confident Children

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is an excellent resource for both parents and educators who deal with both mainstream and challenged populations. For those of us interested in gaining from the benefits of the latest brain research, or "brain-compatible strategies," without having to sort through the theoretical concepts or scientific research that often make these books cumbersome this book is the answer. The author--a clinical psychologist with actual experience in these matters--shares with us his years of research and professional experience in a very handy, ready to use volume that provides hundreds of fun, useful, hands-on exercises. Each chapter also thoughtfully provides dozens of musical suggestions based on songs that our kids actually listen to and recognize. The amount of research that must have gone into this book boggles the mind. This is an offering from someone who not only KNOWS children, but also loves and cherishes them. If you are fortunate enough to attend one of Dr. Ortiz's workshops on this topic you will be further enriched and enchanted by his charm, knowledge and humor. Mindy Mother of two, educator

Nurturing Your Child with Music by John Ortiz fills what, to now, was a significant void in every parent's and educator's bookshelf. The topics he addresses; speech and language,listening and learning styles, relaxation and stimulation, restlessness at bed time, the development of confidence and a positive self-identity, and others are ones that all of us involved in raising or educating children struggle with throughout their crucial periods of development. His sensible approaches and

unique ways of using both music and sound to help children conquer these life events are exemplary. Later in the book he shares a large number of witty exercises and techniques to get children involved in areas such as helping with household chores, building "sound" relationships with their elders and peers, and using a wide spectrum of musical styles (classical as well as pop, jazz, new age, children's, world beat, country & western and many others) for spicing up family time be it the home, the playroom, or the road. His list of resources, including family oriented music, books, parenting organizations, and even internet sites is the most comprehensive I've seen in any parenting book. I recommend this book very highly to both parents and educators.

As both an educator serving hundreds of children over the past 12 years, and a mother of three I have found this sensational, practical book a wonderful resource. Parents, teachers and caregivers will find in this well organized, clearly written book a wealth of information for situations that all of us who nurture children encounter throughout our daily interactions. A true, sensitive delight filled with hundreds of user friendly exercises, fresh ideas and insights into how the world sounds to children today. Helen Shaw, secondary school teacher

I bought this highly recommended book to assist me with the many practical ideas that all caregivers crave. The book has easily surpassed my expectations and lived up to all the high praise and accolades from my friends. As a mother who also home schools two children, however, this book is a rich source of hands-on activities as well as inspiration for enriching family bonds. For parents-or nursery home workers-in search of very effective solutions for nap-time, or sleepy-time resources Dr. Ortiz's charming CDs: "It's Sleepy Time!" (for younger children), or "Daydreams to Dreams" (for older children)are HIGHLY recommended!!

I am a mother of three children, two boys and one girl, ages three, six and eleven. As an avid reader and consumer of parenting books and magazines I just want to say that this is the most wonderful, family oriented book I've run across since our firstborn. Having just found out that we are expecting our fourth child (! ) we will be able to use this book from cover to cover (it covers children ages pre-birth through 12) to help each of our children to learn to appreciate music and develop their potential from very fresh perspectives. This book is a priceless resource for parents looking for fresh, new ways to educate and entertain their children. This is a very well organized, easy to read book that has hundreds of musical (and sound) ideas for family oriented occasions and activities. More importantly, however, it suggests many unique ways of speaking with, and listening to our children to help promote their self-esteem, avoid unnecessary conflicts, and develop good social skills. My favorite part? This is not just another book suggesting that parents use classical music for everything under the sun. Although classical music is surely covered, parents will delight to learn of the many ways that the music many of us grew up loving--pop, rock, jazz, country, soul...from 50's rock through 90's hip-hop-- can be used in nurturing ways we never imagined! (and it costs less than a single CD!)

Marie Jordan, mother and homemaker, Sarasota, Florida

As both a parent and an educator I find this simple to read, highly accessible tool is a "must read" for all of us whose primary emphasis is to raise children to be happy, responsible individuals. Sections on developing positive self-esteem, dealing with hyperactive children and developing creativity are among the best.

A dream tool!

The old saying, "you can't a judge a book by the cover" surely applies to this book. Why anyone would wrap this marvelous, inspiring book around such a dimestore cover is beyond me! From beginning to end this book is a parent's delight. Rainy out? The good doctor's book will give you plenty of ideas on how to keep the kids happy. Kids can't get to sleep? Good doctor to the rescue with musical ways to get them to fall "sound" asleep. Kids having problems with memorizing their lesson plan? Now, where is that book? I picked this little gem up just three weeks ago and we have already (a)made our own personal audiographs, (b)put together three "entrainment" tapes (for exercise, studying and sleeping), and (c) gone on two "sound hunts." Three kids and 10 years later we thought we were all out of ideas but, if fresh, fun ideas and good...sound advice is what you are looking for, this book's got'em! Like I said before, "you can't judge a book by the cover!"

As a father, and University professor, this easy to follow book is a creative remedy for sore eyes. In a well-written and immaculately organized style, Dr. Ortiz tackles common day situations that all parents face at one time or another. In the introduction he gives all parents a handy reference section that explains the effects of sound and music throughout each stage of a child's development, from conception through the age of twelve. He then explains a number of fun, time efficient ways through which all sorts of sounds can be used to help each child to develop positive skills in essential areas such as listening, communication, relationships and many others. This process is repeated throughout the book covering topics that will delight every parent, as well as teachers and anyone else who has a child's best interest at heart. The areas he covers, such as relaxation for hyperactive children and raising self-esteem are great complements to the hundreds of exercises that all of us who invest in our children's wellbeing and happiness will celebrate and appreciate.

W.R. Brooks, PhD

Sound awareness can foster happy, confident children: this provides a guide for parents who want to create nurturing sound environments for kids. From listening to harmony in the home and choosing different types of music to choosing cds for parties, car trips and other atmospheres, Nurturing Your Child With Music is recommended for any parent who wants a starting point for musical education.

As a parent of three, and elementary school teacher,this excellently written, superbly structured and practical book is a godsend for both parents and educators. The chapters are delicately crafted and stand on their own, making it very simple to chose among the hundreds of ideas and exercises designed to help a child's (from birth through age 12) development in a number of essential areas (self-esteem, listening, getting to sleep, reducing stress, dealing with loss, learning, etc, etc!). A MUST for every parent's--and teacher's--bookshelf!