Customer Reviews

Trees Make the Best Mobiles: Simple Ways to Raise Your Child in a Complex World

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have read many books on parenting and usually come away from them feeling more overwhlemed than reassured. Trees Make the Best Mobiles is the exception. We live in a culture that seems to demand MORE-FASTER-BETTER but Jessica Teich and Brandel France de Bravo take issue with that mantra and encourage parents to slow down, listen, act with mindfulness, and throw away the mechanical dolls. The two authors - mothers themselves - offer sensible and creative suggestions that are empowering to both parent and child. I was able to use their advice to bring a bit of calm into my own hectic household and I strongly encourage every new parent-- and old one, too-- to take a look at this terrific book.

I was very optomistic about this book, thinking that it placed an emphasis on how to interact with babies and kids without the unnecessary overlays of too much technology and toys. This book basically regurgiates the philosophy of RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers by Magda Gerber). This way on interacting with children is all about respecting them as individuals. However, the belief system is not based on well researched concepts such as that children need boundaries and are not always ready for excessive verbal diatribes on why it is wrong to hit others. Additionally, this book flies in the face of an abundance of research on attachment theory. The authors often note that babies need private time and should "self soothe". Babies need private time about as much as LA needs more plastic surgeons. Babies need touch ,responsive parenting, and lots of affection and unconditional love. Self soothing is clearly not beneficial for babies as studies show that babies who are well responded to are more well adjusted children, are more independent, and more able to be flexible. This book was truly disapointing and beyond that, could really do some damage. There were one or two decent (albeit somewhat obvious) chapters regarding how kids need unrestricted and unstructured play time, and on the need to not expose young kids to so much media.

This delightful book will reward its readers with wit, wisdom, and a reassuring clarity about the value of parenthood. The authors advocate a refreshing, child-centered approach to child rearing. Their simple, yet vital priorities are reflected in the organization of the book, itself, into brief, concise chapters, which may be browsed or read straight through. I would imagine that even the most harried and sleep-deprived of parents would find this book accessible and easy to read. The authors, who are students of Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) and parents of young children themselves, share thoughtful meditations on a diverse array of parenting topics, from temper tantrums to toilet training. Throughout, they emphasize the fundamental truth that the greatest gift parents can give to children is... themselves. The empathic attunement that a parent who is truly present and "in the moment" can provide is truly priceless to a developing child. To their credit, the authors translate this ideal into a set of pragmatic suggestions for approaching such routine tasks as a diaper change in a more relaxed, unhurried, and mindful manner. Parenting books can overwhelm readers with professional prescriptions that may seem impossible for the average mom and dad to implement on their own. This practical and wise little book serves to remind parents that they already possess the essential tools to successfully nuture and guide their children.

First of all, I don't think this is a bad book. I was expecting something different, how to raise a child with less focus on TV, sports, and the activity-after-activity world we live in. Instead, it had advice I didn't agree with, due to my own parenting philosophy. For example, the authors suggest that giving your baby a pacifier is like putting duct tape over his/her mouth. I just don't agree with that. After several such passages, I decided this book just isn't for me. I would, however, highly suggest the book "How Much is Enough." It's all about how not to overindulge your child, perhaps THE biggest issue I see as a middle school teacher.

Finally, a book that helps parents with the concrete questions, joys and frustrations of parenting--everything from dealing with temper tantrums to how to get kids to put on clothes or participate in solving their own problems. It's never condescending nor preachy, assuming instead that both parents and children are feeling, intelligent people who can be treated as such. What a pleasure. I'm giving this book to every new parent I know--it's spiritual and practical, smart and poetic, easy to read (sometimes I just have time for a page or two, but am never disappointed) but never simplistic. I wish I'd had it earlier!

Based on the idea that you can begin a respectful, communicative, and loving relationship from day one, this insightful book offers wise advice in a light and even poetic way. If you have questions about "old wives/mothers" admonishments and mainstream assumptions about how to interact with and handle your baby-to-toddler, this book offers excellent alternative suggestions with good reasoning to back them up. Affirms the intuition and good instincts of any mindful parent.

Full of wisdom, warmth, clarity, humor, and respect. This book and one other called "The Pocket Parent" have reminded me of the many simple, common sense things that I already knew but forgot are options to do and say to my young children. I am very consciously no longer on automatic (often hysterical) parenting pilot 24/7 (yelling, nagging, obsessing, bribing, competing, rushing, criticizing and punishing). Thanks to these 2 books teaching the many communication and discipline skills that work, there is more peace and joy in our home and more happy quality time spent with our children. Our priorities are changing and we are deciding what we need to do differently to reach our short and long term goals. If you have young children, check out both of these supportive helpful books chockful of suggestions that can change your life.

This book reminds readers to do less, listen more, and practice "present parenting" by devoting their full attention to their child, even during what seem like mundane tasks like changing a diaper or getter them dressed. I am a mother of an eight month old and this is one of the best parenting books I have read. It is written for busy (and tired) new parents, with easily-digestible, short chapters. Not a day goes by that I don't heed the advice in the title of the book. Instead of buying an expensive new toy or leaving my baby in an exersaucer, we enjoy the simple things together like looking up at the trees or playing with a collander from my kitchen cabinet!

As both a counsellor in behavioural psychology and a mother who has raised three daughters to adulthood, this will be a highly recommended book for those seeking information on parenting. This book could more aptly be called, "Simplifying Parenting and Getting Back to the Basics," for really, that is the theme of the book.

It is a natural reaction to want to give children the best of everything; however, many parents (particularly in two-parent households where both parents work outside the home) are overly caught up in a materialistic world. Baby has an ornately designed, expensive bed; toddlers with relatively short attention spans play among brand name, state-of-the-art play centres, and young children start school in designer jeans and jackets. All that is fine if one can afford it, but as a counsellor, I have seen far too many parents sit in front of my desk and say, "How do I keep up? We can't afford this stuff but, you know, the kids need to have it." Well, there is a big difference in the world between what one "wants" and what one actually "needs."

This book is an excellent example of setting priorities when it comes to effective parenting. It spells out what a child needs most in life: quality time, love and acceptance. No where does it say that designer jeans rate among the priorities. New parents, particularly, will find this book well worth reading. By getting your child off to a solid start in life, you could be saving you and your child a world of heartache and frustration (not to mention financial difficulties) down the road. It is not the young child who lives in a materialistic world; it is the parent(s), and children learn from examples. This book is highly recommended and worth far more than a five-star rating. Even those parents who truly do live a simplistic life style will have their current ideas reinforced and find plenty of new ideas to contemplate.

I found this book to be gently encouraging, relaxing, and helpful to read. It is not preachy at all, but suggests principles by giving concrete examples. Other reviews found it brief, but I felt that that was the point. And insight is captured in a few, well-written pages and then the book moves on. It doesn't give grand theories or a typical parenting manual approach, it just reminds the reader why choosing the simple can be valuable. It would be a good choice for an expecting mother I think, a change from all the urgent structured parenting books. It stresses being in the moment, treating children with respect, and valuing the real, the non-technological, and the slow. Trusting the process of parenting and relaxing about it.