Moral Child: Nurturing Children's Natural Moral Growth (Paperback)

~ (Author) "From an early age, children are acutely aware of moral concerns..." (more)
Key Phrases: interpersonal guilt, moral education programs, respectful engagement, Golden Rule, Diana Baumrind, Martin Hoffman (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Professor of Education at Brown University, William Damon offers the first, much-needed overview of the evolution and nurturance of children's moral understanding and behavior from infancy through adolescence, at home and in school.

Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1st PAPERBACK edition (April 2, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0029069335
• ISBN-13: 978-0029069332
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #540,393 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Damon's best books for parents, educators..., February 17, 2004

By	Stephen Armstrong (Hadley, Ma USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

William Damon has written a number of excellent scientific articles and books on social and self-development of children. In this book, designed for a lay audience of parents and teachers, Damon outlines the moral development of children, all of which takes place in the social crucible of family, childhood and adolescent friends, and school. He is a long way from being a naive moralist, however. Instead, Damon focuses on the factors that encourage moral development (what he calls "responsive engagement" with children) and those that discourage it (authoritarianism, permissive parenting, disconnected parenting, self-centered, etc.).

His reasoning is quite clear. I liked best his summary section (p. 117-119) on how moral development occurs in childhood, and I think it is the best summary for lay persons that I have ever encountered. Another strength of the book is that Damon clearly contrasts competing theories well (for example, theories of "best parenting practices"). His summary of how to foster children's emotional and moral growth (Chapter 7) is quite good.

Damon's knowledge of the psychological/social literature is very broad. This book is well-referenced. Nevertheless, academic readers may be discontended, because this book is aimed at parents, teachers, and other lay adults. Like many readers, the academic readers will look forward to reading Damon's other books.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MORALITY COMES FROM LIFE EXPERIENCE, April 14, 2007

By	J. Hansen (Rapid City, S.D. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I wish I had read this book when my child was an infant, as I would have understood how morality in children really develops, and I could have assisted more in the process. William Damon really is an expert in this area, and his book is an excellent outline of how children develop a moral viewpoint from their own life experiences in sharing, developing empathy and reciprocity, and understanding social expectations. I plan on giving this book to some friends with preschool children, and I hope they will like it as much as I do. This is the best evidence based/scientific based book on this subject.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Child's mind is ready for moral development, January 12, 2005

By	Jose A. Padros Escalante "japadros" (México D.F.) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Through immersion into children's real experiences, the author explains values like empathy and equality, which are found naturally in children, and progress into the formation of more sofisticated value hierarchies. Excellent read.