You Are Your Child's First Teacher: What Parents Can Do With and For Their Chlldren from Birth to Age Six (Paperback)

~ Rahima Baldwin Dancy (Author), (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Baldwin, who dealt with childbirth options in Special Delivery ( LJ 5/15/79), here suggests techniques that allow infants and children to grow and learn while maintaining their prenatal connections to the dream world--e.g., using certain colors in the nursery and kinderharps instead of drums for musical training. Her refreshingly clear bias, based on the semi-mystical philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, will appeal to those with New Age leanings. More conservative parents will still find this sensible, informative, and enriching. Child-care workers, too, can profit from this supportive and encouraging advice on integrating youngsters' physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development.
- Nancy M. Laskowski, Free Lib. of Philadelphia
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

Nowadays parents are bombarded by any number of approaches about how to be with their children. YOU ARE YOUR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER introduces a new way of understanding the human being so that parents can be best equipped to serve as their own children's best teachers. Chapters include: Caring for the Newborn, Helping Your Toddler's Development, The Development of Fantasy and Creative Play, Nourishing Your Child's Imagination, Rhythm and Discipline in Home Life, Readiness for School, and more.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Celestial Arts; Revised edition (September 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0890879672
• ISBN-13: 978-0890879672
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,648 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Refined my perspective on what is best for my children, December 4, 2002

By	FrazzledMommy - See all my reviews

This book is one of the few books on parenting and early childhood education that is based on the child's true needs. This book truly allowed my inner parenting philosophy to blossom. Other readers should note that this isn't another book on what to do with your child to "make them smarter" or "advance their development", and such conceptual paradigms are actually inappropriate for promoting our children's internal developmental timetables and learning processes. It is also important to note that the foundation of this book is based on Rudolph Steiner's approach to parenting and early childhood education, known as the Waldorf method. My twins are soon approaching toddlerhood and we are researching different educational styles before they reach their preschool years. Even though I am not sure if my husband and I will choose a Waldorf education for our children, I believe the arguments in this book made sense in terms of creative and explorative play being the critical foundations of learning for small children, and that drilling them with academic lessons too soon may be harmful to their ability to truly learn once they reach their school age years in terms of developing critical thinking and problem solving skills as well as giving small children the impression that learning is a chore rather than something that is fun and exciting. As a new parent I was so tempted to fall into the media-based hype of how to make my babies "smarter" or "advance their development" and buy various advertised products that make those claims. I now undestand how miseducated I was on early childhood development and my children's true needs during their first year in spite of the many books and magazine articles I've read. I think that so many parents feel the pressure to feed into that hype because we are made to feel that our competence as parents is based on how much our children fit into our socially conditioned definition of success which involves placing a high value on attributes that will allow one to have power and financial wealth, thus the temptation to mold our children into whiz kids and star athletes when some kids just aren't meant to be whiz kids and star athletes. This book gave me a reference point as a new parent on the kind of learning foundation and home environment I want to provide for my children, and assured me of the benefits of seeing my children as whole people -mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A gentle approach to parenting, July 9, 2002

By	Julia Flyte - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: You Are Your Child's First Teacher (Hardcover)

The title of this book is a little misleading if you are expecting (as I was) to learn about ways to develop your child's intellect and/or communication skills. Rather, the author takes a broader approach, that you are your child's teacher in all matters of life. Moreover, you best serve your child not by trying to "instruct" them but by giving them the space to develop in their own time and manner, without undue influence from other sources.

As a full-time mother, I found a lot that was thought provoking in this book. It is quite repetitive and tends to feel like a promotion for Rudolph Steiner schooling. At times I found this a bit much. However it is nice to find a book that says that you are doing a good job just by being there for your child. I was also intrigued by the idea that I should be doing less, not more for my son. That children need space to do their own thing and to observe what you do as an adult more than they need you crawling round on the floor with them or taking them to gymbaroo classes.

I take from this book a few ideas of things to try and the reassurance that there are some things that I don't need to worry about. I am sure that I will read it again as my son gets older. It is a very readable book and one that I would recommend to any thoughtful parent.

44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book That Changed My Life, December 30, 2003

By	Sarah R. Baldwin "www.farawaymaine.com" (Washington, ME USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the book that not only profoundly changed my parenting style, but led to a career change and major lifestyle change for my family. This was the book that introduced me to Waldorf education and led me to pursue Waldorf teacher training. As a result of this introduction, my husband and I were led to re-evaluate our values and our lifestyle, and we ultimately made the transition from a fast-paced life in the show-business world of Los Angeles, to a quiet life living on a small farm in rural Maine. As a Waldorf early childhood teacher, I have recommended this book to countless families as an introduction to Waldorf education. I always give it as a gift to friends and family with new babies. It is the book I wish I'd had before the birth of my first child. I don't expect most families would experience such a dramatic lifestyle change as a result of this book as ours did, but it may help you relax into your role as a parent, realize that less is indeed more, and make your journey as a parent more meaningful and satisfying.