Right From Birth: Building Your Child's Foundation for Life--Birth to 18 Months (Goddard Parenting Guides)
These Goddard parenting guides, written for the educated parent, report recent research on the functioning of the brain and the integration of emotional, physical, mental, and social growth. When new findings contradict old theories, the authors separate fact from fad. While each book does give concrete suggestions on what to do at various ages, the emphasis is on the developmental point in the child's life at a particular time. The Rameys, both psychology professors at the University of Alabama, describe seven principles essential to good parenting, culled from years of research. They take pains to explain why punishment is detrimental to babies. Pruett, a professor of child psychiatry at Yale's Child Study Center, also describes how to set limits for toddlers in his discussion of the tremendous development that occurs between 18 months and three years. Each book takes a careful look at good day-care solutions and encourages parents to relax and enjoy their children. The authors recognize that new parents may sometimes feel awkward interacting with their small children, and both books demonstrate how important that personal contact is. The series will continue with issues of concern to parents of three- to eight-year-olds, also written by the Rameys. Both books are recommended for public and academic libraries.AMargaret Cardwell, Georgia Perimeter Coll., ClarkstonCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.