Bright from the Start: The Simple, Science-Backed Way to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind, from Birth to Age 3

by Paula Spencer and Jill Stamm

Book Overview

A cutting-edge handbook for parents from a pioneer in infant brain development Should you really read to your baby? Can teaching a baby sign language boost IQ? Should you pipe classical music into the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1592402852
• ISBN13: 9781592402854
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Gotham Books
• Length: 350 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Great book!

As a psychologist experienced in neuropsychology and cognitive treatment, I just love this book. I bought it sometime before baby was born, and it really details the cognitive and emotional development of baby, especially in the first year or so. She reviews great activities to stimulate your child cognitively, and is not too commercial (as she does sell her own products). As a first time parent, I found this book had all sorts of useful ideas, and would recemmend it highly!

A MUST READ for all caregivers.

I haven't found anything as brilliant as this. It really puts the importance of nurturing your baby from day one into perspective. Everyone who has young children, works with children, or is going to have children MUST READ THIS. There is ground breaking scientific information that is really spelled out for those non-neurologists.

Bright from the Start

This book is an excellent description of how parents/caregivers can support healthy cognitive and emotional development in small children. It's extremely reinforcing for things you do naturally as a parent, and also provides great recommendations for new activities.

Warm, informative, fun, and fascinating

I work as a children's librarian and sometimes lecture on early childhood literacy. This is my new textbook and parent bible. Having read dozens of similar titles, I can easily say that this one is the best. It is thorough, informative, practical, conversational and true. I learned a number of things about brain development and early learning that I had not come across previously. Dr. Stamm has some especially pointed things to say about TV and computer time for young children. When you read what a typical TV show does to a young brain you will think twice about turning that machine on in the presence of a child. As Dr. Stamm says, what you really need to be a good parent is in the palm of your hand- give them "attention, bonding and communication" as well as time to play, create, dream and explore and you will have a far smarter child than any who are plugged into "educational" products. Dr. Stamm gives scientific reasons that back up what all of us who work with children know..that children learn best by listening to words coming from loving adults, either through talking or reading, by playing and by touching. The children in our country are literally dying to communicate with people who are not on cell phones, using computers or staring at a screen-and their brains are not growing to their potential nor their attention spans when they are presented with one passive entertainment after another. Read this book and be inspired.

Great principles, well thought out, easy to read

It is really difficult for parents, first-time parents especially, to know which direction to take in encouraging their child's development. You want to give them every opportunity and push them to reach their potential but you worry they'll develop Woody Allen-sized neurosis and blame you for it later when they're on the couch; "i don't know if it was the steady Rorschach regimen or the speed violin lessons, but i think that is why i've had trouble maintaining a serious relationship or holding down a job." This book demystifies all of the issues a parent tangles with, makes you feel at ease with some of your intuitive practices while giving you a full menu of things to consider. The language is also very accessible. Nicely done.