How to Raise a Brighter Child

by Joan Beck

THE LATEST STUDIES PROVE SOONER IS SMARTER How much is a child capable of learning before the age of six? What happens to a child's brain during the preschool years when the body is growing so rapidly? How can working parents make sure their children are getting enough mental stimulation? Should parents help a youngster learn to read before he or she starts the first grade? How can parents safely use computers and the Internet as early learning tools? Is a child's intelligence level actually fixed for life by inherited genes? You'll find the answers to these and hundreds of other vital questions in this revised and updated edition of this classic parenting guide. How to Raise a Brighter Child incorporates groundbreaking scientific findings on brain development to help you boost your child's potential from birth. Discover specific early learning techniques to aid your child's development of his or her mind -- in his or her own personal style and at the appropriate speed. These are not formal lessons. Most are fascinating games. And they work!

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Education

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1967

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very helpful. It helped me understand how/what things are in a child's point of view. I realized "a child at play is a child at work" and the only way for you to get their full attention is "work" with them. The has all the information I needed how to raise my kid to be a brighter and better child without spending too much money. Overall, this book is all-time relevant and very practical.

[Vivian Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked: Ideas for educational games at each age level.
Did not like: There was nothing groundbreaking as far as explanation of cognitive development. "Your child can and must learn a lot before they enter grade school" Really?? Thanks.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book 19 years ago, and I have to say I think it helped in my child rearing. My son just turned 19, is a pre-med junior in college and plans to be, of all things, a neuro-surgeon! I would say that this book influenced me to constantly provide challenges for him and to never underestimate his potential. I think this should hold true for every child. It's our job to provide opportunities for them to learn and grow in whatever areas they show interest in! Great book!

[Susan Okeefe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An book filled with practial suggestions for everyday fun activities to share with your children that will have them loving to learn!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful, even though this book is about a decade old it still gave honest and practical advice on positive parenting. I really enjoyed it and will keep it as a reference book.

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff. It helps you understand the value of talking to your baby, making eye contact, letting them know they're important and respecting their curiosity, which is after all the driver of intellectual development. I know today (I read it in 1992), the focus would be on raising an empathetic or "emotionally" smart kid...it's almost not cool to say you want to raise a "smart" kid. But it's all in the same basket, you are helping your child to reach their potential in many realms. And the techniques and perspectives you need to adopt to help a child maximize are pretty much the same across the board. You are their first and primary connection in the world, make it a good one and you set them on their way.

[Kira Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book hoping to get some insight into my mother's approach to my early childhood education, because I certainly enjoyed her home "school" when I was ages (too young to remember) to 3 or 4. Problem is, this is not the 1968 or earlier edition. It has definitely been updated for the 2000s. So for my purposes, not that useful. But if you are looking to get your child started to get interested in the world as soon as they're able to perceive it, and make every interaction an opportunity for learning, this is a good guide.

[Michelle Cambridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me during my pregnancy. I found it very helpful when some common sense was applied. Example: it is okay to explore our kitchen cabinets many times over because it is safe but not okay to explore a restaurant kitchen. My 15 year old is a self learner, devouring new information. I must give some credit to this book and its principles.

[Stephen Gallup · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read this, I had a newborn in the house, about whose future I had good cause to be alarmed. (Much later I wrote my own book about the challenge of raising him, hopefully to be bright.) My notes on this one say only "Too much emphasis on why instead of how." The why ought to be self-evident.

[Azra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odlična knjiga o odgoju djece uglavnom na Montessori principima. Svidja mi se što su sve tvrdnje u knjizi potkrijepljene sa tačno navedenim naučnim istraživanjima.

[Lime Street Labrador · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent general discussions and tips on early learning and developments, especially in the first half. 2nd half is sort of redundant and verbose, in my view.