Synopses & Reviews
"As scientifically sound as it is humane."
—Harold S. Koplewicz, M.D., chairman, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, and founder and director, New York University Child Study Center
"Nurture the Nature is thorough, thoughtful, accurate, and brilliant. The science is sound and well researched."
—Daniel Amen, M.D., author, Making a Good Brain Great
"Michael Gurian has once again produced a magnificent book on children, this one showing us how to appreciate and indeed capitalize on the unique nature within each child. Nurture the Nature should be mandatory reading for parents who want their children to mature into happy, healthy human beings—which is of course all of us!"
—Dr. Tracey J. Shors, Department of Psychology, Center for Collaborative Neuroscience, Rutgers University
"Nurture the Nature is up-to-the-minute, filled with wisdom, and an intensely moral book, concerned with helping a child develop a sense of purpose in life, and promoting self-reliance and self-discipline in children. Both as a mother and a psychologist, I could not put this book down!"
—Judith Kleinfeld, professor of psychology, University of Alaska, and national director of The Boys Project
"As a parent myself, I believe one of the greatest challenges to parenting well is to see who your individual child really is. Nurture the Nature gives parents the ability to do just that—and to understand?the complex issues that shape our children today."
—Rosalind Wiseman, author, Queen Bees and Wannabes
"A wealth of practical advice on how to escape the competitive pressure of social trends parenting and instead nurture the core nature of your child."
—Michele Borba, Ed.D., author, 12 Simple Secrets Real Moms Know and Building Moral Intelligence
Review
Noted author Gurian (The Wonder of Boys) here advocates that parents reject what he calls the "social trends parenting system"-i.e., following popular parenting fads-and instead focus on the unique talents, proclivities, and temperaments with which children are born. He spends a good deal of the book laying out the scientific aspects of personality and temperament, delving into recent brain research that, for instance, shows how gender and other factors play a role in personality development. While Gurian's overall message is worthy, many parents may find some of his recommendations confusing and even alarming. He seems to advocate for specialized medical tests, such as brain scans and blood tests, in the absence of any real reason for performing them, treating them as tools to help parents better understand a child's "core nature." His use of that term itself is problematic, as it sometimes refers to personality and other times to medical issues. His statements about certain areas of research and popular culture are also inaccurate, e.g., he misunderstands the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, equating shyness with introversion. Still, parents may be able to take away the important and liberating idea that knowing your child is the best parenting advice of all. Fans of Gurian's other books will be pleased; those who want to understand better how personality affects child development would be better served by Elizabeth Murphy's The Developing Child.
—Rachel Davis, Thomas Memorial Lib., Cape Elizabeth, ME (Library Journal, May 1, 2007)
Family therapist Gurian (The Wonder of Girls) approaches his nature-based theme from a slightly different angle in his latest work, urging parents to buck "social trends parenting" and make decisions based on the core personality of their individual child. A researcher of brain science and gender differences, Gurian believes that much of a child's behavior is inborn from the start. But Gurian sees a disturbing trend in parents' increasing willingness to disregard their own instincts, letting media and society-driven fads dictate the way they raise their kids. In his own "clinical detective work," he has found that children are becoming bogged down by activity overload and the "material anxiety" that arises from trying to keep up with the latest designer fads or electronic gadgets. Gurian presents an in-depth, chapter-by-chapter analysis of child development, beginning at infancy and ending in early adulthood. Gurian's presentation is comprehensive and peppered with fascinating facts (i.e., how pheromones of biological fathers affect the onset of girls' puberty or how parts of a toddler's brain actually swell during a tantrum). The author's new text will help parents begin, in the tradition of Maria Montessori, to "follow the child," rather than adapt their kids to a contemporary one-size-fits-all mold.(May) (Publishers Weekly, April 2, 2007)
Synopsis
"Your child's core nature is thrilling to observe and appreciate as it unfolds before your eyes. It's wonderful to feel confident as a parent, to tailor parenting techniques to fit the unique needs of your child's nature."
From the Introduction
From Michael Gurian, the best-selling author of The Minds of Boys and The Wonder of Girls, comes the next-step book that shows how any parent can tune into a child's unique core personality, hard wiring, temperament, and genetic predisposition in order to help that child flourish and thrive.
Based on the most recent brain research, Nurture the Nature features the Ten Tips for Nurturing the Nature of Your Baby, self-tests, checklists, and many other tools for you to help your kids get exactly the kind of support they need, from infants to adolescents.
While offering positive ideas for nurturing your child, Gurian also shows how to avoid the stress, pressures, and excessive competition of what he identifies as social trends parenting. Most parents know instinctively that their child is unique and has special potential, weaknesses, and strengths. No child is a blank slate. Gurian calls on parents to turn away from one-size-fits-all approaches and instead support the individual core nature of a child with effective and customized loving care.
Nurture the Nature offers a rare combination of solid research and compelling case history that will help you develop the consistency and confidence you need for parenting your children in a way that respects who they really are.
Synopsis
"Your child's core nature is thrilling to observe and appreciate as it unfolds before your eyes. It's wonderful to feel confident as a parent, to tailor parenting techniques to fit the unique needs of your child's nature."
From the Introduction
From Michael Gurian, the best-selling author of The Minds of Boys and The Wonder of Girls, comes the next-step book that shows how any parent can tune into a child's unique core personality, hard wiring, temperament, and genetic predisposition in order to help that child flourish and thrive.
Based on the most recent brain research, Nurture the Nature features the Ten Tips for Nurturing the Nature of Your Baby, self-tests, checklists, and many other tools for you to help your kids get exactly the kind of support they need, from infants to adolescents.
While offering positive ideas for nurturing your child, Gurian also shows how to avoid the stress, pressures, and excessive competition of what he identifies as social trends parenting. Most parents know instinctively that their child is unique and has special potential, weaknesses, and strengths. No child is a blank slate. Gurian calls on parents to turn away from one-size-fits-all approaches and instead support the individual core nature of a child with effective and customized loving care.
Nurture the Nature offers a rare combination of solid research and compelling case history that will help you develop the consistency and confidence you need for parenting your children in a way that respects who they really are.
Synopsis
From Michael Gurian, the best-selling author of
The Minds of Boys and
The Wonder of Girls, comes the next-step book that shows how any parent can tune into a child’s unique core personality, hard wiring, temperament, and genetic predisposition in order to help that child flourish and thrive.
Based on the most recent brain research, Nurture the Nature features the Ten Tips for Nurturing the Nature of Your Baby, self-tests, checklists, and many other tools for you to help your kids get exactly the kind of support they need, from infants to adolescents.
While offering positive ideas for nurturing your child, Gurian also shows how to avoid the stress, pressures, and excessive competition of what he identifies as social trends parenting. Most parents know instinctively that their child is unique and has special potential, weaknesses, and strengths. No child is a blank slate. Gurian calls on parents to turn away from one-size-fits-all approaches and instead support the individual core nature of a child with effective and customized loving care.
About the Author
Michael Gurian is a family therapist and The New York Times best-selling author of The Wonder of Boys, The Wonder of Girls, The Good Son, Boys and Girls Learn Differently! and The Minds of Boys, among many others. He is cofounder of the Gurian Institute and a pioneer in the fields of family development, education, and gender studies. He has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, CNN, NPR, and in The New York Times, USA Today, Time, Newsweek, and elsewhere.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments.
Introduction: Rediscovering Our Children.
Your Child's Nature.
Nurture The Nature Of Your Child.
Nature-Based Theory.
Essential Parenting.
A Special Feature For Moms And Dads With Newborns: Ten Tips For Nurturing The Nature Of Your Baby.
PART ONE. PROTECTING THE NATURE OF YOUR CHILD.
1. Escaping The Social Trends Parenting System.
What Is Chronic Stress In The American Family?
The Social Trends Parenting System.
Nurturing Your Child's Nature.
Getting Started.
2. Understanding The Core Nature Of Your Child.
Using Nature-Based Theory In Your Family.
The Myth Of The Blank Slate Child.
Eight New Sciences That Can Help You Understand Your Child's Core Nature.
Creating A Profile Of Your Child's Core Nature.
Your Essential Parenting Blueprint.
"Who Am I?"
PART TWO. NURTURING THE NATURE OF YOUR CHILD.
3. Nurturing The Nature Of Your Infant.
Preview Of Essential Developmental Tasks.
Information Essential To Nurturing The Core Nature Of Your Infant.
Natural Differences Between Infant Boys And Girls.
A Revolution In Parenting.
Essential Mothers, Essential Fathers.
Parents-Beyond-Parents.
The Importance Of The Mother-Infant Bond.
Burning Question: Can Vaccinations Harm My Infant?
Parenting As A Spiritual Discipline.
4. Nurturing The Nature Of Your Two- To Three-Year-Old.
Preview Of Essential Developmental Tasks.
Information Essential To Nurturing The Core Nature Of Your Toddler.
Natural Differences Between Toddler Girls And Boys.
The Importance Of Play, Order, And Discipline.
Self-Awareness Of Your Own Core Nature.
Burning Question: How Do I Handle Tantrums?
"She Was A Handful!"
5. Nurturing The Nature Of Your Four- To Six-Year-Old.
@FCTX3:Preview Of Essential Developmental Tasks.
Information Essential To Nurturing The Core Nature Of Your Four- To Six-Year-Old.
Natural Differences Between Boys And Girls Age Four To Six.
Handling Sibling Rivalry.
Helping Your Self-Educating Child Ask, "Who Am I?"
Redefining Food, Shelter, And Clothing.
Burning Question: How Do I Find The Best School For My Four- To Six-Year-Old?
Moving Forward With Both Peace And Excitement.
6. Nurturing The Nature Of Your Seven- To Ten-Year-Old.
Preview Of Essential Developmental Tasks.
Information Essential To Nurturing The Core Nature Of Your Seven- To Ten-Year-Old.
Natural Differences Between School-Age Girls And Boys.
Focusing On The Art Of Relationship To Protect Your Child's Core Nature.
Protecting A Child's Core Nature By Creating Symbiotic Marriage Or Symbiotic Divorce.
Burning Question: How Much Media Is Too Much?
The Courage Of Parents.
Part Three. Nurturing The Nature Of Your Adolescent.
7. Nurturing The Nature Of Your Eleven- To Fourteen-Year-Old.
Preview Of Essential Developmental Tasks.
Information Essential To Nurturing The Core Nature Of Your Pubescent Child.
Natural Differences Between Early Adolescent Boys And Girls.
Helping Your Pubescent Child Through Early Adolescent Adaptations Of Core Nature.
Joining Together To Link Fathers And Men To Early Adolescents.
Burning Question: How Do I Protect My Early Adolescent's Self-Esteem?
Moving Forward With Pride.
8. Nurturing The Nature Of Your Fifteen- To Eighteen-Year-Old.
Preview Of Essential Developmental Tasks.
Information Essential To Nurturing The Core Nature Of Your Middle Adolescent.
Natural Differences Between Middle Adolescent Girls And Boys.
Adapting Your Family To Accommodate Your Middle Adolescent's Individuation Of Core Nature.
Helping Adolescents Through Crisis.
Burning Question: What Is The Best Way To Handle Peer Groups?
Becoming A Woman, Becoming A Man.
9. Nurturing The Nature Of Your Adolescent Of Nineteen And Older.
Preview Of Essential Developmental Tasks.
Information Essential To Nurturing The Core Nature Of Your Late Adolescent.
Natural Differences Between Young Men And Young Women.
Identifying And Helping Young Men And Young Women Who Lack A Mission In Life.
Burning Question: Why Are Young People Maturing So Much Later Than We Did?
The Mission In Life.
Epilogue.
Appendixes.
Principles Of Nature-Based Families.
Tracking Your Child's Core Personality Through Genetics: How To Draw And Understand A Genogram.
More Help With Food, Shelter, And Clothing: A Discussion Starter For Parent Groups.
Notes And References.
Bibliography.
The Gurian Institute.
About The Author.
Index.