You Are Your Child's First Teacher, Third Edition

Encouraging Your Child's Natural Development from Birth to Age Six

By: Rahima Baldwin Dancy

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi

Length: 10 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

The first book in America to popularize the insights of Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Waldorf schools, regarding the developmental needs of young children, this revised and updated edition offers new ways for parents and educators to enrich the lives of children from birth to age six.

Today's society often pressures us into overstimulating young children with flashcards, workbooks, videos, and electronic gadgets in a well-meaning attempt to give them a head start. But children are not little adults - they learn and grow in radically different ways at different ages, and what we do to help could actually hurt instead.

Some of the most important learning years happen before your child reaches school. In You Are Your Child's First Teacher, respected Waldorf educator Rahima Baldwin Dancy explains the different stages of learning that children go through from birth to age six, giving you the wisdom and understanding to enrich your child's natural development in the right way at the right time.

A trusted classic for over 20 years, this newly revised edition contains updated resources and additional information on discipline, early childhood programs, toilet training, using home life as curriculum, and more. From language and cognitive development to appropriate toys and nourishing your child's artistic abilities, Dancy speaks up for a rational approach to child-rearing, one that helps children be children while we fulfill our important role as parents and first teachers.

©2012 Rahima Baldwin Dancy; Copyright 1989 by Rahima Baldwin (P)2018 Tantor

Informative and insightful

The author covered so many subjects with matter of fact answers and sighted research that supported each approach.

Best book, love it !

This book encourages parents to be as organic as possible with teaching children. I plan to homeschool my children, this book has really spoken to me. A must have for homeschooling parents and really any kind of parents.

Simply amazing

I truly believe this book is an asset to all parents and everyone should read it

Enlightening

The narrator has such a calming yet penetrating voice. perfect for this subject matter. I enjoyed learning more of the theories and methods behind Waldorf schools that I can implement with the children around me. The author really explained things in a way that made sense and gave plenty of suggestions to practice what she teaches.

The best child development book!

I highly recommend this book to all parents who feel there is more to the child upbringing than what the modern world forces us to think.
It will give you insight in how the simplest things (like colors) effect the childs development.
Also, the narrator is very, very pleasant to listen to.

I just ordered a hard copy too, this has become a bible to our family! :)

Beneficial, but could be modified

Very informative and helpful book. One of my gripes is how the author regularly uses specific pronouns like when they repeated refer to the child as ‘she’. My other gripe is how this book is specifically geared towards parents. I’m in an early childhood class and do not have children of my own so I’d prefer if this book was more general to who is helping nurture the child whether they are the parent or other.

a must for conscious parents

As I was listening to this book I kept thinking how much I wish I knew the information shared here when my son was born. But better later than never, this book has changed my approach to parenting in many circumstances. I highly recommend it for ALL parents.

Great book

this is a great book and a must to read for every parent. no question.

Better books out there

I love Waldorf. I can’t say I feel the same of this book. The specific information in here Is very dogmatic and even patronizing. The reader’s voice almost talks down to the audience. A very strange choice for a reader indeed. I recommend Simplicity Parenting if you are looking for a Waldorf based book that offers sound helpful positive practical advice. This book is really bothersome and silly!

Ruined by an Antivax chapter

The book is decent, almost good, but it had to include one chapter about vaccinations where it took an antivax stance and ruined everything for me.