• Brain Rules for Baby

  • How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five
  • By: John Medina
  • Narrated by: John Medina
  • Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,113 ratings)

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Brain Rules for Baby  By  cover art

Brain Rules for Baby

By: John Medina
Narrated by: John Medina
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Publisher's summary

What’s the single most important thing you can do during pregnancy? What does watching TV do to a child’s brain? What’s the best way to handle temper tantrums? Scientists know.

In his New York Times best seller Brain Rules, Dr. John Medina told us how our brains really work—and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools. Now, in Brain Rules for Baby, he shares what the latest science says about how to raise smart and happy children from zero to 5. This book is destined to revolutionize parenting. Just one of the surprises: The best way to get your children into the college of their choice? Teach them impulse control.

Brain Rules for Baby bridges the gap between what scientists know and what parents practice. Through fascinating and funny stories, Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and dad, unravels how a child’s brain develops--and what you can do to optimize it.You will view your children—and how to raise them—in a whole new light.

You’ll learn:

  • Where nature ends and nurture begins
  • Why men should do more household choresWhat you do when emotions run hot affects how your child turns out
  • TV is harmful for children under 2
  • Your child’s ability to relate to others predicts her future math performance
  • Smart and happy are inseparable
  • Pursuing your child’s intellectual success at the expense of his happiness achieves neither
  • Praising effort is better than praising intelligence
  • The best predictor of academic performance is not IQ. It’s self control
  • What you do right now—before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and through the first five years—will affect your children for the rest of their lives.

Brain Rules for Baby is an indispensable guide.

©2010 John Medina (P)2010 Pear Press

What listeners say about Brain Rules for Baby

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good content

I liked what was being said bit feel the reader was a buddy a few beers in at the sports bar. (Pretty sure the reader even passes gas at 10:20 of Chapter 6).

Good content though that I found useful.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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THE Rule Book of baby brains

This book is based on research and facts. It also makes absolute sense regardless. It opened my eyes and helped me understand the nature of children. It has given me endless patience by helping me understand the reasons children do what they do. My relationship with my partner has also improved a lot. I love this book and try to base my parenting style as much as I can on the rules laid out in the book. Our daughter is just over two and is happy, well behaved, loving, etc etc. I've learned from this book that the word 'no' works best when it's not used! Our daughter is a delight and we are sooo looking forward to meeting our next baby due next year.

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    1 out of 5 stars

Not good to listen to.

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

The author didt't get my attention with his speaking, it`s just so bad to listen to.

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excellent book ..wow. and as much credit need to

the.reader as the author. great humor throughout and funny examples. learned a lot. went through this lengthy audio at least twice. it could have been ugly with a monotone kind of reader but this guy made a very technical book enjoyable

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A must read for every parent

Well written, honest, witty and spot on! We already lead with empathy in our home but when you parent with more clarity and defined terms you learn things about yourself and your child. I truly love this book. It makes sense and is easy to apply. Key points are repeated and summarized which makes it easy to follow. It is refreshing, warming, and almost healing to learn to relate, explain, and empathize with your child and family. The desire is to to be understood not "fixed".

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Detailed and Useful Information

Detailed and useful information backed up by research. Presented in a light-hearted, understanding manner. Definitely recommend.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

One of the better baby books out there

If you can get past the stories and quotes he pulls from the web forum (never a good idea) there are is sound science and easily digestible kernels of wisdom in abundance.

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A Must Read for Parents-To-Be, No-Kidding

"Brain Rules for Baby" was a delightful surprise. This author teaches the reader about brain development in the womb and throughout the first five years of life. He is able to relay this information simply, concisely and with well documented research. He also teaches about how brain development is affected by parenting styles and presents simple rules to help parents understand what their babies need in order to develop optimally; both happily and healthily. Dr. Medina documents his research sources throughout this well-developed thorough study while he also manages to present his suggestions with humility and personality. I highly recommend this book for parents-to-be, current parents of little children, as well as to teachers, social workers and therapists. It is beautifully accessible and simply written. My only caution is that the first chapter focuses on brain development in the womb which I did find a bit tedious. I ended up skipping over parts of the first chapter and was so glad that I stayed with it because I learned so much. In fact, I ended up buying the kindle version also so that I can refer to the rules and reasons for his suggestions.

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every parent should hear this

opened my eyes to so many things. going to listen to again and again since there is so much good information. make my husband listen too!

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Useful information

I loved brain rules, brain rules for baby also delivered. Medina shares his expertise about baby brain development, parenting, and behavior.

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