The Magic Years Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood
The Magic Years Understanding and Handling the Problems of Early Childhood
To a small child, the world is an exciting but sometimes frightening and unstable place. In The Magic Years, Selma Fraiberg takes the reader into the mind of the child, showing how he confronts the world and learns to cope with it. With great warmth and perception, she discusses the problems at each stage of development and reveals the qualities — above all, the quality of understanding — that can provide the right answer at critical moments.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A Bible for the First-Time Parent
Read this book not from cover to cover but by chapter as the child reaches the age described in the chapter. Parental instincts are important, but the information contained in this book goes beyond that, into the effects of the psychological and physical development of the child at each stage of life.
5 Stars A Must Have Resource for Parents Interested in their Baby’s and Young Child’s Emotional and Mental Development
I first read this book 28 years ago when my daughter was born. I didn’t remember the whole name nor the author, but I had read it several times, and it made such a lasting impression on me that I did remember the words “The Magic Years”. I was very glad to see it’s still in print. Now I’m going to send it to a niece who just had a baby. There are many books about the physical sequence of development in babies and toddlers and how to enhance each stage of development but none addresses their mental and social development and needs as completely as this book does. Unfortunately for babies and young children, adults tend to view their mental and social development from an adult’s perspective. This can result in a lot of misinterpretations and misunderstandings regarding a baby’s or young child’s behavior. What I remember most about this book is that unlike any other book it enabled me to see the world from a baby’s and very young child’s point of view. It vividly describes what adjusting to and living in our world is like for babies amd young children and enables parents to see the world from their perspective. The result is parents who understand their baby’s and young child’s behavior and who can then react to and influence it positively instead of negatively. The book is not for those who want an easy to read, quick, month by month synopsis of their baby’s development. But for the parents who want a thorough understanding of their baby’s or young child’s mental & social development and needs and who want to do their best to meet these needs, it’s a resource unlike any other: a resource I’ve remembered for 28 years and one I would highly recommend.
5 Stars Essential Parent Reading
What a fantastic read - hard to believe it was written over 40 years ago! It is still as relevant today as it was then. My son is almost 2 and it is interesting to see the way that she describes what he is experiencing as he starts to be more aware of everything around him. The book is broken into several chapters highlighting 0-18 months, 18 months-3 years old and 3-6 years old plus some additional topical subjects such as potty training. As I read it, I had several “ah-ha” moments as to why my son did certain things along with ideas to cope with some of the issues one may face with a toddler. This is a great addition to any parent’s bookshelf.
4 Stars Very technical. Not for the lay person…like me.
This is a very well respected manuscript, but if you are a parent looking for answers, this is probably not your book. Its written for other professionals. It’s pretty dry and hard to read. I was looking for something geared a little more towards parents trying to solve the every day problems we face raising our children. But this is more of an “industry” book and reads somewhat like a textbook.
5 Stars Well worth reading
Of the twenty or so books on parenting I read after our first daughter was born, I recommend this one to friends most often. Based on research, well written and with almost no redundant material, this book helped me understand psychological development of our child very much. Two more books I would readily recommend are Haim G Ginott’s Between Parent and Child and Kathy Hirsh-Pasek’s Einstein Never Used Flash Cards.
Filed under: Parenting Books