Books
When Molly accidentally breaks a balloon she and her sister Lucy have found, Lucy demands an apology. But, as Molly describes in fanciful, imaginative scenarios, her sorries are all gone: hiding under the bed, down the sink, off to Paris on the Sorry Plane.
As their mother explains, we can’t say sorry if we don’t have any sorries in us. But when your sorries return, as Molly’s eventually do, we can given them to others.
Brilliantly illustrated with captivating images by artist Zoe Is, The Sorry Plane carries a profound message about the importance of connecting with our authentic emotions. It highlights how a good sorry is one you mean from the heart and how adults can preserve a child’s caring spirit.
The Sorry Plane bears the Neufeld Institute Recommended seal which highlights children’s literature that is congruent with developmental science as well as with the relational-developmental approach articulated by Dr. Gordon Neufeld, PhD. www.neufeldinstitute.org
What readers say about The Sorry Plane …
It is my hope that The Sorry Plane lands in every home with children as it delivers such insight into the value and importance of giving and receiving a heartfelt sorry when the time is right.
– Bridgett Miller, Early Childhood Educator
A simple yet powerful message of faith in the developmental process and in the virtue of patience to allow Nature to do its wonderful work with our children.
–Gordon Neufeld, Psychologist and Director, Neufeld Institute
The Sorry Plane so eloquently shows us why it is important to give children lots of time to process all of their emotions. When Molly’s “sorry” came back, it was heartfelt and authentic!
–Eva de Gosztonyi, Psychologist
This is a beautifully illustrated story that will soften the hearts of children and help them find their true feelings. All teachers and parents should read this book to their students or children.
–David McFall, Elementary School Principal
Deborah has a beautiful way of translating a child’s thoughts and emotions in a kind, generous, and nurturing way. Sometimes saying sorry is hard. It challenges us to admit we made a mistake, had an accident, or maybe even did something wrong. Giving children the space and grace to come to their own sorry ensures that the child doesn’t feel the pain of vulnerability or shame. The Sorry Plane is perfectly sweet and has a way of teaching that sometimes it takes time to find our sorries. We can all learn from this!
–Traci Costa, CEO and Founder, Peekaboo Beans
The Sorry Plane will inspire children and parents to honour the time it takes to face feelings, especially difficult ones involving regret or embarrassment, with encouraging words and delightful illustrations. Dr. MacNamara uses caring, developmentally sensitive language to help children see that it’s alright to take the time to reflect and figure out how to repair inevitable relational mishaps. This is a truly valuable book that all children can relate to.
–Mona Delahooke, PhD, Child Psychologist and Author
The Sorry Plane is available through online retailers, and your favourite bookstore.
Based on the work of one of the world’s foremost child development experts, Rest, Play, Grow offers a road map to making sense of young children, and is what every toddler, preschooler, and kindergartner wished we understood about them.
Baffling and beloved, with the capacity to go from joy to frustration in seconds, young children are some of the most misunderstood people on the planet. Parents and caregivers struggle with these little ones, who are known for their extreme behaviour, from tantrums, resistance, and aggression to separation anxiety, bedtime protests, and not listening. The key to understanding youngsters lies in realizing that their challenging behaviour is not personal, nor is it a disorder or deficit.
Based on science and the relational developmental approach of renowned psychologist and bestselling author Gordon Neufeld, Rest, Play, Grow reveals how adults have a critical role to play in creating the conditions for young children to flourish. This is the story of how young children develop, from their intense need for attachment and the vital importance of play to discipline that preserves growth. Engagingly written, with compassion for its subjects and rich with stories from them and their parents, Rest, Play, Grow will forever change the way you think of the preschoolers in your life.
Rest, Play, Grow has been translated into 9 languages, Estonian, Danish, French, German, Korean, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish, and Russian. It is also available in English in audiobook and Kobo or Kindle.
Rest, Play, Grow Questions for Book Clubs and Professional Development Groups
- Available in Canadian bookstores including:
Banyen BooksKidsBooksAMAZONBarnes and Noble Chapters/IndigoMosaic Books
Reviews of Rest, Play, Grow
This book is a tribute to not only Deborah’s giftedness but also to her absolute driving conviction that the insights regarding relationship and development must get out to those who are responsible for raising our youngsters… Deborah is wonderfully positioned to tell you this story, taking you from theory to practice. You could not be in better hands.
Gordon Neufeld, PhD, Founder, Neufeld Institute, Co-author, Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More than Peers
Basing her approach in attachment theory and the groundbreaking work of Dr. Gordon Neufeld, Deborah MacNamara has written as essential primer on how to be a parent by making sense of the inner world of children. This book is developmental science translated into practical love.
Gabor Maté, M.D., Co-author, Hold On To Your Kids: Why Parents Need To Matter More Than Peers
This is a must read for every parent of a preschooler or younger. Dr. MacNamara clearly shows the developmental stages of preschoolers so that parents gain a better understanding of the emotional state of the child. It is with this understanding that parenting the preschooler becomes easier. Read this and you will truly be your “kids best bet.”
Kristy Pillinger, Editor-in-Chief, Nurture Parenting Magazine
Reading Rest, Play, Grow brought me to tears, because it reaffirmed my gut instincts as a parent. Deborah translates a child’s language and maturity into an understandable framework, which will you give you that “aha” moment while reading it, and then she supports you with practices to manage the big emotions of children. Rest, Play, Grow combines real science with real life stories, humour, and sensible strategies. Deborah has translated the beautifully chaotic world of being a preschooler. If there is only one book you should read as a parent, this is the one.
Traci Costa, CEO, Peekaboo Beans
As a practicing pediatrician, I spend much of my day listening to parental concerns about their toddlers’ imperfections. “How can I get my child to eat more, sleep better, toilet train faster, behave reasonably, be smart but not outsmart me?”. As I formulate my response, frequently I think of my dear friend, Dr. Deborah MacNamara, and I ask myself, “How would Deborah answer this question?”. I am delighted that she has put all those answers in this wonderful book, full of developmental wisdom and practical advice, on the daily life of maturing toddlers and their evolving parents. This is not a quick-fix script, but, instead, presents a roadmap to better understand this amazing age in all its glorious imperfections.
Keyvan Hadad, MD, MHSc, FRCPC, Medical Director, Intermediate Nursery – BC Women’s Hospital & Clinical Associate Professor, University of British Columbia
Dr. MacNamara’s beautifully written book gently expands the reader’s perspective, providing a different lens for viewing the child, one that both widens and deepens understanding. Bringing richness to Dr. Neufeld’s words and models, she helps the reader to do the work of applying such important theory with their own families. Dr. MacNamara truly has the gift of writing, always grounding concepts in very relatable moments from her life and work as a researcher, professor, counsellor, and, of course, as a parent.
Genevieve Simperingham, Co-founder of the Peaceful Parent Institute.
Finally a book for parents of young children that weds neuroscience and attachment research and is consummately useful! I am certain that Rest, Play, Grow will be the go-to guide for confused and exhausted parents who are receiving mixed messages from professionals and the culture-at-large about how to raise their children. Dr. MacNamara shows us what we have sensed all along: the answers are within us, and we parents are the relationship experts we have been looking for. I guarantee you that Rest, Play, Grow will be your parenting training wheels and that by book’s end you will be navigating your parenting journey with the utmost skill, confidence, and joy!
Sil Reynolds, Co-author of Mothering & Daughtering: Keeping Your Bond Strong Through the Teen Years
Rest, Play, Grow is a refreshing reminder of the importance of slowing down and allowing children to mature at their own pace, unhindered by societal expectations. With insight and sensitivity, Dr. MacNamara guides parents to trust their intuition to provide the conditions for children to grow rather than offering tools for changing behavior. After reading Dr. Deborah MacNamara’s book, embracing a child’s immaturity has never felt so fulfilling or freeing.
Lori Petro, Founder, TEACH through Love
Deborah MacNamara’s book is rich with insights into both the nature of the child and positive parenting. A boon to parents and teachers, Rest, Play, Grow notes the preeminence of early parent-child attachment in optimal development, and it passionately affirms the primary value of play to children’s well being and creativity. Dr. MacNamara is highly attuned to both children’s needs and parental best practices. Read, reflect, share.
Raffi Cavoukian, C.M, singer, author, founder of Centre For Child Honouring.