Best selling author, Dr. Deborah MacNamara, shares developmental science, personal stories and experiences to make sense of kids for parents, professionals, and educators.
Rest, Play, Grow:
Making Sense of Preschoolers (or anyone who acts like one)
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 kindergartener 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 14 LANGUAGES
“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
“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 PARTENTING MAGAZINE
