You Are Your Child's First Teacher

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

By: Rahima Baldwin Dancy

Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi

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

Simply amazing

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

An important book

Overall, loved this book. In a culture that has overemphasized the importance of IQ but neglected spiritual and mental health and intelligence, this book is so needed. There are some perspectives I differ on from the author, but still very much worth reading.

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.

Informative and insightful

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

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.