Trees Make the Best Mobiles: Simple Ways to Raise Your Child in a Complex World

This book reminds readers to do less, listen more, and practice "present parenting" by devoting their full attention to their child, even during what seem like mundane tasks like changing a diaper or getter them dressed. I am a mother of an eight month old and this is one of the best parenting books I have read. It is written for busy (and tired) new parents, with easily-digestible, short chapters. Not a day goes by that I don't heed the advice in the title of the book. Instead of buying an expensive new toy or leaving my baby in an exersaucer, we enjoy the simple things together like looking up at the trees or playing with a collander from my kitchen cabinet!

I have read many books on parenting and usually come away from them feeling more overwhlemed than reassured. Trees Make the Best Mobiles is the exception. We live in a culture that seems to demand MORE-FASTER-BETTER but Jessica Teich and Brandel France de Bravo take issue with that mantra and encourage parents to slow down, listen, act with mindfulness, and throw away the mechanical dolls. The two authors - mothers themselves - offer sensible and creative suggestions that are empowering to both parent and child. I was able to use their advice to bring a bit of calm into my own hectic household and I strongly encourage every new parent-- and old one, too-- to take a look at this terrific book.

This delightful book will reward its readers with wit, wisdom, and a reassuring clarity about the value of parenthood. The authors advocate a refreshing, child-centered approach to child rearing. Their simple, yet vital priorities are reflected in the organization of the book, itself, into brief, concise chapters, which may be browsed or read straight through. I would imagine that even the most harried and sleep-deprived of parents would find this book accessible and easy to read. The authors, who are students of Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) and parents of young children themselves, share thoughtful meditations on a diverse array of parenting topics, from temper tantrums to toilet training. Throughout, they emphasize the fundamental truth that the greatest gift parents can give to children is... themselves. The empathic attunement that a parent who is truly present and "in the moment" can provide is truly priceless to a developing child. To their credit, the authors translate this ideal into a set of pragmatic suggestions for approaching such routine tasks as a diaper change in a more relaxed, unhurried, and mindful manner. Parenting books can overwhelm readers with professional prescriptions that may seem impossible for the average mom and dad to implement on their own. This practical and wise little book serves to remind parents that they already possess the essential tools to successfully nuture and guide their children.

As both a counsellor in behavioural psychology and a mother who has raised three daughters to adulthood, this will be a highly recommended book for those seeking information on parenting. This book could more aptly be called, "Simplifying Parenting and Getting Back to the Basics," for really, that is the theme of the book.It is a natural reaction to want to give children the best of everything; however, many parents (particularly in two-parent households where both parents work outside the home) are overly caught up in a materialistic world. Baby has an ornately designed, expensive bed; toddlers with relatively short attention spans play among brand name, state-of-the-art play centres, and young children start school in designer jeans and jackets. All that is fine if one can afford it, but as a counsellor, I have seen far too many parents sit in front of my desk and say, "How do I keep up? We can't afford this stuff but, you know, the kids need to have it." Well, there is a big difference in the world between what one "wants" and what one actually "needs." This book is an excellent example of setting priorities when it comes to effective parenting. It spells out what a child needs most in life: quality time, love and acceptance. No where does it say that designer jeans rate among the priorities. New parents, particularly, will find this book well worth reading. By getting your child off to a solid start in life, you could be saving you and your child a world of heartache and frustration (not to mention financial difficulties) down the road. It is not the young child who lives in a materialistic world; it is the parent(s), and children learn from examples. This book is highly recommended and worth far more than a five-star rating. Even those parents who truly do live a simplistic life style will have their current ideas reinforced and find plenty of new ideas to contemplate.

Finally, a book that helps parents with the concrete questions, joys and frustrations of parenting--everything from dealing with temper tantrums to how to get kids to put on clothes or participate in solving their own problems. It's never condescending nor preachy, assuming instead that both parents and children are feeling, intelligent people who can be treated as such. What a pleasure. I'm giving this book to every new parent I know--it's spiritual and practical, smart and poetic, easy to read (sometimes I just have time for a page or two, but am never disappointed) but never simplistic. I wish I'd had it earlier!