Recommended Reading

Members of the Bookstart team take a look at some different books on babies and parenting.

How Babies Think by Gopnik, Meitzoff and Kuhl

Why Love Matters by Sue Gerhardt

They F*** You Up by Oliver James

How Babies Think by Alison Gopnik, Andrew Meitzoff and Patricia Kuhl

This book is an excellent introduction to understanding the way babies and small children view the world. The authors take the time to remind readers that although babies are individuals, they have perceptions about the world—they are constantly absorbing information and analyzing and interpreting it to draw their own conclusions. The authors take the time to clearly explain the thought process and how babies acquire knowledge. Plenty of case studies and anecdotal evidence make the science of infant brain development accessible and easy to understand.  

The book follows a logical path starting with background information about the different views of infant development over the years. The first chapters then describe what children know about people, things and language. The final half of the book addresses what scientists have learned about children’s minds and brains before a concluding chapter that puts the book into context by addressing ways which this research has been applied and also by suggesting further directions.

I would recommend this book to both parents and professionals. Parents will find the book enlightening as a way of understanding what their baby knows about the world and how they are learning this. Professionals will find helpful theories, research and explanations which can underline their practice and further the field of infant development. This book is an excellent resource for both parents and professionals. (Tracy Lowe)

Why Love Matters: How affection shapes a baby’s brain by Sue Gerhardt

Common sense tells us that once the basics of food, water, hygiene and warmth are taken care of the best thing we can do for babies is love them.  We need to talk to them, sing to them, play with them, laugh with them and hug and cuddle them every day, not forgetting of course, sharing the joy of beautiful picture books and stories with them.

As with most common sense theories, the academics and researchers are just catching up and are finally converging together to agree that all of these early interactions, and even our pre-birth experiences, are hugely important to the development of children and that these early experiences stay with us and impact highly on our adult life.

Sue Gerhardt’s book helps us lay-people to break through all of the academic jargon and understand the influence and importance of those early years from post birth up to age three, specifically on the physical development of the brain and the influence that early social interaction has been proven to have.

A fascinating read for any current or future parent, or those working with young children and parents. (Caroline McLeod)

Official Why Love Matters Website

They F*** You Up by Oliver James

Having read Gerhardt’s book you may wish to try a more controversial offering, by Oliver James.  James provides the reader with the opportunity to explore the influence of their own childhood on their current behaviour as adults.  James’ style makes for very easy reading, being lighter on the detailed research than Gerhardt.  James provides actual examples and insights from various people’s lives, including interesting tales from his own childhood and mixes this in with a light overview of relevant research.  The book provides an emotional audit at the end of each chapter, which will require real commitment to complete.  However, even if you do not undertake these self reflective evaluations, you will still come away with a better understanding of the importance of our earliest experiences and relationship with our parents.

Rather than viewing this book as a “pass the buck” approach to dealing with our emotional trauma, it should be viewed as a thought provoking read on the huge influence that we, as parents, have over our children’s development. (Caroline McLeod)