Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded): How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five

Brain Rules for Baby (Updated and Expanded): How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five

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  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-05-01 07:52:11
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:John Medina
  • ISBN:0983263388
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

What’s the single most important thing you can do during pregnancy? What does watching TV do to a child’s brain? What’s the best way to handle temper tantrums? Scientists know。

In his New York Times bestseller Brain Rules, Dr。 John Medina showed us how our brains really work—and why we ought to redesign our workplaces and schools。 Now, in Brain Rules for Baby, he shares what the latest science says about how to raise smart and happy children from zero to five。 This book is destined to revolutionize parenting。 Just one of the surprises: The best way to get your children into the college of their choice? Teach them impulse control。

Brain Rules for Baby bridges the gap between what scientists know and what parents practice。 Through fascinating and funny stories, Medina, a developmental molecular biologist and dad, unravels how a child’s brain develops – and what you can do to optimize it。

You will view your children—and how to raise them—in a whole new light。 You’ll learn:

Where nature ends and nurture begins
Why men should do more household chores
What you do when emotions run hot affects how
your baby turns out, because babies need to feel safe
above all
TV is harmful for children under 2
Your child’s ability to relate to others predicts her
future math performance
Smart and happy are inseparable。 Pursuing your child’s
intellectual success at the expense of his happiness
achieves neither
Praising effort is better than praising intelligence
The best predictor of academic performance is not
IQ。 It’s self-control
What you do right now—before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and through the first five years—will affect your children for the rest of their lives。 Brain Rules for Baby is an indispensable guide。

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Reviews

Rūta Daukšienė

Ją tiesiog privalu perskaityti kiekvienam auginančiam vaikus ar jų besilaukiančiam。 Manau, kad ją turi perskaityti abu tėvai。 Pirmieji skyriai tiesiog „susikramtė“ per pusdienį。 Info pateikiama paprastai, logiškai, argumentuotai ir suprantamai。

Nikhil Jindal

Author has divided the book into good section with clear repetition of the key points。 As expected, book does not try to be some magic bullet but some directives based on available research data。

Eugenio Lojero

Un libro que invariablemente recomiendo a todas mis amistades en cuanto me entero que esperan un bebé。Ameno y bien documentado。

Maureen

On seeing the title for this book I assumed it would be a manual for awful, pushy parents on how to raise a child genius but after seeing it recommended on several forums and reading the positive reviews I decided to give it a go。 I didn't like every aspect of this book (the recommendation to breastfeed for at least a year isn't possible for every mother and baby) but overall I really liked the book's ethos and advice。 Rather than raising a genius the focus of the book was how to raise a happy, On seeing the title for this book I assumed it would be a manual for awful, pushy parents on how to raise a child genius but after seeing it recommended on several forums and reading the positive reviews I decided to give it a go。 I didn't like every aspect of this book (the recommendation to breastfeed for at least a year isn't possible for every mother and baby) but overall I really liked the book's ethos and advice。 Rather than raising a genius the focus of the book was how to raise a happy, empathic child。 I thought the advice given was practical and useful (particularly with regards to discipline) and will keep it in mind when I have my own child。 。。。more

Amanda

Really appealed to my nerd brain! I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t more applicable tips in some places though。 For example, executive function is the most important thing to make sure your child learns - okay。。。how do I do that?

Tal Allweil

A must-read for parents, and really non-parents too, as many of the issues adults face begin in childhood。 Diligently researched, easy to read, and practical, this offers invaluable advice to the parent of how best to steward, guide, and accompany their budding individuals to becoming their best selves。 The one thing I would say is that the book states it's for parents of children 0 - 5。。。 I feel it's perfectly applicable for older children as well, as (again) many issues originate in early/chil A must-read for parents, and really non-parents too, as many of the issues adults face begin in childhood。 Diligently researched, easy to read, and practical, this offers invaluable advice to the parent of how best to steward, guide, and accompany their budding individuals to becoming their best selves。 The one thing I would say is that the book states it's for parents of children 0 - 5。。。 I feel it's perfectly applicable for older children as well, as (again) many issues originate in early/childhood and are still served by understanding those origins。 The book also has lots of good advice for new parents, as parental and relationship health is integral to raising a child。 Very comfortably 5 stars! 。。。more

Rory Armstrong

Lots of good tips and ideas for helping raise intelligent and moral kids。Good for reflecting on your own parenting skills and how you can improve。

Jesse

I've sought out various literature in child development over the past year or two, particularly as an educator with an interest in being an effective educator。 Obviously, this book is focused more on babies, and parenting, but also has effective nuggets of wisdom for anyone working with youngsters。 And probably even helps for those working with children above this age group as it provides context。 Having said thst, it's mostly geared toward parents。And I have to say, it is a wonderful read。 This I've sought out various literature in child development over the past year or two, particularly as an educator with an interest in being an effective educator。 Obviously, this book is focused more on babies, and parenting, but also has effective nuggets of wisdom for anyone working with youngsters。 And probably even helps for those working with children above this age group as it provides context。 Having said thst, it's mostly geared toward parents。And I have to say, it is a wonderful read。 This is one of the absolute books I've read so far in its category。 Medina's knowledge, as well as his fairness and objectivity in approaching various literature makes this a detailed and insightful read。 Also, he obviously loves children, and this comes up a lot in his style of reading, which will make the reader smile。He has several great recommendations。 The ones I found most interesting were:Talk to children a lot! Verbalize the things you're doing even with a baby。 It will increase their vocabulary by a significant margin。 Play。 Games can increase the imagination as well as help navigate rules, social cues, friendship building。 Cardboard boxes are fun。 Often more fun than the expensive toys housed inside。 Promote opportunities to make friends。 Friendship predicts childhood happiness。 Name and describe emotions experienced。 Verbalize emotions。 This builds emotional intelligence。 Music lessons or singingessons (or both) should be a regular part of children's experiences for most of their childhood。 This will develop a number of attributes within them and will even help promote empathy。 People who make $100,000+ are not happier。 But up to $50,000, money buys happiness (safety, shelter, etc。) So, parents need not be wealthy。 And they need not worry about their child working for a fortune 500 company in the future to be happy。 The person will be happy if they have a job they enjoy that pays decently。 But more money will not mean more happiness。 Compliment the process of producing good work, not the result。 Not fixed mind thinking。 Not "wow you're so smart, " instead, "wow, you worked really hard at this!"Kids do best with parents who are demanding AND warm。 (Teachers could take note, too。) Make rules clear。 Write down and make public as necessary。 Yes means yes, no means no。 Praise when child follows rules。 And praise the absence of a bad behavior like not yelling in a restaurant。 Explain the rationale of rules! Explanations lead to moral internalization。 Also more likely they follow rules they understand the basis for。 Punishment should be consistent, immediate, safe (!!!) , and should come with patience and tolerance。 Read togetherDon't over parent。 Your three yead old doesn't have to be an expert of Chinese mandarin etc。Enjoy the journey! 。。。more

Fernanda Sá

Um dos melhores livros sobre crianças! Com dicas práticas, muitos exemplos, achei interessante e certamente recomendo para quem já tem ou quem pensa em ter filhos。

Lala

An insightful, heart-warming, informative and enjoyable read! Highly recommended for parents-to-be 💚

Alex Vanhoudt

Based on evidence but still rooted in reality。 I can even forgive him for being a Husky。

Tintinnabula

Perdonerete questa recensione, che in realtà è più uno sfogo。 Bisognerebbe dare un premio, o almeno una pacca sulla spalla, a tutti i genitori che leggono questi libri da cima a fondo senza sentire il desiderio di dargli fuoco。 Perché, diciamocelo, questo genere di letteratura per genitori è progettata per farti sentire inetto, inadeguato, a volte pure delinquente。 Anche questo volume non fa altro che dirti “vuoi che il tuo pargolo sia felice, sereno, intelligente e non diventi un serial killer? Perdonerete questa recensione, che in realtà è più uno sfogo。 Bisognerebbe dare un premio, o almeno una pacca sulla spalla, a tutti i genitori che leggono questi libri da cima a fondo senza sentire il desiderio di dargli fuoco。 Perché, diciamocelo, questo genere di letteratura per genitori è progettata per farti sentire inetto, inadeguato, a volte pure delinquente。 Anche questo volume non fa altro che dirti “vuoi che il tuo pargolo sia felice, sereno, intelligente e non diventi un serial killer? È sufficiente che tu faccia così e cosà!”。 Semplicissimo, se non fosse che così implica avere 18 ore libere al giorno, cosà avere una casa di 250 mq。 Credo che la cosa che mi resterà più impressa, nel mare di informazioni scientifiche e utili che questo libro fornisce, sarà che quest’uomo ha dedicato 50 mq della sua casa come spazio gioco dei bambini。 Ok, sento se il bilocale a fianco è libero。 Lo so che sono indicazioni generiche, che andrebbero contestualizzate, ma il tono paternalistico e spesso perentorio dicono altrimenti。 Lodate quanto meno il mio impegno, che così facendo, come dice l’autore, aumentate del 50% la mia capacità di risolvere problemi matematici。 。。。more

Bohdan Horbai

Те, що треба для раціональних батьків на етапі очікування народження дитини。 Ні, ну правда, книжка дуже добре відповідає на етичне питання "Як виховувати, щоб розвивати дитину та не зашкодити?“。 Так, вона не тільки про мозок, але вона відкриває, застосовуючи певний рівень доказової бази, механізми успішного виховання。 Спойлер - вся справа знову ж таки у емпатії)) Те, що треба для раціональних батьків на етапі очікування народження дитини。 Ні, ну правда, книжка дуже добре відповідає на етичне питання "Як виховувати, щоб розвивати дитину та не зашкодити?“。 Так, вона не тільки про мозок, але вона відкриває, застосовуючи певний рівень доказової бази, механізми успішного виховання。 Спойлер - вся справа знову ж таки у емпатії)) 。。。more

Jaime

Some great concrete and science-backed parenting advice。 I felt it overlapped well with other books I've read, both on parenting and on human psychology。In particular, the suggestions on how to help your child build empathy (and the importance of this) strongly reminded me of similar advice from "Nonviolent Communication" (for adult relationships) and "Parent Effectiveness Training"。---Notes for my own future reference (paraphrased from the extremely helpful summary at the end of the book): Br Some great concrete and science-backed parenting advice。 I felt it overlapped well with other books I've read, both on parenting and on human psychology。In particular, the suggestions on how to help your child build empathy (and the importance of this) strongly reminded me of similar advice from "Nonviolent Communication" (for adult relationships) and "Parent Effectiveness Training"。---Notes for my own future reference (paraphrased from the extremely helpful summary at the end of the book): Brain Rules:- pregnancy: happy mom, happy baby,- relationship: start with empathy- smart baby: feeling safe enables learning。 face time, not screen time- happy baby: labelling emotions calms big feelings。 make friends- moral baby: firm discipline, warm heart- sleepy baby: test before you invest Practical Tips:Pregnancy:- leave baby alone at first (first half)- extra 300 calories (malnourished babies -> smaller brains)- fruits & veggies (flavor programming)- 30 min aerobic exercise- reduce stressRelationships:- reconstitute the tribe: babies not meant to be raised alone。 need help- work on marriage:--+ daily check-in--+ schedule sex--+ empathy reflex (bridge gap between intentions and behavior)--+ reconcile deliberately (in front of kids)--+ balance housework- find mental health professional nowSmart Baby:- breastfeed for 1+ year- describe everything you see (talk a lot!)- "chocolate factory" playroom, especially arts- "tools of the mind" play plan - make a plan for how you're going to play, then do it- don't hyper parent- watch own behavior:--1。 make list of regular habits & behaviors--2。 rate them, decide if you'd want your kids to emulate--3。 do something (to change your own habits)- recognize effort, not achievement: say "wow you worked hard"Happy Baby:- notice emotional cues (baby can get overstimulated)- make friends of same age- speculate aloud on others' points of views (build empathy)- read together- develop empathy reflex:--1。 describe emotion you think you see--2。 guess where it came from- practice verbalizing feelings- 10 years of music lessons- guide towards $50k/yr jobMoral Baby:- C。A。P。 rules: Clarity (e。g。 write down & post rules), Acceptance, Praise- explain rationale behind rule -> moral internalization- effective punishment F。I。R。S。T。:--+ Firm (& aversive)--+ Immediate--+ Reliable (every time)--+ Safe--+ Tolerant (takes time to have effect)Sleepy Baby:- wait for "quiet sleep": when baby first falls asleep it is "active sleep" and they are easily roused 。。。more

Stijn

Great tips and objective information about what helps raising kids。

Kipras Kretavicius

The only book on parenting that I have read cover to cover。 Must read to all parents。

Kristiyan Bonev

Not sure if that was "Hot to raise a kid" or "Analyse how you were raised", cause I've been doing mainly the latter lol。This book is thoroughly enjoyable and I would go as far as to say that it really doesn't matter if you're expecting a baby。 Just get it and read it。 It is brilliantly curious and helpful。I think I got more tips on how to be a better person, friend and husband and also on how to connect and communicate superior way。 Literally the baby stuff was secondary to me。 I constantly made Not sure if that was "Hot to raise a kid" or "Analyse how you were raised", cause I've been doing mainly the latter lol。This book is thoroughly enjoyable and I would go as far as to say that it really doesn't matter if you're expecting a baby。 Just get it and read it。 It is brilliantly curious and helpful。I think I got more tips on how to be a better person, friend and husband and also on how to connect and communicate superior way。 Literally the baby stuff was secondary to me。 I constantly made parallel with my upbringing and which methods shaped me。 Or which methods worked well and the ones which did quite the opposite。 I got explanation on the times my relationship with a family member fell out or how it could be repaired。 It was easy to relate to the whole content。The thing I most loved about this book was that science and nature made a perfect match。 The things science knew and John Medina quoted were in perfect balance with the logical ways of nature。 I will keep with me the quote on "Asking him: how do I get my son in Harvard? - Answer: Do you wanna know, do you really wanna know?! Well, go home and love your wife"。It makes sense doesn't it。 And not only that but ain't that why you are having this kid anyway? That's what I mean by nature and science being in balance。 The kid should (imo) be the product of your love with someone and that same love is the best nutrition for the kid。 It goes a long way。Now off to start re-reading it on paper as I listened to that one, but need to go over it a few more times for the concepts to get well instilled。 。。。more

Georgiana

Great insight into first steps of having a babyWriter is concise and gives a lot of real world examples besides the scientific studies。 It's a nice rrad end to end。 I especially enjoyed real-world use-cases and end of chapter summaries。 Great insight into first steps of having a babyWriter is concise and gives a lot of real world examples besides the scientific studies。 It's a nice rrad end to end。 I especially enjoyed real-world use-cases and end of chapter summaries。 。。。more

Shajila Aziz

I found this really interesting but even though it says for upto 5 years, I'd actually recommend this for those who are considering children or in pregnancy to enable you to reap max results as the beginning focuses a lot on the importance of a healthy mother father relationship- and it emphasises it in a very powerful and scary way with startling studies and facts。 At some points I did question some of the anectodes of the writer - they do seem a bit too good (corny?) To be true but who knows。 I found this really interesting but even though it says for upto 5 years, I'd actually recommend this for those who are considering children or in pregnancy to enable you to reap max results as the beginning focuses a lot on the importance of a healthy mother father relationship- and it emphasises it in a very powerful and scary way with startling studies and facts。 At some points I did question some of the anectodes of the writer - they do seem a bit too good (corny?) To be true but who knows。 。。。more

Jekaterina Kaliniene

If I had to choose just 1 parenting book to read - would be this one。 Science-based recommendations on the key topics。 Loved it。

Jonathan Mckay

15th book of 2020: Science Says。。。 Emotions Matter Parenting is about brain development。 This isn't a science, it's an art。 Yet like most toddler 'artists', we parents don't have much experience or instruction, making our art something only a parent could love。 Indeed, beyond our own children, most of our experience with parenting is the n=1 exercise of remembering what our parents did for us。 So even if parenting is an art, I'd like to rely on the science。 Unlike Expecting Better (https://ww 15th book of 2020: Science Says。。。 Emotions Matter Parenting is about brain development。 This isn't a science, it's an art。 Yet like most toddler 'artists', we parents don't have much experience or instruction, making our art something only a parent could love。 Indeed, beyond our own children, most of our experience with parenting is the n=1 exercise of remembering what our parents did for us。 So even if parenting is an art, I'd like to rely on the science。 Unlike Expecting Better (https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。), which takes an economist-skeptic's view of things that parents shouldn't do, brain-rules takes a credulous approach to the meagre state of the literature when it comes to parenting and what matters to kids。 From the author, Studies must have been published in the literature and successfully replicated。 like What's Going on In There (https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。), the author also takes an overly credulous approach to the studies cited, but as a broad understanding of what science can tell us, Brain Rules for Baby is excellent。 Medina summarizes the studies, and provides the frameworks in an actionable bulletized list。 Just what the parent-scientist *ahem* parent-artist in me would like to read。 For intelligence, Medina lists seven key ingredients。 This is like a stew: There were only two ingredients needed to pull off the soup。 One was the quality of the meat, the other was the quality of the gravy。 。。。 like mom's stew, human intelligence has two essential ingredients: memory and improvisation。 But there are 5 additional elements that are critical to overall intelligence: 1。 Desire to explore, 2。 self control, 3。 creativity, 4。 verbal communication, and 5。 non-verbal communication。 Medina goes through studies on how mental development from learning ASL (results look good, but not replicated), to Tools of the Mind program (further studies are less promising than the ones Medina cites)。 Perhaps what I appreciate the most throughout the book is the subtle turning of attention from raw intelligence to teaching children about relationships: Human learning, in it's most native state, is primarily a relational exercise。 Of course it's not that simple, everything in the brain is connected in one way or another, even vocabulary relies on motor skills: infants did not develop sophisticated vocabulary until their fine motor finger coordination improved。 To discuss helping kids have a happy life, Medina relies on Vaillant's analysis (https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。) which focuses on the quality of relationships, and Medina and even provides a compact framework for what happiness is: 3 Definitions of Happiness: 1。 Emotional Happiness (transient)2。 Moral Happiness (intertwined with virtue, eudaimonia)3。 Judgemental Happiness (happy about a specific think)This is achieved through following Gottman's principles (https://www。goodreads。com/book/show/1。。。) on meta-emotional attitudes: Positive meta-emotional attitudes: a。 Do not judge emotionsb。 acknowledge the reflexive nature of emotions。 c。 acknowledge that behavior is a choice, even though emotion is notd。 they see a crisis as a teachable moment。 The best way to help children have positive relationships? Demonstrate to them what a positive relationship is, reconcile deliberately and demonstrate empathy。 Learning to make friends takes years of practice。 Brain Rules for Baby is also the first book that actually tells me in context what it means to be an authoritative parent: a combination of having high standards, along with being responsive to children's needs。 For reference, the 'four types' of parenting styles that are highly predictive of children's outcomes and line are: 1。 Authoritarian: Unresponsive + demanding2。 Indulgent: Responsive + undemanding3。 Neglectful: Unresponsive + undemanding4。 Authoritative: Responsive + Demanding I just wish that every book on parenting had this framework, and the science supporting it, in the preface。 Yet here I am, 15 books into my parenting journey and this is the first time I've come across it。 There were a few more useful frameworks that I wanted to include, but it's better just to reread this book in a few years。 There's still plenty of the art to learn, but I'm happy to have some evidence as a canvas to start painting。 。。。more

Ervin Szerdocz

I had higher expectations of this book, but it still delivered for me a good amount。I especially liked how the book ended, with a recap and a lot of other practical advices。 I felt that I can "take some home" towards the end, whereas most of the time the information was just a "filler", converging into a solid point。 I had higher expectations of this book, but it still delivered for me a good amount。I especially liked how the book ended, with a recap and a lot of other practical advices。 I felt that I can "take some home" towards the end, whereas most of the time the information was just a "filler", converging into a solid point。 。。。more

Аліна

дуже крута книжка, написана простою мовою, про розвиток дітей。 рекомендувала би читати ще під час вагітності

Androniki

Interesting points to consider, not all backed thoroughly by science with some contradicting points from other books。 At the same time, what stayed with me the most is that parenting is a process where we don’t only teach but also learn and grow ourselves

J。C。 Harker

An interesting listen。 Some new things, some I'd already known。 I did find the chapter on handling emotions very useful。 Naming emotions others feel (whether it is your spouse or your child) rather than reacting to them or punishing the child straight away for lashing out seems like a great technique。 An interesting listen。 Some new things, some I'd already known。 I did find the chapter on handling emotions very useful。 Naming emotions others feel (whether it is your spouse or your child) rather than reacting to them or punishing the child straight away for lashing out seems like a great technique。 。。。more

Sándor Iváncsics

Very well written, combining scientific facts with practical tips。 The author conveyes the information with the right verbosity! Ejoyed reading

Logan Trimble

This book had a lot of useful information on brain development and the best ways to encourage your kid to grow up smart, happy, and moral (all of these include a good amount of emotional awareness and development)。 However, there were a few parts that seemed to be begging for further discussion that just never happened。

Isabel Giraldo

It's a good message from a neurologist to parents who are looking for methods to train your baby to be smart and happy- that although books and activities may help, the biggest results come from the child feeling loved and secure in a mentally healthy and supportive environment。 It's a good message from a neurologist to parents who are looking for methods to train your baby to be smart and happy- that although books and activities may help, the biggest results come from the child feeling loved and secure in a mentally healthy and supportive environment。 。。。more

Skaistė

Įdomi knyga, tik gal kiek sudėtinga dėl daugybės mokslinių detalių。 Skaičiau apie pusę nuosekliai ir toliau jau probėgšmiais。 Gal kada ateityje pasiimsiu perskaityti vėl。

Lorraine

Good。 Nothing new though。 Written in 2010, so not surprised within 10 years this info is out there。