What's Going on in There? : How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life | 
 enlarge | Author: Lise Eliot
Publisher: Bantam
Category: Book
List Price: $19.00
Buy Used: $7.99
You Save: $11.01 (58%)
New (28) Used (25) Collectible (1) from $7.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  126 reviews
Sales Rank: 2322
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 544
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1
ISBN: 0553378252
Dewey Decimal Number: 155
EAN: 9780553378252
ASIN: 0553378252
Publication Date: October 3, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Some wear around edges but otherwise in great shape.
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Though not for the impatient, What's Going on in There? How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life will undoubtedly make you a better parent. It is thick, detailed, and scientific. But it is also accessible to parents who have the time and patience to immerse themselves in the latest research on brain development. And for those who do, the rewards can be great. You'll understand the inner workings of the brain like never before. You'll learn the latest thinking on the nature vs. nurture question. You'll gain invaluable insights into the evolution of the senses, motor skills, social and emotional growth, memory, language, and intelligence. But most importantly, you'll understand--maybe for the first time--exactly how great your contribution as a parent can be to the development of your young child's brain. Written by Lise Eliot, Ph.D., a neurobiologist and mother of three, What's Going on in There? is an immensely intelligent labor of love. It is based on the author's own "odyssey of discovery" as she sought answers to questions about her own role in carrying, delivering, and parenting her children. --Kelley Smith
Product Description
As a research neuroscientist, Lise Eliot has made the study of the human brain her life's work. But it wasn't until she was pregnant with her first child that she became intrigued with the study of brain development. She wanted to know precisely how the baby's brain is formed, and when and how each sense, skill, and cognitive ability is developed. And just as important, she was interested in finding out how her role as a nurturer can affect this complex process. How much of her baby's development is genetically ordained--and how much is determined by environment? Is there anything parents can do to make their babies' brains work better--to help them become smarter, happier people? Drawing upon the exploding research in this field as well as the stories of real children, What's Going On in There? is a lively and thought-provoking book that charts the brain's development from conception through the critical first five years. In examining the many factors that play crucial roles in that process, What's Going On in There? explores the evolution of the senses, motor skills, social and emotional behaviors, and mental functions such as attention, language, memory, reasoning, and intelligence. This remarkable book also discusses:
how a baby's brain is "assembled" from scratch
the critical prenatal factors that shapebrain development
how the birthing process itself affects the brain
which forms of stimulation are most effective at promoting cognitive development
how boys' and girls' brains develop differently
how nutrition, stress, and other physical and social factors can permanently affect a child's brain
Brilliantly blending cutting-edge science with a mother's wisdom and insight, What's Going On in There? is an invaluable contribution to the nature versus nurture debate. Children's development is determined both by the genes they are born with and the richness of their early environment. This timely and important book shows parents the innumerable ways in which they can actually help their children grow better brains.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 121 more reviews...
 Fantastic information for parents September 5, 2008
I found this book really insightful and full of great practical infomation that helps me understand my baby girl.
 Interesting, but recommended mostly for people currently conceiving, pregnant or have a newborn August 7, 2008
I got this book based on the title where it states, "how the mind develops in the first five years of life." I have a 9 mos old and a two and a half year old so I thought that I could get some valuable info, since they are both still pretty young. This book is only 460 pages long, and Dr. Eliot doesn't even really start talking about children over a year of age until about page 300 (and I'm being generous to start that far back.) This book, while interesting, mostly discusses brain development from conception (especially conception through infancy) through the first two years years. Naturally, our brain continues to develop after two years, and she mentions the years 3-5 here and there but it's usually in reference to statistics supporting her facts on the subjects she talks about pertaining to brain growth during infancy (thus she's "justified" in adding the "birth through five years" on her cover.) I still felt like the title was misleading though. I spent the first 300 pages reflecting back on my pregnancies and all the things I did "wrong." The first 300 pages kinda made me feel guilty.
Now that doesn't mean that I didn't like the book itself. This is a great book. It's different than all the other "child rearing" books on the market because it's not all psychology. Most of this book is biology. So I will say that if you like science, you'll enjoy this book. Even though it is on the scientific side, I think that it was written (as well as it could be) in layman's terms. I wouldn't go as far to say that it's like college textbook material, but it does use jargon that you probably haven't heard since you've been in school. I also liked the way the book was written. You can tell that she tried to write a "science" book to appeal to everyone (whether science is your thing or not). When I read it, I felt like I was having a discussion with a Mom who has a biology degree instead of listening to a boring science professor. Overall, I think that if you don't have any distractions around you, this book is easier to follow. I just wished I had read it earlier, is all.
The most insight and information I use day to day to raise my baby June 23, 2008
I love this book. The information is the most useful. My baby is 6 month old and I really appreciate the teaching from this book. I skip on the sections that describe the mechanism in the brain and devour the sections that describe the developmental milestones. Highly recommended!
A Must-have Resource for Expecting Parents June 10, 2008
I found this book to be a great introduction to how a child's mind develops. As an expecting father, it was really interesting to know how the senses play a large role in developing the intelligence of a child and that the best way to develop a healthy mind is to provide a child with lots of stimulation at the proper time. The chapters toward the end of the book were particularly interesting as they covered the development of intelligence, language, and memory. I highly recommend that all expecting parents read this book. One caution though, the author takes a scientific approach, so if you're not prepared to read a book that approaches the developing mind from a scientific perspective, you might want to try other lighter books. However, if you are prepared for it, you'll be glad that you read this book.
Very scientific but interesting May 14, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I recieved this book when by son was 3mo old. I agree that it is best for pregnant women or when your child is very young. There is lots of details about brain development, I am a nurse and have a science background, and it was even too much for me. I would skim the beginning of each chapter, through the details on ganglia and neuron growth to get to the applicable stuff. It's also not a reference type of book, you can't go to a chapter for your age child. Each chapter has a topic...hearing, smell, touch, language, intelligence, etc. It is interesting, I learned a lot, but if you are not a reader (its 460 pages), or you want something very hands on practical, this is not for you.
|
|
|
