Please Touch: How to Stimulate Your Child's Creative Development

Not everyone will agree with Striker's liberal views on childrearing (especially in the area of discipline), but she argues convincingly that parents should encourage creativity and independence during their children's first four years. Striker, author of the successful Anti-Coloring Books, illustrates her approach by noting that when her son was born she decided: ""I would not say `no' to him until he was two.'' This refusal to interferewhenever possiblewith a child's exploration of his or her small universe underlies Striker's advice on such subjects as providing a stimulating home environment, planning excursions, making sure a child has playthings that require imagination, and encouraging experimentation with art, music and movement. The author also offers pointers on a variety of specific topics, from giving birthday parties to choosing a nursery school. An intelligently presented alternative to more traditional parenting books. Foreign rights: RLR Associates, N.Y. February