Big Lessons for Little People

Focusing on babies, toddlers and preschoolers up to age five, Nachamie, a mother and a parenting teacher at New York City's 92nd Street Y, writes quite sensibly about important issues in a blunt, no-nonsense tone. While some may find that tone offensive, she offers practical, well-grounded suggestions about the day-to-day effort of raising children. Lively and comprehensive, the book is divided into three sections--The Internal Character of Your Child, Your Child at Home and Your Child in the World--each containing boxed ""lessons"" the author believes children should learn from their parents (i.e., ""I may not love it, but I can engage in an activity of my own while mommy does something grown-up""). Nachamie offers her outspoken views, without benefit of documented research, on a range of issues, from getting a screaming infant into a snowsuit to answering the youngster who wants to know how babies are made. There are perceptive chapters on sleep and talking to children about death. Seasoned moms may not agree with all of Nachamie's tactics--leaving FAO Schwartz empty-handed to prove a point, for instance, (Lesson: We can play, explore, learn, have fun and leave without owning a new object). But there is plenty of substantive food for thought here, along with sound and direct responses to many of the myriad questions raised in childrearing. (Aug.)