Book Review: Brain Rules for Baby

Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five by John Medina

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you are looking for a book that will help you guide your child to an intelligent and happy future, this is the book for you. Written by a developmental molecular biologist, he translates years of peer-reviewed scientific literature (as well as drawing from his own experiences as a father) to create a very readable (even to people without a science background), concise and entertaining parenting guide.

He begins with what you can do during pregnancy: moderate exercise, gaining the proper amount of weight, eating well and reducing stress. Then he goes onto discussing your relationship with your partner: how hostility between parents can harm a newborn's developing brain and nervous system and the importance of empathy. Next he talks about how some aspects of your child's intelligence are simply genetic and you have no control over it. That IQ is not a measure of intellectual ability. He says the main ingredients to intelligence are a desire to explore, self-control, creativity and communication skills, and discusses how you can encourage these traits in your child. He discusses what helps a child learn: breast-feeding, talking to your children, guided play, and praising effort rather than intelligence. Activities likely to hurt early learning include overexposure to television, learned helplessness and being sedentary. But what I found most interesting is the information he includes on how to raise a happy child. He discusses the importance of friendships and learning how to regulate emotions and how you can help your child to achieve those pieces through how you watch, listen, and respond to your child. Parents are children's best role-models, thus it is important to act the same way you expect your child to behave; no double standards! Finally, Medina discusses how you can help guide your child to have strong morals.

What I like best about this book is that many of his suggestions are things that most empathetic and thoughtful parents would do anyways; you don't have to do anything out of the ordinary to raise a happy and intelligent child, you just need a lot of love in your heart and some keen observation skills. Fancy educational toys and t.v. shows are nothing compared to interacting with each other and exploring the world together. Medina is both entertaining and very knowledgeable. If you have any doubts at all on how to raise a smart and happy child, or you are just curious about brain development in general I highly recommend you give this book a try.


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