Small Talk by Dr Richard C Woolfson (Hamlyn, 14.99) is written as a guide to understanding the speech and body language of babies and children up to the age of three. The book is divided into ten 'age sections', so each section covers three months, starting at birth to three months and ending at 31 to 36 months. Within each age section there are five further divisions: language development; body language; top tips; questions and answers and a development chart with the appropriate page references for each on the contents page at the front. This is a good way of providing a really quick reference guide if you want to look up, for example, language development at 25 to 30 months, because you can see what page it's on straight away, but it also means you risk missing important sections on bilingualism and special needs, which are not mentioned on the contents page, unless you read through the whole book. However, at just 138 pages long the book is an easy and interesting read throughout and you could also pass it to anxious parents because there are extensive question and answer sections in each part, dealing with common worries that face parent and carer alike.
Also by Dr Woolfson and hot off the publisher's press is Bright Start (Hamlyn, 16.99). This book adopts a similar style of 'questions and answers' and 'top tips', but the sections cover birth to 15 months; 16 to 36 months and three to five years and explore lots of ideas for stimulating learning and development.
Relationships and Learning by Anna Gillespie Edwards is a new publication from the National Children's Bureau. This is based on an innovative study of children under three in daycare settings carried out by the Early Childhood Unit at the National Children's Bureau. The book is intended to support staff development and reflection and aims to give an insight into how the children themselves view their day-to-day experiences. It is full of close observations of events and interactions in daycare which help to demonstrate how young children try to communicate their needs. There are four sections; relationships: adult-child; affection and attachment, physical care, setting limits and valuing difference; relationships: child-child; covering self-concept and friendships; relationships: adult-adult; staff relationships with each other and with parents; playing and learning: supporting children's interests, language and literacy, creating a learning environment. This valuable publication is available from the NCB price 15 (10 for NCB members) plus 3 p&p.
Telephone 020 7843 6029.
How many times have you had a child turn up in the nursery with some alarming spots on his face or watched a sudden rash appear on a baby's body? Spots, Birthmarks and Rashes by June Thompson (Carroll & Brown 6.99) is an indispensable, very comprehensive guide to caring for a young child's skin and identifying a whole range of spots, rashes and blemishes.
It tackles allergies and irritation, fungal infections, insect bites and stings as well as birthmarks and pigmentation to name just a few. There is a section on treatments, including complementary therapies and home remedies, and boxes alerting you to the need for medical attention.
June Thompson, who is a practising health visitor, has also written Toddlercare for Beginners (Carroll & Brown 6.99) which would make a very helpful addition to the parents' bookshelf. Anyone being driven crazy by daily tantrums or worrying about delayed potty training, for instance, should be reassured by the wealth of sensible advice and options presented here. Other topics include nutrition and feeding problems, sleep, play and activities and comfort habits.
Finally, from the same publisher, is Hop, Skip and Jump by Peter Walker (Pounds 6.99). The author is a physical therapist who has worked with very young children and their parents for more than 20 years and has led workshops for healthcare professionals. His book is a guide to developing a regime of relaxing and enjoyable exercises for children in the early years.
Of particular interest will be the role playing exercises; a demonstration of how children can be encouraged to practise soft gymnastics by weaving them into a story. This could be just the thing to get any couch potatoes on the move!
All three books can be ordered from Carroll and Brown at the special price of 15 with free p&p. Call 020 7372 0900 quoting Nursery Equipment.
