Namita Das's Blog, page 71

Bad Habit Rabbit by Carli Valentine

Bad Habit Rabbit is a picture book about Little bunny Fluffy Bum, who wants to be an Official Easter Bunny.

The illustrations are colourful and adorable, and the message is positive and encouraging. However, the story is also repetitive and simplistic, and the rhymes are sometimes forced and awkward. The book is suitable for young children who love bunnies and Easter eggs but might not appeal to older or more sophisticated readers.

It’s a sweet and fun book, but not one that stands out among other picture books.

Available on Amazon Kindle Edition, Hardcover and Paperback.

I Can Eat a Rainbow by Olena Rose

I Can Eat a Rainbow is a colourful and fun book that introduces young children to different fruits and vegetables. The illustrations are bright and cheerful, and the rhymes are catchy and easy to remember.

However, I felt that the book could have been more informative and educational. For example, it does not explain why eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables is good for health, or what vitamins and minerals they contain. It also does not provide any recipes or tips on how to prepare or eat them. The book is more of a visual feast than a nutritional guide.

Overall, I Can Eat a Rainbow is a nice book to look at and read aloud, but it does not go beyond the surface level of introducing fruits and vegetables. It might be suitable for very young children who are just learning the names and colours of different foods, but older children might want more information and variety.

Available on Amazon Kindle Edition, Hardcover and Paperback.

Sadie Sprocket Builds a Rocket by Sue Fliess, Annabel Tempest

This book is a blast!

Sadie Sprocket is a girl who loves rockets and dreams of going to Mars. She plans, builds, and launches her rocket with the help of her friends and family. Along the way, she learns about perseverance, teamwork, and the wonders of space.

The rhyming text is catchy and fun, and the illustrations are colourful and lively. This book celebrates Sadie’s curiosity, creativity, and courage. She is a great role model for kids who want to explore their passions and pursue their goals. This book is perfect for fans of STEM, space, and adventure.

I highly recommend it!

Available on Amazon Kindle Edition and Hardcover.

The Prickly Problem by Cheryl Daveiga, Luis Peres

I loved this book!

It is a charming and funny story about a porcupine who makes magic potions for his animal friends in the desert. The illustrations are colourful and whimsical, and the characters are adorable.

The book teaches a valuable lesson about kindness and compassion, even for those who seem prickly and mean.

The wordplay and rhymes are clever and catchy, and the sing-along video on the website is a bonus.

This book is perfect for bedtime reading, or anytime you need a laugh and a smile. I highly recommend it to kids of all ages!

Available on Amazon Kindle Edition, Hardcover and Paperback.

How to Boost Your Child’s Self-Esteem with the Nurtured Heart Approach

Do you have a child who constantly challenges your authority, breaks the rules, or acts out in negative ways? Do you feel frustrated, exhausted, or hopeless about how to handle your child’s behaviour? Do you wish you could have a more positive and rewarding relationship with your child?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might want to learn more about the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA), a relationship system that teaches significant adults how to strongly energize and recognize the child’s experiences of success while not accidentally giving more focus on to their experiences of failure.

In this blog post, you will discover:

What is the Nurtured Heart Approach and how it worksWhy the Nurtured Heart Approach is effective for children with intense energy and emotionsHow to apply the Nurtured Heart Approach to your parenting or teaching styleHow the Nurtured Heart Approach can help your child develop inner wealth and positive behaviourWhere to find more resources and support for using the Nurtured Heart Approach

What is the Nurtured Heart Approach and how does it work?

The NHA was developed by Howard Glasser, a psychotherapist and educator who noticed that traditional methods of discipline and praise often backfired with children who had intense energy and emotions. He realized that these children were seeking attention and connection from adults, but they had learned that they could get more of it by being negative than by being positive. They had also developed a negative self-image and a low sense of inner wealth, which made them feel unworthy and unlovable.

Glasser created the NHA as a way to help these children (and the adults who work with them) shift their mindset and behaviour by using three simple but powerful stands:

Stand 1: Absolutely No (energy to what is going wrong). This means that you do not react emotionally or verbally to your child’s negative behaviour, but instead, you calmly set boundaries and consequences. You do not give them any attention or recognition for their failures, but you also do not ignore them or reject them. You simply state the facts and enforce the rules without drama or judgment.Stand 2: Absolutely Yes! (relational energy toward what is going right). This means that you actively look for and celebrate your child’s positive behaviour, no matter how small or ordinary it may seem. You give them genuine and specific praise, appreciation, and recognition for their successes, achievements, and qualities. You help them see their greatness and potential, and you build a strong connection with them based on trust and respect.Stand 3: Absolute Clarity (a call to have clear, consistent, energy-less boundaries and rules). This means that you have clear expectations and rules for your child, and you communicate them simply and directly. You do not negotiate, compromise, or make exceptions for your child’s negative behaviour, but you also do not punish,
shame, or blame them. You help them understand the consequences of their choices, and you support them to make better ones.

Why is the Nurtured Heart Approach effective for children with intense energy and emotions?

The NHA is effective for children with intense energy and emotions because it helps them channel their energy into positive outcomes instead of negative ones. It also helps them develop a positive self-image and a high sense of inner wealth, which is a combination of self-worth, resilience, confidence, creativity, and compassion.

The NHA recognizes that children with intense energy and emotions are not bad or broken, but rather gifted and talented. They have a lot of potential and passion, but they need guidance and support to use it wisely. The NHA helps them realize that they are valuable, lovable, and capable of greatness.

How do you apply the Nurtured Heart Approach to your parenting or teaching style?

Applying the NHA to your parenting or teaching style is not difficult, but it does require commitment, practice, patience, and courage. You need to be consistent in following the three stands, and avoid falling into old habits of reacting negatively or giving empty praise.

Here are some tips to help you apply the NHA to your parenting or teaching style:

Start by observing your behaviour and reactions. How do you respond when your child does something wrong? How do you respond when your child does something right? Do you give more energy to their failures or their successes? Do you have clear and consistent rules and boundaries? Do you communicate with them effectively?Next, identify areas where you can improve. Maybe you need to be calmer and more clear when setting boundaries and consequences. Maybe you need to be more attentive and enthusiastic when praising and recognizing your child’s positive behaviour. Maybe you need to be more specific and genuine when giving feedback and appreciation.Then, start implementing the NHA in your daily interactions with your child. Use the three stands as a guide to help you respond appropriately to your child’s behaviour. Remember to give no energy to what is going wrong, and lots of energy to what is going right, while having clear and consistent boundaries and rules.Finally, monitor and evaluate the results of using the NHA. Notice how your child’s behaviour and attitude change over time. Notice how your relationship with your child improves and strengthens. Notice how you feel more confident and empowered as a parent or teacher.

How the Nurtured Heart Approach can help your child develop inner wealth and positive behaviour?

The NHA can help your child develop inner wealth and positive behaviour by helping them:

feel seen, heard, and valued for who they arerecognize and celebrate their strengths, talents, and achievementsdevelop a positive self-image and self-esteembuild resilience and coping skills to deal with challenges and setbackslearn from their mistakes and make better choicesexpress their emotions in healthy and constructive waysbe more creative, curious, and motivated to learnbe more compassionate, empathetic, and respectful to othersbe more cooperative, collaborative, and responsible

Where to find more resources and support for using the Nurtured Heart Approach?

If you want to learn more about the NHA and how it can help you transform your relationship with your child (or anyone else), you can visit the website of the Nurtured Heart Institute, where you can find books, videos, courses, pieces of training, events, testimonials, research articles, and other resources.

You can also join the NHA group on Facebook, where you can connect with other parents, educators, professionals, and trainers who are using the NHA in their lives.

The NHA is not a magic bullet or a quick fix. It requires commitment, practice, patience, and courage. But it is worth it. As Glasser says: “The excellent news is that The Nurtured Heart Approach has been proven to create the transformation very quickly and in an enduring way. Instead of believing that one gets a great deal more from adults through negativity and that positive choices are a less certain bet, the child is moved to believing that he or she can fully invest energy and intelligence in successes.”

So why not give it a try? Start nurturing the existing greatness in every relationship today. You will be amazed by the results. The Nurtured Heart Approach is more than just a behaviour management strategy. It is a way of being (and seeing) that is empowering and positively addictive. It is a way to celebrate greatness in every kid (and every adult)!

Some reference links –

https://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Difficult-Child-Nurtured-Approach/dp/0967050707https://nurturedheart.net/nha-overview/https://nurturedheartinstitute.com/

Andre: The Best Big Brother by Mikaela Wilson, Pardeep Mehra

Buy this book if your son is going to be a big brother soon. He would love the story and the illustrations.  It can help him relate to André’s feelings and learn how he can help with the new baby.

He may also enjoy the other books in the series about André and Noelle’s adventures.

This book is a great way to prepare a child for a new sibling and to celebrate the bond between brothers and sisters. I highly recommend it!

Available on Amazon Kindle Edition, Hardcover and Paperback.

The Merry Cherry by Elisa Anderson

Give this book a read with your little ones if they are fond of cherries and stories. I am sure kids this age will enjoy reading this book as it has colourful illustrations.

The story is about a cherry named Cherry Boo who wants to spread happiness to everyone, but no one seems to appreciate her. She decides to leave them and see if they miss her. The story has a good moral lesson about not taking things for granted and being grateful for what you have.

The book is easy to read and has repetitive phrases that help kids learn new words. It is also suitable for different reading levels, from preschool to second grade.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I wish it was longer and had more details about the other characters in the garden. Overall, it is a lovely kids’ book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and educational read-aloud story for their children.

Available on Amazon Kindle Edition.

The Adventures Of Tootsie Lama by Stuti Agarwal

I loved this book! It is a charming and heartwarming story of a brave and resilient girl who lives by herself in Darjeeling. Tootsie Lama is an orphan who lost her adoptive parents in a landslide, but she does not let that stop her from enjoying life and having fun with her friend Tenzing. She is also very resourceful and clever, as she finds ways to earn money and get food. One day, she decides to steal a bowl of thukpa, a delicious noodle soup, from a restaurant, and that leads to an unexpected adventure.

The book is very well-written and engaging. The author captures the beauty and culture of Darjeeling with vivid descriptions and illustrations. The characters are realistic and relatable, especially Tootsie, who is a lovable and inspiring heroine. The book also has a positive message about friendship, kindness, and hope.

This is a perfect book for children who love stories with adventure, humour, and emotion. It is also a great way to introduce them to a different part of the world and learn about its people and traditions. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading delightful and uplifting stories.

Available on Amazon Kindle Edition and Paperback.

A Bee On Christmas by Elisa Anderson

This book is a cute story about a lazy bee who learns the value of hard work and friendship from a kind ant.

The illustrations are colourful and appealing, and the moral lesson is clear. However, I felt that the story was too short and simple, as well as seems to be inspired by one of the Aesop fables, The grasshopper and the ants.

I think this book would be better suited for younger children who are just starting to read on their own or with some help. It’s not a bad book, but it could use some improvement.

Available on Amazon Kindle Edition.

Have a Little Patience by Sarah Read

A must-read for kids who struggle with waiting for their turn and get frustrated quickly.

They will love the story of this little girl who learns how to cope with her impatience and finds out that some things are worth the wait.

The illustrations are bright and engaging, and the rhymes are catchy and easy to read aloud. The book also has some helpful tips for parents and teachers on how to teach children about patience and self-regulation.

This is a great book for kids who need to learn how to have a little patience.

Available on Amazon Kindle Edition.