Description

Now in a completely revised third edition Sue Doherty, anthropologist and author of the pioneering, practical book, Kinergetics: Dancing with Your Baby (1994), offers must-have cutting-edge research, advice, and insight. A groundbreaking look into the art and science of song, dance, and melodies--and their profoundly nurturing, therapeutic, and developmental effects for infants and caregivers. It is an unprecedented, eye-opening investigation into our evolutionary instinct to rock a baby in our arms.

An inspiring and easily accessible guide exploring the expressive heartbeat of human nature. Discovering a baby's amazing capacities reveal how music and movement has helped shape humanity across cultures and throughout history. From acquiring language acquisition to learning to self-regulate, a baby makes impressive gains socially, emotionally, physically, and cognitively, when engaging with the rhythms of his or her surroundings. Doherty provides a convincing synthesis of current scientific evidence to promote a deeply immersive and stimulating physical engagement. Fully illustrated, she introduces the reader to various "carriages" to dance freely with a baby, and with the use of a baby carrier. There are chapters on bonding and the importance of touch, stress reduction in baby and caregiver, specific recommendations for babies with special needs, tips on necessary back-care, and tai chi and yoga for warm-up and cool-down.

Doherty offers parents and caregivers fascinating science that spans infant development, child psychology, neuroscience, cultural anthropology, music and movement therapy and much more. And, as Julia Dimitrova and Michael Hogan argue in their Psychology Today review: " The book will also be of interest to psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists and educationalists interested in dancing toward greater insight and understanding of human development."

About the Author

Sue Doherty, MA is an anthropologist, author, and mindfulness teacher certified through Greater Good Science Center, U.C. Berkely, California. Her background is in cultural resources management (CRM), child development, holistic health, and behavioral intervention for children and young adults with special needs. Sue lives in Aptos, California.

https://storiesmatter.com

Praise For…

"Every parent wants his or her child to feel connected, validated, and treasured. Dancing with Your Baby is a wonderful tool parents can use to develop deep connectedness. Since children internalize how their parents relate to them on a verbal and physical level, what better way to create this essential foundation than through dancing with them?"
Dr. Shefali Tsabary, Clinical Psychologist and
author of the Oprah acclaimed The Conscious Parent and her
follow-up Out of Control

"This book is a great blend of practical and creative methods, resting on a solid scientific foundation."
Rick Hanson, Ph.D. neuropsychologist, Senior
Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, New York Times
best-selling author of Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha's Brain, Just
One Thing, and Mother Nurture

"Doherty uses language that is accessible, colorful, and rich with imagery. This book is a must read for any parent, caregiver, or soon-to-be parent interested in learning about the incredibly dynamic, rewarding, stimulating techniques for bonding with their baby that Doherty advocates."
Julia Dimitrova and Michael Hogan, Ph.D. senior
lecturer and neuropsychologist at National University of Ireland, Galway

"Integrating dance and musical activities into the parent-infant relationship is a wonderful way for everyone involved to feel socially connected, to be physically active, and to have fun. Sue Doherty carefully outlines safe, flexible, and age-appropriate ways to build dance into your baby's life, while exploring how infant cognitive, social, and motor development shape these activities"
Laura Cirelli, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychology at the
University of Toronto Mississauga, Canada