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Balanced and Barefoot
- How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes for Strong, Confident, and Capable Children
- Narrated by: Rebecca Mitchell
- Length: 6 hrs and 27 mins
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There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather
- A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge)
- Written by: Linda Åkeson McGurk
- Narrated by: Ann Richardson
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Bringing Up Bébé meets Last Child in the Woods in this lively, insightful memoir about a mother who sets out to discover if the nature-centric parenting philosophy of her native Scandinavia holds the key to healthier, happier lives for her American children.
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love!!!
- By Chloe on 2020-06-23
Written by: Linda Åkeson McGurk
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The Wild and Free Family
- Forging Your Own Path to a Life Full of Wonder, Adventure, and Connection
- Written by: Ainsley Arment
- Narrated by: Emily Ellet
- Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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While every family has its own culture, Ainsley Arment believes that being intentional about how we raise our kids is one of the most important things parents can do. Drawn from her own family's stories and those shared in the W+F community, and filled with inviting full-color photos throughout, Wild and Free Family focuses on ways any parent can create an environment where wonder and adventure are part of the everyday fabric of family life.
Written by: Ainsley Arment
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Modern Miss Mason
- Written by: Leah Boden
- Narrated by: Leah Boden
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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As a young mother and new home educator, Leah was overwhelmed by the breadth of available resources. How to know which to choose? What would best guide and inspire her children? Whose voices should she trust? That’s when she discovered the timeless work and words of Charlotte Mason. A groundbreaking and revolutionary voice in education, Charlotte breathed life and beauty back into childhood in a stiff archaic age, opening the eyes of parent-teachers and the hearts of students—and changing the future of home education.
Written by: Leah Boden
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Last Child in the Woods
- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
- Written by: Richard Louv
- Narrated by: Jonathan Hogan
- Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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New York Times and Washington Post contributor Richard Louv is the widely respected author of seven previous books. In Last Child in the Woods, Louv illustrates how the alienation of today's children from nature can lead to a host of childhood disorders - and he offers effective methods for healing this rift.
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a listen for all parents
- By Aysha Clark on 2018-02-08
Written by: Richard Louv
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The Call of the Wild and Free
- Reclaiming the Wonder in Your Child’s Education, A New Way to Homeschool
- Written by: Ainsley Arment
- Narrated by: Piper Goodeve
- Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
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Performance
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Inspired by the spirit of Henry David Thoreau—"All good things are wild and free"—mother of five Ainsley Arment founded Wild + Free. This growing online community of mothers and families want their children to receive a quality education at home by challenging their intellectual abilities and nurturing their sense of curiosity, joy, and awe—the essence of a positive childhood. The homeschool approach of past generations is gone—including the stigma of socially awkward kids, conservative clothes, and a classroom setting replicated in the home.
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Repetitive and without substance.
- By Chara on 2022-12-14
Written by: Ainsley Arment
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Free to Learn
- Written by: Peter Gray
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Performance
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In Free to Learn, developmental psychologist Peter Gray argues that our children, if free to pursue their own interests through play, will not only learn all they need to know but will do so with energy and passion. Children come into this world burning to learn, equipped with the curiosity, playfulness, and sociability to direct their own education. Yet we have squelched such instincts in a school model originally developed to indoctrinate, not to promote intellectual growth.
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eye opening
- By 3gor on 2020-07-27
Written by: Peter Gray
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There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather
- A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids (from Friluftsliv to Hygge)
- Written by: Linda Åkeson McGurk
- Narrated by: Ann Richardson
- Length: 8 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Bringing Up Bébé meets Last Child in the Woods in this lively, insightful memoir about a mother who sets out to discover if the nature-centric parenting philosophy of her native Scandinavia holds the key to healthier, happier lives for her American children.
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love!!!
- By Chloe on 2020-06-23
Written by: Linda Åkeson McGurk
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The Wild and Free Family
- Forging Your Own Path to a Life Full of Wonder, Adventure, and Connection
- Written by: Ainsley Arment
- Narrated by: Emily Ellet
- Length: 6 hrs and 40 mins
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
While every family has its own culture, Ainsley Arment believes that being intentional about how we raise our kids is one of the most important things parents can do. Drawn from her own family's stories and those shared in the W+F community, and filled with inviting full-color photos throughout, Wild and Free Family focuses on ways any parent can create an environment where wonder and adventure are part of the everyday fabric of family life.
Written by: Ainsley Arment
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Modern Miss Mason
- Written by: Leah Boden
- Narrated by: Leah Boden
- Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
As a young mother and new home educator, Leah was overwhelmed by the breadth of available resources. How to know which to choose? What would best guide and inspire her children? Whose voices should she trust? That’s when she discovered the timeless work and words of Charlotte Mason. A groundbreaking and revolutionary voice in education, Charlotte breathed life and beauty back into childhood in a stiff archaic age, opening the eyes of parent-teachers and the hearts of students—and changing the future of home education.
Written by: Leah Boden
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Last Child in the Woods
- Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder
- Written by: Richard Louv
- Narrated by: Jonathan Hogan
- Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
New York Times and Washington Post contributor Richard Louv is the widely respected author of seven previous books. In Last Child in the Woods, Louv illustrates how the alienation of today's children from nature can lead to a host of childhood disorders - and he offers effective methods for healing this rift.
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a listen for all parents
- By Aysha Clark on 2018-02-08
Written by: Richard Louv
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The Call of the Wild and Free
- Reclaiming the Wonder in Your Child’s Education, A New Way to Homeschool
- Written by: Ainsley Arment
- Narrated by: Piper Goodeve
- Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Inspired by the spirit of Henry David Thoreau—"All good things are wild and free"—mother of five Ainsley Arment founded Wild + Free. This growing online community of mothers and families want their children to receive a quality education at home by challenging their intellectual abilities and nurturing their sense of curiosity, joy, and awe—the essence of a positive childhood. The homeschool approach of past generations is gone—including the stigma of socially awkward kids, conservative clothes, and a classroom setting replicated in the home.
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Repetitive and without substance.
- By Chara on 2022-12-14
Written by: Ainsley Arment
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Free to Learn
- Written by: Peter Gray
- Narrated by: Dan Woren
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
In Free to Learn, developmental psychologist Peter Gray argues that our children, if free to pursue their own interests through play, will not only learn all they need to know but will do so with energy and passion. Children come into this world burning to learn, equipped with the curiosity, playfulness, and sociability to direct their own education. Yet we have squelched such instincts in a school model originally developed to indoctrinate, not to promote intellectual growth.
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eye opening
- By 3gor on 2020-07-27
Written by: Peter Gray
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Parenting Right from the Start
- Written by: Vanessa Lapointe
- Narrated by: Adrienne Fish
- Length: 8 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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In this book, her follow-up to the best seller Discipline Without Damage, Dr. Lapointe advises new parents how to put their child on a path to optimal development during the crucial early years. The baby and toddler years are the most important period for any child's emotional and psychological development. Parents naturally want to do what's best for their kids, but they often struggle to know what that is, especially when dealing with the big "battlegrounds" of sleep, feeding, and managing aggression.
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One of my favourite parenting books!
- By Anonymous User on 2023-04-24
Written by: Vanessa Lapointe
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The Danish Way of Parenting
- What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids
- Written by: Jessica Joelle Alexander, Dissing Sandahl
- Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest
- Length: 3 hrs and 28 mins
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What makes Denmark the happiest country in the world - and how do Danish parents raise happy, confident, successful kids, year after year? This upbeat and practical book presents six essential principles, which spell out P-A-R-E-N-T. With illuminating examples and simple yet powerful advice, The Danish Way of Parenting will help parents from all walks of life raise the happiest, most well-adjusted kids in the world.
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Useful but misleading and oversimplified
- By JW on 2018-01-23
Written by: Jessica Joelle Alexander, and others
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Unschooled
- Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom
- Written by: Kerry Mcdonald, Peter Grey PhD
- Narrated by: Lesa Lockford
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
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In a compelling narrative that introduces historical and contemporary research on self-directed education, Unschooled also spotlights how a diverse group of individuals and organizations are evolving an old schooling model of education. These innovators challenge the myth that children need to be taught in order to learn.
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Great resource for the inquiring parent!
- By Anonymous User on 2021-03-08
Written by: Kerry Mcdonald, and others
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The Brave Learner
- Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life
- Written by: Julie Bogart, Susan Wise Bauer - foreword
- Narrated by: Julie Bogart
- Length: 10 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Parents who are deeply invested in their children's education can be hard on themselves and their kids. When exhausted parents are living the day-to-day grind, it can seem impossible to muster enough energy to make learning fun or interesting. Author Julie Bogart distills decades of experience - homeschooling her five now grown children, developing curricula, and training homeschooling families around the world - to teach parents how to make education an exciting, even enchanting, experience for their kids, whether they're in elementary or high school.
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An absolutely amazing book.
- By Kristin Gimby on 2021-06-28
Written by: Julie Bogart, and others
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Brain-Body Parenting
- How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids
- Written by: Mona Delahooke
- Narrated by: Emily Ellet
- Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
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Over her decades as a clinical psychologist, Dr. Mona Delahooke has routinely counseled distraught parents who struggle to manage their children’s challenging, sometimes oppositional behaviors. These families are understandably focused on correcting or improving a child’s lack of compliance, emotional outbursts, tantrums, and other “out of control” behavior. But, as she has shared with these families, a perspective shift is needed. Behavior, no matter how challenging, is not the problem but a symptom; a clue about what is happening in a child’s unique physiologic makeup.
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Must read for parents
- By Anonymous User on 2023-03-13
Written by: Mona Delahooke
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The Read-Aloud Family
- Written by: Sarah Mackenzie
- Narrated by: Sarah Mackenzie
- Length: 7 hrs
- Unabridged
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The stories we read--and the conversations we have about them--help shape family traditions, create lifelong memories, and become part of our legacy. Reading aloud not only has the power to change a family—it has the power to change the world. But we all know that connecting deeply with our families can be difficult in our busy, technology-driven society. Reading aloud is one of the best ways to be fully present with our children, even after they can read themselves, but it isn't always easy to do.
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Great book
- By Tskuller on 2022-08-20
Written by: Sarah Mackenzie
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Let Them Be Kids
- Adventure, Boredom, Innocence, and Other Gifts Children Need
- Written by: Jessica Smartt
- Narrated by: Amanda Sanfilippo
- Length: 6 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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Former English teacher and homeschooling mother of three, Jessica Smartt felt the weight of helping prepare her kids for life, especially with all the outside pressures and influence of the world. She struggled with how she could raise her children with a sense of adventure, self-confidence, manners, faith, and the ability to utilize technology wisely. Let Them Be Kids is Jessica's offering of grace and confidence to moms, giving them practical ideas to meet these challenges.
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Encouraging and challenging
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Written by: Jessica Smartt
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Simplicity Parenting
- Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids
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- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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From internationally renowned family consultant Kim John Payne comes an eloquent guide that seeks to help parents reclaim for their children the space and freedom that all kids need for their individuality to flourish.
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Must Read for Parents!
- By Stephanie W Chan on 2018-09-19
Written by: Kim John Payne, and others
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M Is for Mama
- Written by: Abbie Halberstadt
- Narrated by: Abbie Halberstadt
- Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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Motherhood is a challenge. Unfortunately, our worldly culture offers moms little in the way of real help. Mamas only connect to celebrate surviving another day and to share in their misery, rather than rejoice in what God has done and to build each other up in hard times. There has a be a better way, a biblical way, for mamas to grow and thrive. M Is for Mama offers advice, encouragement, and scripturally sound strategies seasoned with a little bit of humor to help you embrace the challenge of biblical motherhood and raise your children with love and wisdom.
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So encouraged
- By Kel Ferbs on 2023-10-18
Written by: Abbie Halberstadt
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Dumbing Us Down
- The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling
- Written by: John Taylor Gatto
- Narrated by: Michael Puttonen
- Length: 3 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Thirty years in New York City's public schools led John Gatto to the sad conclusion that compulsory schooling does little but teach young people to follow orders like cogs in an industrial machine. With over 100,000 copies in print since its original publication in 2002, this book is collection of essays and speeches and includes a describes the wide-spread impact of the book and Gatto's "guerrilla teaching". John Gatto was a teacher in New York City's public schools for over 30 years and was a New York State Teacher of the Year.
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Eye opening
- By Anonymous User on 2020-09-18
Written by: John Taylor Gatto
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Now Say This
- The Right Words to Solve Every Parenting Dilemma
- Written by: Heather Turgeon MFT, Julie Wright MFT
- Narrated by: Heather Turgeon MFT, Julie Wright MFT
- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
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Now Say This guides parents through a highly practical three-step approach to effectively communicating with children called ALP. It also discusses the power of words in all of our daily conversations. Each chapter addresses a different aspect of parenting and includes actual scripts and precise language for parents to use to set limits with empathy and to use conversations as opportunities for learning. Language is powerful, and the exact words, tone, and nonverbal communication parents use when trying to move through a sticky moment with their child means everything.
Written by: Heather Turgeon MFT, and others
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How to Raise a Wild Child
- The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature
- Written by: Scott Sampson
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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American children today spend 90 percent less time playing outdoors than their parents did; instead they spend an average of seven hours a day interacting with a screen. Scott Sampson asserts that not only does exposure to nature help relieve stress, depression, and attention deficits, but it also reduces bullying and helps boost academic scores. Even more important are the long-term benefits linked to cognitive, emotional, and moral development.
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Great resource to rewild your child
- By Amazon Customer on 2020-02-11
Written by: Scott Sampson
Publisher's Summary
Today's kids have adopted sedentary lifestyles filled with television, video games, and computer screens. But more and more, studies show that children need "rough and tumble" outdoor play in order to develop their sensory, motor, and executive functions. Disturbingly, a lack of movement has been shown to lead to a number of health and cognitive difficulties, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), emotion regulation and sensory processing issues, and aggressiveness at school recess break. So, how can you ensure your child is fully engaging their body, mind, and all of their senses?
Using the same philosophy that lies at the heart of her popular TimberNook program - that nature is the ultimate sensory experience, and that psychological and physical health improves for children when they spend time outside on a regular basis - author Angela J. Hanscom offers several strategies to help your child thrive, even if you live in an urban environment.
With this book, you'll discover little things you can do anytime, anywhere to help your kids achieve the movement they need to be happy and healthy in mind, body, and spirit.
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What listeners say about Balanced and Barefoot
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Garth Campbell
- 2021-12-03
Robot Narrator?
Content and delivery is anxiety-inducing. Skip this audiobook and enjoy a walk outside instead.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 2019-08-13
Nature literacy in children.
This book has been carefully cultivated to re-introduce why nature is a fundamental to little ones. It dives into all aspects that nature fosters. From the development of cognitive milestones to the behavior and self image of a child, nature organically instills in children. Barefooted and Balanced, is highly recommended to all who deal with children from all walks of life.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Lisa
- 2023-10-20
Love the message. Did not love the narrator.
Unenthusiastic/monotone narration detracted from excellent message. I will have a re-read the physical book.
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- Lissy
- 2020-05-31
So informative
It has helped me see things from my child's point of view and has reminded me that I have to let go of control some times. Love this book!
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- Patrick R. Quinn
- 2016-08-12
Good information, challenging to listen to as it refers to itself often.
This book is full of important information. However listening to it in audio format was a challenging experience. I also recommend checking out books by people referenced in barefoot and balanced, especially Peter Gray.
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5 people found this helpful
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- D S
- 2019-07-23
Poorly-Researched, Poorly-Narrated
Anecdotal evidence is the basis of most of the author's sweeping conclusions. At best, tiny sample sizes. The dogma and poor reasoning of this book is revealed halfway through when the author romanticizes the playground equipment of the 80's, She describes horrific injuries suffered by children on that antiquated equipment, and then attributes the ensuing safety improvements to "litigation" rather than a reasonable intent to prevent those injuries.
Worst of all, the narrator is stilted and robotic.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Renee Sorgenfrie
- 2019-01-15
One sided
This book is an encouragement for parents to have children play in natural landscapes, yes this is important. Children benefit from these activities by learning problem solving, physical well-being, communication strategies and self confidence. Although as a reader I am left to question how these practices can be instilled in families where outdoor natural play is not available. Consideration needs to be voiced for families who live in an area where safety is a concern, or natural play habitats are not present. The author made clear that artificial play environments will not meet the needs of Unrestricted Outdoor Play therefor what are the outlets for families who are not middle and upper middle-class. This book is great for families of resources, but does not provide alternatives for families without means, transportation, safety in their neighborhood and so forth.
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4 people found this helpful
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- Skiffgirl
- 2016-12-01
Game Changer
I feel like this book is a game changer. I wish I could get all of my parent friends to listen to it.
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3 people found this helpful
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- sonilane
- 2018-07-04
A very good book!
I really enjoyed this book. It really supports the way I treat my kids in my school.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Luis Urrutia
- 2023-11-28
Nature really does offers the best school and therapy environment!
Seeing the benefits from an active outdoor lifestyle has really opened up my mothering! The way my children have grown in their independence and overcome obstacles is so enlightening to watch. Hoping for books and studies like these to make waves of change in our school systems.
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- Piper
- 2023-04-22
Benefits of outdoor play
The book provides an interesting take on the benefits of outdoor, self-directed play however makes pretty big claims that this type of play will address a huge range of physical, emotional and behavioral issues. It also romanticizes the past a bit too much. I found the descriptions of playground equipment of the past off putting. She discusses traumatic injuries and deaths of young ones however still speaks to how important this equipment is for development given these instances are rare.
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- bb
- 2023-03-20
very informational
this was very informal and helpful ideas to help get our children outside and not to be afriad of letting them get dirty and a little skuffed up.
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- Moriah Dessel
- 2023-02-21
LOVED!
This is such a great book if you have kids of any age. I have learned and implemented so much of this information and I have enjoyed seeing my little ones grow in imaginative play. I’ve become more confident in giving them freedoms and just watching them play. What a wonderful book!
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- MomOf3
- 2022-11-11
I keep coming back!
This book was amazing. It’s so full of great information. It’s been a year since I’ve read it, and it’s still my favorite book. I reference it all the time. 100% recommend and will read it again soon to refresh my memory on some statistics that she talks about!
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