11 January 2010
By Sioban Boyce
Published by Not Just Talking Ltd, Winchester
ISBN: 978-0-9558387-5-0
www.notjusttalking.co.uk
Reviewed by Sue Macdonald
This slim, very readable volume was written by a speech and language therapist, who has specialised in the development of non-verbal conversation skills and their impact on babies and children.
The book is aimed at parents, but is relevant to student midwives, midwives and health visitors to expand their understanding of the development of the maternal/infant relationship, and how to help mothers and parents improve their communication with babies to advance their language, understanding and learning.
The book begins with a foundation of the changes in society, including the impact of television, mobile telephones and family life, and how these have impacted on parents’ and child development. It then takes the reader through the first 24 hours of life and explains how babies communicate, and how the mother can understand and help her baby understand and communicate better.
The sections on developing a routine, including ‘Tidy-up songs’, will be useful to first-time mothers in increasing their baby’s feeling of security and indeed their own confidence. Content explaining the development of non-verbal understanding; self awareness; early use of non-verbal skills and talking to the baby are also strong parts of the book, and there is an interesting section on communicating through signing.
Throughout there are focus points to act as memory aides or trigger points, and there are activities that the reader can try with their baby/child. Images are well placed and the style of writing is clear and appealing. There is a small section of further reading at the back that includes nursery rhymes, which could be useful resources for mothers.
As a midwife, I may have liked to have had some additional resources in terms of further research and evidence to support the guidance, however, it has been designed primarily as a practical book for parents, and there is some extremely useful information for students and qualified midwives.
- The book is priced £11.49 including P&P if ordered
from the website or it can be bought from
Waterstones for £9.99.
Have you read this book? What did you think?
