The Intuitive Parent: Why the Best Thing for Your Child is You

In this agreeable but uninspiring debut, Camarata, a professor of psychiatry and hearing and speech sciences at Vanderbilt—and also a parent and grandparent—promotes old-fashioned parenting with current research. He comes out strongly against highly marketed “pre-programmed” flash cards, Baby Einstein DVDs, and academic preschools in favor of an intuitive, flexible, play-based approach focused on “pay[ing] attention to your child and then respond[ing] normally” during everyday interactions. Camarata shares research showing that drills on letters or math train the young brain on very specific skills, while “natural learning” builds whole-brain comprehension and broadly applicable skills. As a special-needs educator, Camarata claims that increased ADHD-like behavior in classrooms is due to a push toward one-size-fits-all teaching, and that for children on the autism spectrum, specific training programs may be counterproductive. His grandfatherly voice gives a comforting pat on the head to parents overwhelmed by the apparent necessity to cram information into their child’s brain within tightly defined critical periods, and a shake of the finger to overscheduling parents concerned with early achievement. But his low-key style feels like it comes from an earlier generation, out of touch with the 21st century hustle, and his “do less” message could feel bland to the inspiration-seeking parent. Agent: Max Brockman, Brockman Inc. (Aug.)