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Now...if you want to follow our blog, you are more than welcome to do so. If you'd like to invite your friends, co-workers, cousins, distant relatives and long lost high school buddies to 
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Okay - don't forget to comment in order to enter for the 
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A few days ago I received a press release from Martine Groeneveld: registered nurse, licensed massage therapist, certified infant massage instructor and author (who happens to be a native of Holland…I am also half Dutch).
*Martine is kindly giving away TWO books. Comment below to be entered for one book. A winner will be selected in 1-2 weeks using random.org. In the meantime you may also pre-order a copy for $19.95 (free shipping).
This giveaway is now CLOSED. Comments #4 and #12 were selected as the winners at random.org. Thanks to everyone who entered and don’t forget…you can order the book online at any time!
On with the review:
A writer of press releases myself, I know the time and thought put into them. Rather than ignore and delete I decided to read it.
I’m so glad that I did.
My eyes ran over words like: educators | touch | parents | research and touch therapy.
It hit me: Ooohhh…this is a book about the important of TOUCH. Ah, hah.
My father is a missionary and has been traveling to Russia since the days prior to the Wall coming down. He has told us stories about the children in orphanages – frail, lonely, fragile, weak, malnourished and…for the most part – untouched. These sweet children have experienced little touch, cuddling, holding and care and in response their bodies and brain are underdeveloped and lacking in necessary growth for full emotional potential.
(Many other studies have rendered these same findings both in the USA and abroad).
Now – as a person with much experience working with children (and having three of my own) I can fully appreciate the premise of this book. When I was a nanny (16+ years) I would hold and play with my ‘kids’ – cuddle and snuggle, sing, dance, laugh, teach ASL (American Sign Language) and of course…read to them. I do these same things with my own children as well. It has always made sense to me that babies and children want and need to be loved and touched. In fact, ALL humans (and pets) need this.
Children adore being cuddled and kissed, loved on and also sang to, danced with and interacted with. Kids thrive on rhyming and word games (not only because they are enjoyable but also because concepts can be quickly learned by putting words into a rhyme, song or game).
In one beautiful book, these philosophies and concepts have all been captured:
- Touch
- Poems
- Rhyming
- Singing
- Games
- Imaginative Play and more
Many of you know that I own a second business so I am sure you can connect the dots to my thinking here: books that contain THIS MUCH KNOWLEDGE are a purchase well made ‘in my book’ (pun on words there, yes).
Who do I think this book might work well for?
- Physical Therapists
- Baby Massage instructors and teachers
- Teachers
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Nannies
- Relatives
- First time parents! (fantastic baby shower gift)
Even if you do not feel comfortable with baby/child massage, you can certainly still initiate every other aspect of this book into the lives of children. The book actually gives you instructions on how to speak the poems and songs while doing the hand motions to go along, engaging the child in play and motion.
Two thumbs up from me on this review. If I had more thumbs, the book would get those too.
Consider joining Martine’s newsletter list and don’t forget to enter for the giveaway!
Michelle 
Cindy Jarvis 
Chris 
Amy Kaplan 
Becky Vinyard 
Cathryn 
Tiffani
[...] · View mommyperks: "Mommy Draw Stars on My Tummy" #book review and #giveaway: http://www.mommyperks.com/vip/?p=1976 #parenting 2009-08-06 16:03:36 · Reply · View vKnouseM: Smartipants [...]