Understanding child development through the prism of the Five Elements adds an exciting new dimension to western thinking on the nurture of children. It can not only explain patterns of behaviour in a new and helpful way, but suggest approaches and methods to help children, and groups of children, become more balanced and therefore happier, more resilient, and more open to learning and new experience.
The authors explain in detail the characteristics of each of the Five Elements of Chinese thought (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water) with their distinctive modes of expression and potential associated difficulties, and describe the problems that can occur if a child’s elements are not in balance. In doing so, they provide a completely new and accessible way of understanding the emotional and behavioural state, and developmental stage of a child, in and out of the classroom. They introduce a wide range of easy-to-do and entertaining exercises and group activities to balance the elements, both individually and in groups.
This exciting and practical book will help anyone working with or caring for children to deepen their understanding of childhood behaviour in general, and of individual children in particular, and to take active steps to nurture their potential, including teachers, therapists, occupational therapists, Chinese medicine and other alternative medicine practitioners, and Qigong and martial arts teachers, as well as parents.
The authors explain in detail the characteristics of each of the Five Elements of Chinese thought (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water) with their distinctive modes of expression and potential associated difficulties, and describe the problems that can occur if a child’s elements are not in balance. In doing so, they provide a completely new and accessible way of understanding the emotional and behavioural state, and developmental stage of a child, in and out of the classroom. They introduce a wide range of easy-to-do and entertaining exercises and group activities to balance the elements, both individually and in groups.
This exciting and practical book will help anyone working with or caring for children to deepen their understanding of childhood behaviour in general, and of individual children in particular, and to take active steps to nurture their potential, including teachers, therapists, occupational therapists, Chinese medicine and other alternative medicine practitioners, and Qigong and martial arts teachers, as well as parents.
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Reviews
Children at Their Best will be enriching for every therapist who works with children…I know from several years of practical experience that it is very ambitious and difficult to supplement eastern wisdom – here the Five Element teaching – and western analytical knowledge usefully, but this volume masters the challenge impressively.
Reading this wonderful book, I imagine children laughing and jumping with joy and I deeply appreciate the opportunity of reading it. Both Western and Eastern approaches are well-understood and fused into a very new style merging “five elements” with “play”. This book will be a mariner's compass for developing each child's potential and personality. A child's smile is the treasure of the world.
I love this practical guide for all involved with supporting children to develop their potential through understanding, in practical ways, how to integrate the ancient knowledge of the 5 elements. This knowledge is timeless and here are many practical ideas of how to include it in the modern world. It is even more important now than in ancient times, when children lived in much more direct contact with the elemental forces of nature.