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The Art Of Roughhousing (2011)

by Anthony T. DeBenedet(Favorite Author)

4 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1594744874 (ISBN13: 9781594744877)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Quirk Books

review 1: Drives Home the Message to Parents: It's Healthy to Play with Your Kids!This book was reviewed as part of Amazon's Vine program which included a free advance copy of the book.I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in a house where our Dad was a physically involved parent throughout our childhoods. I still remember my sister and I getting thrown up, down, and around when we were little and loving every bit of it. Now, as the parent of two little girls, it is my turn to keep the rough-play tradition alive. I picked up THE ART OF ROUGHHOUSING hoping to learn some new tricks to use on the girls, but ended up being educated on how beneficial physical play is for kids.What drew me to the book was the simplified format: the authors' introduction to the art of rough-play and... more the important role it plays in a child's development, followed by an instructional and illustrated series of roughhousing moves/techniques that are gender-neutral. With its thick pages and compact size, the book is built to be used as a handy reference that can be grabbed on the fly. Each of the techniques is given a two-page spread: the left page has the technique's name, appropriate age range for child, degree of difficulty (to assist parents in determining safety issues) and step-by-step instructions on how to appropriately administer the "move" ... the facing page methodically illustrates the "move". Most will find that simply looking at the illustrations is enough, but the written instructions address important safety issues for some of the advanced techniques. I found the list of ideas to be thoughtfully prepared and thorough ... enough to ensure a wide variety of rough play will continue for many years. Roughhousing in not solely confined to wrestling though, the authors provide imagination and role-playing ideas that are just as fun to experiment with. Whether spicing-up a simple sidewalk stroll, a full-blown water-balloon/ pillow fight or a series of flips or rolls, the authors have covered all the bases for mothers and fathers who want a more engaging approach to parenting that is mutually rewarding.While I enjoyed the examples of roughhousing, I found the authors' claims of how beneficial rough play was to the development of a child's body and brain particularly enlightening. The physical nature of roughhousing enhances confidence, relationship, contact and motor skills. The book provides support in the form of research from behavior scientists, case studies and personal experience/observation. I appreciate the manner in which the authors chose to keep the research aspect of the book secondary to the roughhousing techniques ... it's there if you want it, but not essential reading if you are already a believer of roughhousing with your kid(s).THE ART OF ROUGHHOUSING is a gem of a book. Intending to be fun and engaging (not preachy), the authors' ensure the roughhousing techniques are the focal point of the book. Mothers, fathers, sons and daughters of all ages should find fun in this book. Go play!
review 2: I loved this book! I got it on kindle, then just ordered the hard copy to make my husband read it. I'm going to be giving it out as gifts like mad.This book is challenging me to stop fretting about the lack of recess in schools and start DOING something about all of our down time at home. Instead of starting up another quiet craft project, we're playing tag inside and out and giggling a lot more! It also emphasizes WHY play and physical touch are so important to children and families, so if you get the stink-eye from someone for wrestling with a kid, you have plenty of info to spout off! It also discusses why letting your kids win is not only ok, it is GOOD; why rules are made to be broken (during safe playtimes, so they'll be better followed when necessary); why tickling past the point of fun is so mean, etc. It is a very fast read, a great book to have on hand as a reference for ideas (play in small spaces, etc), and is going on my must-read list for parents - from infants to teenagers. less

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