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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why our nursery is giving this book away?

35 replies

askyfullofstars · 18/02/2015 15:20

Our nursery have been in touch to say that they have been given some books for us to take home (as a gift), and pass on to other parents when we have read it.

I had never heard of it, so I googled it, it is this one:

www.amazon.com/Their-Name-Today-Reclaiming-Childhood/product-reviews/0874866308/ref=cm_cr_dp_qt_hist_one?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0

Im not sure a preschool nursery should be passing out books that contain such content as:

“Many children find themselves unable to communicate with a real person who requires a thoughtful verbal response. More and more children arrive at preschool with speech difficulties; some do not speak at all. Since this is a diagnosable trait in autism spectrum, how many children may be categorized as autistic when they have simply not had the opportunity to learn human interaction?”

Which, to me (as well as the reviewer I 'borrowed' this paragraph from, reads:

Technology=less social skills=autism

So, I am beginning to wonder if they either
a) agree with the sentiments imposed in this book
b) have even read it/know what its about

OP posts:
countessmarkyabitch · 18/02/2015 15:24

you could ask them?

adsy · 18/02/2015 15:30

fewer social skills, fewer

LostTeacher · 18/02/2015 15:30

Was it just you or all of the parents?

OhFlippityBolax · 18/02/2015 15:31

Is it a drive by community paeds team? My local one is on a real anti dummy drive at the moment

merrymouse · 18/02/2015 15:36

how many children may be categorized as autistic when they have simply not had the opportunity to learn human interaction.

I don't know - only those children go have been raised by wolves, perhaps?

merrymouse · 18/02/2015 15:37

'Who have', not 'go have'.

Lindy2 · 18/02/2015 15:37

I have a copy of this book. I quite enjoyed reading it. There are some bits in it that didn't match with my own views but there are also some very interesting and thought provoking parts. Take your free copy, read it and then form your own opinion.

SaucyJack · 18/02/2015 15:40

I think they're talking about young children being misdiagnosed as autistic. I don't see the offence.

Having said that, I'd probably file it in the bin anyway. Shit like that takes up good mumsnetting time.

Whoishillgirl · 18/02/2015 15:44

Our nursery gave this book away to. I think some organisation is distributing it free.
The book is not saying technology equals less social skills equals autism, it is saying in the paragraph you quote. It is presenting the idea that impaired social skills due to technology may be causing some children to be wrongly diagnosed as autistic. There was a piece on the news the other day about how some children spend so much time on mobile technology that the have poor communication skills and so avoid playing with other children (preschoolers).
The book is basically a long opinion piece by the author. I don't mind the nursery distributing it. I like reading opinions.

Whoishillgirl · 18/02/2015 15:46

Wow, sorry for poor literacy in my post. I blame this bloody ipad for my poor communication! : )

Original poster
askyfullofstars · 18/02/2015 15:49

SaucyJack
Shit like that takes up good mumsnetting time now that is the real issue.

OP posts:
Original poster
askyfullofstars · 18/02/2015 15:52

sorry, forgot the Grin at the end of my last post.

OP posts:
MishMooshAndMogwai · 18/02/2015 15:52

We got one too, I've not got time to read so think I gave mine to my mum. Might ask her for a book report so I get the gist Wink

merrymouse · 18/02/2015 16:13

How many young children are misdiagnosed as autistic because they haven't had the opportunity to learn human interaction? You would be talking about serious parental neglect on a level with being raised by wolves.

Babiecakes11 · 18/02/2015 17:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DuelingFanjo · 18/02/2015 17:06

it's written by this man. His intentions may be good but his is a Christian agenda. Not sure if that is relevant.

DuelingFanjo · 18/02/2015 17:09

His views on homosexuality and gay marriage are, erm, interesting

DuelingFanjo · 18/02/2015 17:12

"And so, at the risk of offending those who feel that "gay
rights" is the answer to centuries of gay persecution, I must say,
emphatically, that I do not think it will bring them the freedom they
seek.

Yes, homosexuals may now have sex "legally," but I fear that (just as
before the passage of the new ruling) it will not bring them anything
other than the short-lived gratification of selfish desires.

I say this because I believe that deep down, every human being
intuitively knows that homosexual intimacy is displeasing to God. "

Personally I would be questioning the nursery on their choice of material and trying to find out if they are aware of the author's general Christian philosophy.

Snowfedup · 18/02/2015 17:13

Nice picture, nice headscarf says it all really, why do i suspect his answer to the worlds ills is for women to stay at home and do the housework and look after the children ?

SuburbanRhonda · 18/02/2015 17:18

Interesting links, duellingfanjo.

Personally, I find it hard to take seriously any religious sect in which the women have to wear headscarves Hmm

leeloo1 · 18/02/2015 17:33

I was given a copy of this at a [[http://www.communityplaythings.co.uk/
Community Playthings]] stand at the Nursery World fair recently - so I assumed it was an Amish book?

The same company do lovely emails about the importance of natural play - so mud kitchens etc - and giving kids the freedom to explore - e.g. spend days building with (their beautiful but expensive CPs) blocks.

Tanith · 18/02/2015 17:58

It comes from Community Playthings, one of the main sources of income for the Bruderhof Community, and is available free from their website, along with a lot of educational downloads. I hadn't realised they were sending out free copies for parents, too, but the subject of the book is fairly common thinking from a lot of child development commentators.

Community Playthings are manufacturers of wooden nursery furniture. The stuff is excellent quality and practically bomb-proof: lasts for decades. If you use a nursery or Children's Centre, chances are they have Community Playthings items there.

SisterMoonshine · 18/02/2015 18:36

His religion does look similar to the Amish.

soontobemumofthree · 18/02/2015 18:59

Obviously screens/any parenting style, doesnt cause autism but the paragraph above doesnt say it causes it, just that it might cause misdiagnosis. Cant really see this happening myself, so I'd ignore that bit.

Could you just read it and take anything you want from it and leave the other opinions? This is what I do with any parenting advice/books /leaflets. I'd be surprised if I agreed with any whole book.

I havent read the book but snippets on google suggest not using TV as a babysitter, and I have to struggle with that everyday! So I kind of agree with that bit. Before the first day at proper school my DDs teacher brought all parents to class and emphasised the importance of speaking with your child daily, just including them in normal conversations and limiting screen time. This was to help their development and learning, but maybe she thinks the opposite would be true also. ie not speaking to your child and watching TV for hours every evening will hinder their social development.