Rahima Baldwin Dancy warns against rushing children through childhood. She advocates a “slow parenting” revolution that will allow children to develop at their own pace, and crucially, will help parents discover confidence in their own ability to parent and enjoy the magical first years of raising a child. “Our children need us for the heart connection, but they don’t need constant adult input and intellectual stimulation,” says Baldwin Dancy. “Allowing children to be children today means recognising their need for creative play, which is the work of childhood.”

Rahima Baldwin Dancy’s practical, down-to-earth advice will help parents to:

• Understand their child’s unique personal, mental, soul and physical needs at each stage of development
• Nourish their child’s imagination with simple, home-made toys and materials from the garden and kitchen cupboard
• Enjoy storytelling, arts, crafts and musical activities with their child
• Create their own family rituals to ease the daily routine
• Use imitation, repetition and setting limits to promote positive discipline
• Value their own ability to understand and care for their child.