Praise for Train a Dog, but Raise the Child: A practical primer:
Dorit’s book is terrific.
Well written, and easy to pick up and read a chapter here and there. For parents of any other picky eaters out there, the food chapter is astute, short and sweet.
Mother of a pre-schooler
January, 2018
In short, a wonderful book which I warmly recommend!
This little book by the experienced Waldorf teacher and teacher trainer, Dorit Winter, is a very witty little gem.
It is quite easy to see that many people can deal with their dog better than with their own children.
In literary and imaginative language, full of wit and metaphors, Winter leads the reader to an understanding of the difference between training and education. This she does by means of her own experiences with her dog, Scamp. The scenes she describes are so amusing and recognizable, the leap to educating children so well-founded, that one might think this book should be required reading for all new parents.
The writing is wonderfully humorous and intelligent and includes insightful commentaries about our times. Winter writes about how there is food and pleasure, but everything has become an industry. We learn about the ‘weather in the classroom’ and the real weather, about the deluge of expectations placed upon the child, about genuine love and infatuation, about pampering as a form of neglect, about being cool. And finally, about how children survive their childhood.
Then, there is the amazing biography of Doctor Brazelton who discovered that babies behave differently under laboratory conditions than in a social setting. Despite this, the laboratory responses of children have, for the past decades, perpetuated a “scientific” picture of the young child.
In short, a wonderful book which I warmly recommend!
Master teacher, author, international lecturer, father of 5, grandfather
August, 2017
Direct and Humorous
Train the dog but raise the child is a wonderfully direct, humorous and heartfelt reminder of how important commonsense is in supporting children as they grow toward a healthy adulthood. Personal insights and practical suggestions gleaned from decades of working with children and parents are interwoven with observations garnered from current public observers of the ‘state of childhood.’ No matter the age of your children or grandchildren, or the level of your interest in training a dog, Dorit’s book is a ‘good read’ and delightfully ‘jargon-free.’
A grateful mother become grandmother
May 7, 2017
A Gem of a Book: Insights from Years of Teaching Children, Adults, and a Rascally Dog
We’re told the human being is either an animal or a computer: paradigms that inform much of education today. Dorit Winter examines these tropes in this conversational, enlightening and thought-provoking gem of a book by comparing and contrasting her experiences training her rascally dog Scamp and her years of teaching children and adults. She rightly, I think, calls attention to the incessant attacks on the very qualities that make us human and not animals or CPUs. And she does so in a style that is at once approachable and challenging.
As the father of young boys and dog owner I found myself thinking “absolutely!” at parts and “I hadn’t thought of that” in others. But the book is for anyone. Teachers, parents, or anybody interested in a refreshing, challenging and frank conversation about what it means to be human.
Father of two young boys and dog owner
May 27, 2017
PARENTS, At Last! A Manual on Simple Ideas for Raising Children!
Dorit Winter’s new book contains essential guidance for parents, caregivers and teachers. The stories about her dog’s antics and her dog-owner learning curve create an entertaining backdrop for readers as they are reminded of key back-to-basics advice on raising children. Dorit penetrates the realm of the growing child with invaluable and concise insights. As a classroom teacher and parent, I found countless examples to help me support the children in my care and lead them in a healthy direction. The children of readers who practice what is conveyed in this book will be healthier and more well-adjusted human beings as a result.
Middle school teacher/mother of two adolescents
May 28, 2017
Such a Good Read
This book is cheerful, lively, incisive, engaging and such a good read you may not realize at first just how much you have learned about children.
High school English teacher, retired
June 6, 2017
Easy, funny, transformational
I am loving the book. I’ve found it a very easy read, laugh out loud funny, and already transformational in my parenting in just the one week of implementing objectivity consciously.
Mother of three young children aged 4, 7 and 10
June 17, 2017
Funny, frothy and delightful but written with a deeply …
Funny, frothy and delightful but written with a deeply serious intent. This book is for parents and teachers and all those who cherish the humanity of children, and for those of us who endeavor to raise them to meet the challenges of 21st century life with all its technological lures. I’ve bought and given away 4 copies to my own children who now have children of their own.
Long-time kindergarten teacher, grandmother
June 25, 2017
Inspiring, Thought-Provoking, Effective
As a mother of two young children, I found this book inspiring, thought-provoking and effective! The day after I finished reading the book, I had a clearer picture of how my own inconsistencies affect my children’s behavior and habits. The changes were eye-opening and really helpful! Thank you Dorit!
Mother of two young children; experienced kindergarten teacher
June 28, 2017