January 2020 – the path to a happy childhood

Martin Ruman, a member of the Red Button network, shares his thoughts on the book.

empathetic upbringing in light of the latest findings on the brain and emotional development of the child

How do you raise a child to be happy and develop harmoniously? How can you positively influence their development? Is it okay to let a child cry before falling asleep? Is it ever acceptable to give a child a slap, or is even a light spank harmful?

Many books and essays have been written on these questions, but the book by renowned French pediatrician Catherine Gueguen, which became an instant bestseller in France upon release, is unique—it offers a new perspective on upbringing based both on the practical experience of a doctor and mother and on the latest scientific research on the brain, which completely challenges traditional views on parenting.
Many parents today intuitively feel that the traditional authoritarian approach is outdated and lean toward a nonviolent, sensitive approach based on an empathetic relationship with the child. Now they have a publication that clarifies the direct connection between the environment in which a child grows up and the maturation of their entire personality, especially their brain.

Ruman also addresses these topics in education and, thanks to the book, realizes that sometimes it’s too late to address them only in adulthood. “That’s why it makes more sense to me to focus on how we influence the new people who come into the world among us,” he explains. Therefore, he would recommend the book not only to parents or those preparing for that role but also to teachers or anyone interested in why people aren’t all the same and when these differences arise.

“It’s important to understand that people went through different experiences when they were little, and later in life it can be difficult for them to change,” explains Martin Ruman.