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Natural Learning Rhythms
A New Parenting Philosophy
By Jenn Director Knudsen
Luvmour, who for nearly 25 years has steeped himself in fields including child development, family dynamics, anthropology and even quantum mechanics, says at the crux of his newest book is the delineation of four developmental stages of childhood. Each stage represents a way the child organizes his world, and that child's parents must nourish – not fight against or try to alter – that place. Only then can optimal well-being be established in the child and, thus, in the entire family.
"Bringing well-being is the quickest, most powerful way to get to family well-being and to remedying dysfunction," Luvmour says in a phone interview from his home. He adds that total success, however, does not come quickly – especially when considering Luvmour believes childhood stretches from conception to 23 years of age.
Natural Learning Rhythms (NLR) – working with the child during the developmental stage he is at – helps define Luvmour's four stages of childhood. "Natural Learning Rhythms goes beyond just safeguarding the child and making sure they become productive or creative members of society," Luvmour writes in Chapter Two. "(NLR) helps each family member hit their notes at just the right time, so that the family and the community can be creative and inspiring."
With that definition in mind, here is a synopsis of each of Luvmour's stages of childhood:
- BodyBeing occurs from conception to age 8 1/2. Children in this first stage of childhood are very touch-oriented and thrive on knowing they're in a secure, warm environment. Luvmour recognizes that while most parents intuitively, frequently and gently touch their babies and toddlers, it's more challenging to keep this up askids become school-age. So flexibility is key. "Loving touch, in its widest meaning of both physical and psychological sensations, is the most important nourishment for the BodyBeing child," he writes in Chapter Five. "However, its form must be modified continually as the child's perceptions and abilities change during the stage."
