Overview

Parenting becomes less scary and overwhelming when we understand the health and development of our children. This beautifully illustrated, clinician-reviewed book is the proverbial needle in the haystack - a profound new parenting unicorn. Instead of empty promises and cookie-cutter solutions for health, developmental and behavioural challenges, it opts to empower parents to collaborate with their support communities in developing workable strategies. Delivering hard science with compassion, it supports development and health literacy before and after birth and provides a universal model that can be applied in different ways for optimal nervous system development and immune priming in all children, but those with special needs in particular. The book offers guidance for: - Improving your health literacy for sound decisions before and after birth. - Discovering why genetics are not your child's only developmental and healthy destiny. - Developing a collaborative strategy with healthcare providers to prevent and counter adverse developmental and health events. - Understanding the value of different therapies. - Supporting all children in reaching their full potential. Written by Alda Smith, a mother searching for ways to support her son with debilitating dyspraxia DCD, apraxia, and ADD, IGNITE! The Firefly Theory is the result of an eight-year journey of personal experience and research in the hopes of finding a simplified model that would bridge the gap between parenting, educational and healthcare communities.

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9781919619910

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Reviews

Alda Smith engages the reader through sharing her journey with her son, which sparked an investigation in important scientific pillars that will serve to inform both parents and professionals alike. A wonderful resource for families of today! - Maude Le Roux, Occupational Therapist, OTR/L, SIPT, Expert DIR/Floortime Training Leader, Pennsylvania, USA A must for every parent with a neurodiverse child, those with neurotypical children, as well as educators, medical personnel, and support teams who need to comprehend the complexity and psychosocial dynamics that parents with these amazing children have to champion. - Prof Pieter Fourie, M.B.Ch.B., Ph.D. (Medical Physiology), M.Med. (Paediatrics), BSc. Eng. (Electrical) The Firefly Theory renders comprehensible, the energy system that DNA produces in concert with nutrients and our fragile environment. Smith's book will be wonderful for students of human biology, parents of neuro-diverse children and for all parents whose sense of purpose and well-being is to raise happy and healthy children. - Susan Levine, Associate Professor of Medical Humanities, University of Cape Town With her inquiring mind and fresh perspective, Alda sheds promising light on the complex interplay between health and wellness, inviting us to explore and integrate this important and fascinating field. - Dr. Mark van der Wal, anaesthesiologist, MBBCh., father and grandfather The parents manual to proactively raising a neurodiverse child, one pillar at a time. A must read! - Roberta von Meding, Mums & Tots Ireland Magazine editor & devoted mother IGNITE! The Firefly Theory guides one through the complexity of different systems in development. It reminds us that we need to consider all of the body's systems, target intervention at the point of origin, and meet children at their unique developmental level. Most importantly, Alda highlights the need for collaboration when optimising a child's potential. - Celette Crafford, Occupational Therapist, Sensory Integration Therapist, Advance DIR/Floortime Provider Alda Smith has produced a wonderfully accessible explanation of how we are made, as unique human beings, that integrates scientific facts with her experiences as a mother. The Firefly Theory makes so much sense from the medical point of view - the three-way balance between genetics, nutrients and stimulation is exactly what we all need. Accompanied by a series of lovely illustrations and stories that are personal and engaging, this book is an extremely valuable resource for others looking for ways to make a difference not only in their own childrens' precious lives, but children in every situation. - Prof Steve Reid, Chair: Primary Health Care, University of Cape Town

"""Alda Smith engages the reader through sharing her journey with her son, which sparked an investigation in important scientific pillars that will serve to inform both parents and professionals alike. A wonderful resource for families of today!"" - Maude Le Roux, Occupational Therapist, OTR/L, SIPT, Expert DIR/Floortime Training Leader, Pennsylvania, USA ""A must for every parent with a neurodiverse child, those with neurotypical children, as well as educators, medical personnel, and support teams who need to comprehend the complexity and psychosocial dynamics that parents with these amazing children have to champion. ""- Prof Pieter Fourie, M.B.Ch.B., Ph.D. (Medical Physiology), M.Med. (Paediatrics), BSc. Eng. (Electrical) ""The Firefly Theory renders comprehensible, the energy system that DNA produces in concert with nutrients and our fragile environment. Smith's book will be wonderful for students of human biology, parents of neuro-diverse children and for all parents whose sense of purpose and well-being is to raise happy and healthy children."" - Susan Levine, Associate Professor of Medical Humanities, University of Cape Town ""With her inquiring mind and fresh perspective, Alda sheds promising light on the complex interplay between health and wellness, inviting us to explore and integrate this important and fascinating field."" - Dr. Mark van der Wal, anaesthesiologist, MBBCh., father and grandfather ""The parents manual to proactively raising a neurodiverse child, one pillar at a time. A must read!"" - Roberta von Meding, Mums & Tots Ireland Magazine editor & devoted mother ""IGNITE! The Firefly Theory guides one through the complexity of different systems in development. It reminds us that we need to consider all of the body's systems, target intervention at the point of origin, and meet children at their unique developmental level. Most importantly, Alda highlights the need for collaboration when optimising a child's potential."" - Celette Crafford, Occupational Therapist, Sensory Integration Therapist, Advance DIR/Floortime Provider Alda Smith has produced a wonderfully accessible explanation of how we are made, as unique human beings, that integrates scientific facts with her experiences as a mother. The Firefly Theory makes so much sense from the medical point of view - the three-way balance between genetics, nutrients and stimulation is exactly what we all need. Accompanied by a series of lovely illustrations and stories that are personal and engaging, this book is an extremely valuable resource for others looking for ways to make a difference not only in their own childrens' precious lives, but children in every situation."" - Prof Steve Reid, Chair: Primary Health Care, University of Cape Town"

Author Information

Alda Smith is an ordinary mum of three beautiful, diverse children, with an extraordinary narrative in medicine. As a well-published, award-winning parenting author and social advocate, Alda uses her experiences, discovery potential, and unique way of thinking to intuitively explore and understand health sciences - bridging the gap between therapists or clinicians and their patients. She has provided emotional support to over 100 women in labour and birth and has more than 500 hours of clinical observation experience - including a 20-hour-long paediatric kidney harvesting and transplant at the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. She has a Professional Certification in the Fundamentals of Neuroscience, a Professional Certification in Narrative Medicine, and has completed basic overview training in photomedicine.

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