About The Author

Robert Toporek, an Advanced Certified Rolf Practitioner

In 1975, Robert began a four year journey studying Rolfing directly with Dr. Ida P. Rolf and her son Dick Demmerle. In 1978, Dr. Rolf chose Robert to implement and manage a project to demonstrate and document the benefits of Rolfing for babies and children. Since then, Robert has continued to expand this work. This breakthrough guide to child and baby massage explains how a child’s vitality, self-confidence, behavior, and overall development may be greatly enhanced by a few minutes of gentle massage by a parent on a regular basis. Here, easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations provide simple techniques for massaging babies, toddlers, and young children.

Robert Toporek with Dr Rolf Shira, 1978

My purpose in writing Hands-On Parenting is to provide a guide to massage for happier, healthier, smarter kids and to expand our Hands-on Parenting workshops, seminars, videos, and any effort toward making a difference.

This book is full of knowledge, much of which is common sense but rarely common practice. My dream is for this knowledge of this touch to reach every child no matter their economic or social circumstances or place of residence. It is important for every child—especially for children living in orphanages, homeless shelters, pockets of poverty, war-torn areas, and those facing developmental challenges—to benefit from the knowledge in this book and our programs.

I initially wrote this book because Buz Teacher of Running Press asked me to, and knowing I couldn’t say no, I said yes. Since then I have learned so much more about the power and importance of raising happier, healthier, and smarter kids. I could not let this knowledge go untapped. Thank you, Buz.

Hands On Parenting

Fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi etiam. Quis risus sed vulputate odio ut enim volutpat, tellus pellentesque eu tortor nulla cras. Mattis enim ut tellus elementum sagittis vitae.

See the difference touch can make in your child’s life, buy the book and get started on a lasting road to positive health and wellness.