Taming Childhood?: A Critical Perspective on Policy, Practice and Parenting

Description

This book explores the links between recent reports of increasing levels of unhappiness and mental health problems amongst children and young people, and changes within childhood which restrict and reduce opportunities for children to develop and maintain resilience. Although in academic terms children may be viewed as beings, Creasy and Corby posit that there is much to suggest that for parents, practitioners and policy-makers, children are primarily seen as becomings. The book argues that viewing children as becomings, together with the idea that childhood is fraught with danger, contributes to practices and policies which can be seen as making childhood tame. This taming of childhood leads to an impoverished childhood that does not provide the space that children need to grow and develop. Furthermore, Taming Childhood? challenges the idea that young adults are 'snowflakes', unable to cope with everyday pressures. Students and scholars across a range of social science disciplines will find this book of interest. Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Introduction (Rob Creasy, Fiona Corby)....Pages 1-11 The Context of Childhood (Rob Creasy, Fiona Corby)....Pages 13-34 Introducing Tameness (Rob Creasy, Fiona Corby)....Pages 35-55 Home and Family (Rob Creasy, Fiona Corby)....Pages 57-81 Taming in the Early Years (Rob Creasy, Fiona Corby)....Pages 83-102 Tameness at School (Rob Creasy, Fiona Corby)....Pages 103-124 Conclusion (Rob Creasy, Fiona Corby)....Pages 125-136 Back Matter ....Pages 137-159