Children Taken Seriously: In Theory, Policy and Practice

by Jan Mason (Editor), Toby Fattore (Editor), Chris Goddard (Contribution by)

Overview

In Children Taken Seriously, leading researchers and policy makers consider how children can be recognized as social actors rather than passive consumers or victims. Using children's own views and experiences as a starting point, they explore how children can be involved as partners in the decision-making processes that affect them, in social work, education, health care and broader social policies. Chapters on the theoretical background draw parallels between developments in children's and women's rights, and discuss communication issues and social and sexual constructions of children. Other chapters explore issues of policy and practice in a variety of areas, from Family Group Conferencing and child protection to child labour and notions of active citizenship. Highlighting the important role of schools in empowering children, the authors discuss children's engagement in and participation in their own education and how children's rights theory influences debates over discipline. This accessible and thought-provoking book is a rich source of insight and ideas for social workers, teachers, mental health professionals and anyone working with children.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781846420993
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	01/15/2005
Series:	Children in Charge
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	631 KB

Table of Contents

Foreword, Mary John, Professor Emeritus, University of Exeter. Working Seriously Towards New Partnerships: An Introduction. Toby Fattore and Jan Mason with Chris Sidoti, International Service for Children's Rights, Geneva. Part 1: Theory. 1. Women's Studies/Childhood Studies: Parallels, Links and Perspectives. Leena Alanen, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. 2. Theorizing Representation of and Engagement with Children: The Political Dimension of Child-Oriented Communication. Toby Fattore, New South Wales Commission for Children and Young People and Nick Turnbull, University of New South Wales. 3. Virtual Reality: Children as Constituents in Social Welfare and Social Policy Constructions. Marie Wilkinson, formerly University of Sydney. 4. Childhood and Sexuality: Adult Constructions and Silenced Children. Kerry H. Robinson, University of Western Sydney. Part 2: Policy. 5. The Social Condition of UK Childhoods: Children's Understandings and Their Implications. Berry Mayall, Institute of Education, University of London. 6. Child Protection Policy and the Construction of Childhood. Jan Mason, University of Western Sydney. 7. 'To Know Them is to Love Them', But Instead Fear and Loathing: Community Perceptions of Young People. Natalie Bolzan, University of Western Sydney. 8. The Objectification of the Child through 'Physical Discipline' and Language: The Debate on Children's Rights Continues. Bernadette J. Saunders and Chris Goddard, Monash University. 9. Children's Democratic Rights: What We Can Learn From Young Workers Organizing Themselves. Per Miljeteig, Psychologist and Child Rights consultant. Part 3: Practice. 10. Taking Young People Seriously Means Giving Them Serious Things to Do. Roger Holdsworth, University of Melbourne. 11. Negotiating Competing Versions of 'The Child': A Pre-School Child's Competence in Parent-Teacher Talk at the Pre-School. Michelle J. Leiminer, University of Queensland and Carolyn D. Baker, formerly University of Queensland. 12. Using Computers at Home and at School: Children's Views and Perspectives. Toni Downes, University of Western Sydney. 13. Preschool Girls, Conflict and Repair. Susan Danby, Queensland University of Technology. 14. Children's Perceptions of School. Neriman Osman, New South Wales Office of Children's Guardian. 15. Organisational Morality and Children's Engagement in Early Childhood Programs. Donna Berthelsen, Queensland University of Technology. 16. Today I Discovered� Helen Woodward, University of Western Sydney. 17. The Voice of the Child in the Family Group Conferencing Model. Patricia Kiely, UnitingCare Burnside, Sydney, Australia. Appendix: Transcript Notation. References. The Contributors. Subject Index. Author Index.