Taking Back Childhood

Taking Back Childhood

Carlsson-Paige, a professor of early childhood education and conflict resolution at Lesley University and consultant for several PBS television shows, has a lot of practical advice for parents who want to build better—nonviolent, caring, creative—relationships with their children. Children don’t need electronic gizmos and brainy software, she maintains; they do need lots of creative play opportunities, a strong sense of personal security and positive relationships with other children and adults. Carlsson-Paige encourages parents to model problem solving and cooperative behavior for their children. Thus, parents shouldn’t use power over their kids (issuing orders, calling time-outs), but instead try power sharing, getting on the same side of a problem with the kids and figuring out a resolution together. Parents should stop buying pre-scripted media-based toys (Power Rangers, Nemo spinoffs) and instead buy open-ended toys like blocks and modeling clay that allow children to expand their creativity. There is not much new here, and Carlsson-Paige is often preaching to the choir, but readers will want to believe in her argument that compassionate parenting will produce a less violent and more humane world. (Apr.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Thought-provoking book
As a psychologist, minister, and parent who is concerned about the impact of mass media and marketing upon children, I found Nancy Carlsson-Paige’s book to be a very timely, yet easy to read, analysis. I found her description of the FCC’s relaxation of rules around product tie-ins for children’s television shows to be especially enlightening. It has really changed the way that I view children’s TV. The book confirmed my decision to terminate cable and to limit my son’s TV viewing. This is a must-read for all parents, educators, and those who work with children. While it may not make you decide to turn off the TV, it will certainly make you a more informed consumer of media and marketing.

5 Stars The Journey of Childhood
As a parent and former teacher, I was drawn to Nancy Carlsson-Paige’s new book because I have been familiar with her groundbreaking work on young children’s war play, “The War Play Dilemma” and know that she has been working, quietly and not so quietly, to effect change in the way we raise our children in this culture. She is a strong advocate for the kind of childhood I have been trying to provide for my own children, but I find it increasingly difficult to find kindred spirits who limit “screen time” and allow for plenty of “down time” for their kids. Nancy’s book gives me hope that we can rescue creative play and advocate for its importance to healthy development, build closer connections to our children, help them develop the kind of empathy the world needs, and teach them to “talk back to consumerism.” Most of all, it helps me feel that it’s not just me against the corporations–that we parents can support each other as we try to hang on to childhood for our children–and it reminds us that childhood is not a race, but a journey….Every parent, grandparent, caregiver, and teacher needs a copy of this book!

5 Stars Great, thought-provoking book! Easy read.
This is an excellent book. Well written, easy read… and gives very clear, specific suggestions for handling children’s behavior. I highly recommend it for parents or anyone else working with children!

5 Stars An Empowering Resource for Teachers and Parents
As a college instructor and early childhood educator, I have witnessed the frustration experienced by well-intended adults who wish to protect children from media violence, commercialism, accelerated academic curriculum and other threats to a healthy childhood. As a grandmother, I have been looking for an empowering resource for my daughter as she struggles to raise her 10-year old twins. Nancy Carlsson-Paige’s book comes just when parents and teachers need it the most! Through real-life stories and professional expertise, the author offers encouragement and insightful guidance for those of us who feel overwhelmed by the challenges of raising children in this complex, sometimes harmful world of ours. My early childhood education students appreciate the accessible way that the author includes child development theory in her writing so that parents and teachers can make informed decisions about how to reclaim what is crucial to childrens’ healthy development – creative play, a sense of security and competence, and positive relationships with both adults and other children. I can’t think of a better gift for parents and teachers who value and respect childhood.

5 Stars Full of practical advice
Chances are, if you are considering reading this book, you are already concerned about the negative impact that our consumer culture is having on children. Nancy Carlsson-Paige will add fuel to your concern, but she also offers plenty of practical advice that anyone can follow. You don’t have to be an educator to read this book and you don’t need any special training to do the things she suggests! There are real-life examples on almost every page, followed by practical suggestions and sample conversations that you can easily have with the children in your life. The appendix has excellent resources for those who want to learn more, or take action against harmful media messages–and believe me, you will want to become an activist after reading this book!

Buy/More Info