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A Good Childhood: Searching for Values in a Competitive Age Paperback – 5 Feb 2009

by Judy Dunn (Author), Richard Layard (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 32 customer reviews
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Product details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin (5 Feb. 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0141039434
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141039435
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 1.5 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 80,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

About the Author

Richard Layard is Emeritus Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics, and author of the best-selling Happiness (Penguin, 2005). He was founder-director of the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics and now heads its programme on well-being. He is also a member of the House of Lords.

Judy Dunn is Professor of Developmental Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. Her research interests are in children's social, emotional and communicative development, studied in their families and with their friends. She is Chair of the Good Childhood Inquiry.

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Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsA bold and challenging analysis of childhood in a consumer culture
By Jeremy Williams on 17 April 2009
Format: Paperback
In 2007, a UNICEF study ranked 21 developed countries and found that the UK came last for child welfare, with the US second worst. The Good Childhood Inquiry set out to find out why, and this book represents their conclusions.

On one level, it's a good time to be a child. Children in the UK enjoy good health and can look forward to long lives. They have foreign holidays, and a wealth of consumer goods. Despite the good life promised to them however, this generation of children is more stressed, more violent, and less happy than the children of the seventies or eighties. Alcohol use and teenage pregnancy are among the worst in Europe.

The report deals with some important and unpopular topics here, such as family break-up, and absent fathers, divorce, or parents who have put their careers first, as well as role of the media, and the erosion of trust.

There are lessons here for the government, town planners, teachers, and for parents. Overall however, the finger points at our whole individualistic consumer culture. And that's not so easily fixed.

The report has to return to that difficult word `values' - children need to empathise and understand the need to share, and to put others first. They need friends, teachers who believe in them, and parents who love them and love each other. In the end, love is a key word. "One major theme of this report is the need a more caring ethic and for less aggression - for, to put it bluntly, a society more based on the law of love" say the authors.

A Good Childhood is a thoroughly researched and thought provoking read, and I have no hesitation in recommending it.
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2.0 out of 5 starsSearching for a well written book on such a well researched subject
By Emma Jackson on 9 Mar. 2009
Format: Paperback
I was eagerly awaiting my copy of this book after all the publicity about the report, but haven't got more than a third of the way through yet as it is so badly written. There seems to be no flow, just a jumble of generalisations which are left frustatingly unsubstantiated. I wanted the facts backed up with figures and an explanation of how the research led to such conclusions. Very disappointing when they were in such a good position to produce accessible yet convincing advice.
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5.0 out of 5 starsOutstanding study of what makes childhood a good experience
By T/ A. Ogden on 13 Mar. 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This is the result of an enquiry in Britain lasting 18 months and set up by The Children's Society, into the factors that make for a good childhood. Its strengths are that at every stage it backs its findings by citing evidence from studies in sociology, psychology, and education, which in many cases it critically evaluates, but at the same time illuminates with stories of individual children, and quotes from them. It concludes the importance of love, parental commitment (from both parents in harmonious relationship if at all possible), setting boundaries for the children, moral standards. as well as elements such as friends, exercise, and early education. It laments Britain's poor performance on childhood poverty and discusses its consequences. An outstanding piece of work.
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5.0 out of 5 starsStinging rebuke on the values we pass to our children
By Rolf Mason on 10 Jan. 2012
Format: Paperback
This is an excellent book!

In under 200 pages the Children's Society consider, assess and critique a range of topics that frame children's lives. Running throughout the book is the argument that 'excessive individualism' is the root of much that is wrong in society. The blurb reads, " 'A Good Childhood' provides the facts on the state of childhood in the UK today and provides suggestions for how it could be made better for all chidren, giving them the values they need to be happy and to flourish" - and it does!

It reviews the following themes: family, friends, lifestyle, values, schooling, mental health, and inequalities. The content of each chapter is clear headed and insightful drawing on excellent source research material, as well as surveys from children themselves. It does not feel like a Government white paper, especially when it describes the Government's policy for building over of open spaces in towns and playing fields as "madness".

I could wax lyrical about the conclusions the book makes, but as there's so much that is prescient and acutely accurate (in my opinion) I can't even begin to summarise the range of observations.

That said, here's one small extract:
"The answer [to the disappearance of automatic deference] is not permissive parenting where anything goes. Chidren need unconditional love of them as persons, but they also need clear boundaries, based on reasoned explanation...Parents must of course live the principles they purport to believe in."

The book's three watchwords are: love, respect and evidence.

This all said, while the book is enjoyable and accurate (and I often found myself muttering "No s**t Sherlock!Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsA Good Childhood
By Mr. M. J. Gray on 8 Mar. 2009
Format: Paperback
This book was very interesting to read and made many good points about child-care and the role of parents. It makes many common sense comments and challenges many of the practices evident in modern homes where both parents work, or where there is only one parent. Some have criticised the book as being too 'religious' in the solutions that it recommends. My own view is that it is quite balanced, but many of its recommendations are unlikely to be accepted because the social and financial set-up today makes such acceptance impossible--we are unlikely to go back a mother staying at home for a long period once children arrive. What it says should certainly generate discussion.
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