Child Honoring: How to Turn This World Around [Hardcover]

Raffi Cavoukian (Editor), Sharna Olfman (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 30, 2006

Sharna Olfman joins Raffi Cavoukian to introduce his original philosophy, Child Honoring-a compassionate revolution in values, a children-first approach to global restoration. This remarkable anthology outlines the unprecedented threats to life at this defining moment in history, and offers a novel and systemic remedy for societal transformation based on honoring our youngest and "most valuable players." Contributors from across many disciplines include renowned child development author Penelope Leach, Nobel Prize nominee Lloyd Axworthy, celebrated cultural historian Riane Eisler, bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver, and ecological economist Ron Colman. Child Honoring is a corrective lens that, once we look through it, allows us to question everything from the way we measure economic progress to our stewardship of the planet; from our physical treatment of children to the corporate impact on their minds and bodies; from factory schooling to rampant consumerism. It offers a proactive developmental approach to creating healthy and sustainable societies. As a creed that crosses all faiths and cultures, Child Honoring is a unifying idea: a central organizing principle for a culture of peace. This book will inspire thought-and provoke action-by all who read it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This thought-provoking book addresses many of today's societal problems and outlines the author's children-first plan for a more sustainable world. Parent & Child --Parent & Child

"How often do you come across a book that might actually change the world for a better?... Read it, believe it, and pass on the message!" - Jane M. Healy, Ph.D., author of Your Child's Growing Mind --Jane M. Healy, Ph.D.

About the Author

RAFFI CAVOUKIAN, C.M., O.B.C., D.Mus, D.Litt, the founder of Child Honoring, is best known as Raffi, award-winning songwriter, recording artist, ecology advocate, and author. A recipient of the Order of Canada and of the UN's Earth Achievement Award, Raffi is president of Troubadour Music, and a member of the Council on Human Development. He lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

SHARNA OLFMAN, Ph.D., is Professor of Clinical and Developmental Psychology at Point Park University, the founding director of the Childhood and Society symposium, and Series Editor of the Childhood in America book series with Praeger Publishers. Her Praeger books include No Child Left Different (2006), Childhood Lost (2005) and All Work and No Play (2003). Olfman is a member of the Council on Human Development and a partner in the Alliance for Childhood.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Praeger Publishers; 1 edition (May 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 027598981X
• ISBN-13: 978-0275989811
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,138,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honoring Society's "Most Valuable Players" -- our Children, July 11, 2006

By 

kolin "kolin" (vancouver, canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Child Honoring: How to Turn This World Around (Hardcover)

"At this critical point in the history of humankind, the irreducible needs of all children can offer a unifying ethic by which the cultures of our interdependent world might reorder their priorities. Child Honoring is a vision, an organizing principle, and a way of life--a revolution in values that calls for a profound redesign of every sphere of society." --Raffi

With this book, all adults, from parents and teachers to politicians, policy makers, business leaders and scientists, can be inspired to "turn this world around." Psychology professor Sharna Olfman joins children's champion Raffi Cavoukian (known to millions as the troubadour Raffi) to introduce his original philosophy "Child Honoring," a children-first paradigm for creating humane and sustainable cultures. With a foreword by the Dalai Lama, Child Honoring outlines the unprecedented threats to young life that abound at this moment in history--and offers a systemic remedy for societal transformation based on honoring our youngest and "most valuable players."

"Child Honoring" is a corrective lens helping us question everything--from the way we measure economic progress to our stewardship of the planet; from our physical treatment of children, to corporate impact on their minds and bodies; from factory schooling to rampant consumerism. It offers a proactive developmental approach to creating sustainable societies.
As a creed that crosses all faiths and cultures, Child Honoring can become a potent remedy for the most challenging issues of our time. This reader-friendly book brings attention to the need to detoxify our world, safeguard fetal and infant development, ban corporal punishment, create family-friendly policies in business and employment, curb corporate advertising to children, and recognize the importance of protecting biodiversity. This book will inspire thought--and provoke action--by all who read it.

Raffi's brilliant introduction to the book also includes
A COVENANT FOR HONORING CHILDREN:
"We find these joys to be self-evident:
That all children are created whole, endowed with innate intelligence, with dignity and wonder, worthy of respect.
The embodiment of life, liberty and happiness, children are original blessings, here to learn their own song.
Every girl and boy is entitled to love, to dream, and to belong to a loving "village."
And to pursue a life of purpose.
We affirm our duty to nourish and nurture the young, to honor their caring ideals as the heart of being human.
To recognize the early years as the foundation of life, and to cherish the contribution of young children to human evolution.
We commit ourselves to peaceful ways and vow to keep from harm or neglect these, our most vulnerable citizens.
As guardians of their prosperity we honor the bountiful Earth whose diversity sustains us.
Thus we pledge our love for generations to come."

Contributors to this anthology include Penelope Leach, Lloyd Axworthy, Riane Eisler, Barbara Kingsolver, ecological economist Ron Colman, indigenous educator Lorna Williams, Matthew Fox, author of The Corporation Joel Bakan, and physicist Fritjof Capra.

"Child Honoring, the book and the project, can bring us back to life. No initiative I know carries more galvanizing power of truth. It breaks open the heart and lets the light shine through, to ignite our deepest passions." --Joanna Macy, author of World As Lover, World As Self

5.0 out of 5 stars A very helpful resource, November 8, 2010

By 

Reasoner101 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Child Honouring: How to Turn This World Around (Paperback)

My wife and I are intent upon creating a commercial free childhood for our sons, who are now 4 and 6. We thought we were well versed on the subject; she has a PhD. in literature and reads a lot, but after reading some chapters of this important book, we both learned some very helpful lessons. Highly recommended for parents who believe another world is possible, and who take modelling such a world seriously.

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it! Share it! Live it!, October 8, 2010

By 

Tammy Dewar - See all my reviews

This review is from: Child Honouring: How to Turn This World Around (Paperback)

I continue to be blown away by the depth and fullness of the vision within the pages of this anthology. Raffi Cavoukian and the diverse and distinguished contributors brilliantly cover the multiple facets touching children, families, and society--economic, ecological, spiritual, and cultural. Child Honouring beckons us to share our greatest humanity and to "turn this world around, for the children." This book masterfully weaves the complexity and offers hope and inspiration. Reading it is mind and heart expanding.

~Tammy Dewar, co-author of Raising the Village: How Individuals And Communities Can Work Together To Give Our Children A Stronger Start In Life.~