Children First: What Society Must Do--and is Not Doing--for Children Today [Paperback]

Penelope Leach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 1995

The child psychologist whose book Your Baby & Child has provided indispensable advice to a new generation of parents now offers a groundbreaking book which suggests that even the best parenting may not be enough in a society that is hostile to children. Leach shows how our laws, employment polices, and culture end up depriving children of their parents.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

By Leach's estimate, rich Western nations spend more on beer and cigarettes than on controlling major childhood diseases or providing basic education for all children, family planning and maternity services. In a sane, compelling brief for society's most vulnerable and dependent citizens, this London-based child psychologist, author of the bestselling Your Baby & Child , argues for "child-focused" socioeconomic policies that address homelessness, poverty, schooling, daycare and parents' need to spend more time with their children. Such policies, she contends, are not only affordable but, in the long run, cost-effective. She urges employers to allow part-time or more flexible working hours for parents and advocates the creation of "child-places," daycare centers in each community, run partly by parents and available to everyone. Both visionary and pragmatic, her thoughtful report--informed by comparisons of childrearing and public policies in the U.S., Britain, Sweden and Australia--is a constructive manifesto. 75,000 first printing; author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The author of such best-selling books for the new mother as Your Baby & Child ( LJ 9/1/78) argues that children must be backed up by more economic and social supports. A 75,000-copy first printing.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Vintage; First Vintage Book Edition edition (April 25, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679754660
• ISBN-13: 978-0679754664
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #840,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT ANALYSIS OF THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, April 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Children First: What Society Must Do--and is Not Doing--for Children Today (Paperback)

This is an excellent read for all those who are truly concernedwith the welfare of children. While the economy has greatly alteredthe roles of both men and women, the question is raised whether it should be allowed to alter the needs of young children. Penelope Leach intelligently presents the thesis that the needs of young children must be placed above all else. This is ever the more significant in light of the recent popular press attention regarding the critical development that is going on in the brain during the first three years of life. These first three years of life are so important that it only goes to underscore the author's plea that each child receive one on one "parenting" during this time to insure optimal growth. This is certainly not a popular notion today in light of the two-earner family, however, society must still measure the cost of ignoring what science is telling us is important. This is not a nostalgic throw-back to the days of Ozzie and Harriet but rather a realistic analysis of what we as a society cannot discount.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT ANALYSIS OF THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, April 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Children First (Hardcover)

This is an excellent read for all those who are truly concernedwith the welfare of children. While the economy has greatly alteredthe roles of both men and women, the question is raised whether it should be allowed to alter the needs of young children. Penelope Leaqch intelligently presents the thesis that the needs of young children must be placed above all else. This is ever the more significant in light of the recent popular press attention regarding the critical development that is going on in the brain during the first three years of life. These first three years of life are so important that it only goes to underscore the author's plea that each child receive one on one "parenting" during this time to insure optimal growth. This is certainly not a popular notion today in light of the two-earner family(see Barnett's "She Works/He Works"),however, society must still measure the cost of ignoring what science is telling us is vitally important. This is not a nostalgic throw-back to the days of Ozzie and Harriet but rather a realistic analysis of what we as a society cannot afford to discount.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read this book., November 13, 2008

By 

kyle - See all my reviews

This review is from: Children First: What Society Must Do--and is Not Doing--for Children Today (Paperback)

This book clearly shows the importance of properly caring for children, whether you're the parent or not, and should be read by everyone. It's an overview of development, fundamentals, and how life works on the most basic yet most important levels, while also going into enough detail to give developed understandings. Want to change the world for the better? Help children grow up with better lives; this is a great first step.