Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

Penelope Leach is the most sensible, pragmatic and intelligent of child care "experts," with empathies that are clearly with the child in this argument that the developed world must make it easier for families to put their children first.