Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids [Mass Market Paperback]

Nancy Carlsson-Paige (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2009

Read Nancy Carlsson-Paige's posts on the Penguin Blog

Based on early-childhood development expert Nancy Carlsson-Paige’s thirty years of researching young children, this groundbreaking book helps parents navigate the cultural currents shaping, and too often harming, kids today—and restore childhood to the best of what it can be. As Carlsson-Paige explains, there are three attributes critical to kids’ healthy development: time and space for creative play, a feeling of safety in today’s often frightening world, and strong, meaningful relationships with both adults and other children—attributes that we, as a society, are failing to protect and nurture. From advising parents on which toys foster creativity (and which stifle it) to guiding them in how to use “power-sharing” techniques to resolve conflicts and generate empathy, Carlsson-Paige offers hands-on steps parents can take to create a safe, open, and imaginative environment in which kids can relish childhood and flourish as human beings.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Dr. Carlsson-Paige is dedicated to the well-being of children. In Taking Back Childhood, she provides real-life examples for preserving children’s creative play and relationships from the unhealthy onslaught of media and technological distractions. I highly recommend it.”
—Alvin F. Poussaint, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and Judge Baker Children’s Center

“Taking Back Childhood brims with practical advice for the challenges parents face today. Nancy Carlsson-Paige speaks with emotional wisdom.”
—Daniel Goleman, author of the New York Times bestsellers Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence

“If you are like most parents, you're worried about the new realities of childhood – violence, sexualization, the speed-up of daily life, materialism – topics which are not adequately covered in the classic parenting guides. How much TV? What to do when a child is disrespectful? What's causing the tantrums or excessive anxiety? Nancy Carlsson-Paige's brilliant new book shows parents how to navigate the treacherous waters of our culture, and our children's reactions to it. Based on decades of research, teaching, and practice in the philosophy of child-development, she returns us to the basic needs of creativity, security, and connection. As you read it, I suspect it will not only profoundly affect how you parent, but also how you live your own life. Taking Back Childhood deserves to take its place among the classics, read and re-read by parents everywhere.”
—Juliet B. Schor, author of Born to Buy; Professor of Sociology, Boston College

"With Taking Back Childhood, Dr. Carlsson-Paige explains the many ways our culture and media are threatening our children's healthy development. She gives adults concrete strategies for fighting back. Today's parents need this book."
—Marian Wright Edelman, President, Children's Defense Fund --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Plume; Reprint edition (February 24, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452290090
• ISBN-13: 978-0452290099
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,540 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Journey of Childhood, November 16, 2008

By 

Cynthia L. Mapes (Newton, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World (Hardcover)

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!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Empowering Resource for Teachers and Parents, November 22, 2008

By 

SDavisson "SDavisson" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World (Hardcover)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, thought-provoking book! Easy read., April 28, 2009

By 

SW "Shopper61" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Taking Back Childhood: A Proven Roadmap for Raising Confident, Creative, Compassionate Kids (Mass Market Paperback)

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!