Working Together for Childhood
The Alliance for Childhood serves as a network that facilitates reflection and action by people with concerns about the care and education of children. It is not a conventional organisation, but an expression of a willingness to work together for the betterment of the experience of childhood. It exists in the shared work and spirit of cooperation whereby all partners can find mutual support. It is a collaborative approach that is created by commitment and by the activity itself.
Assessing the Impact of the Commercial World on Children's Wellbeing - A Call for Evidence
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and the Culture Secretary have asked Professor David Buckingham to carry out an assessment of the impact of the commercial world on children's wellbeing. Academics, industry, NGOs and other stakeholders are invited to provide evidence to Professor David Buckingham. Have your say on the DfES website.
Notice of next UK Alliance meeting!
Theme: Movement and emotional cognition as the foundation for learning
18th November 08 in London. Details out soon.
Everything to play for!
Exploring how high quality play experiences in schools can enrich learning and promote the emotional health and well-being of pupils.
Monday 23 June 2008, 10:00h - 15:15h, Princess Diana Memorial rooms,
The County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7PB
Following recent announcements in the childrens plan published last December, play has inherited a much higher profile within government priorities and this in turn has impacted on how local authorities and schools will now have to view play. Everything to play for! will present practical examples of how some schools have already taken a big first step towards delivering on these government proposals.
For more information and to book a place, please complete the enclosed booking form or email events(at)londonplay.org.uk pre-registration is essential.
'PLAY' – ILLUSTRATED TALK AND EXHIBITION: A talk no parent should miss
A talk by SALLY JENKINSON founder member of The Alliance For Childhood and author of ‘The Genius of Play’ on the importance of children’s play illustrated by an exhibition of photographs by PETE MILLSON.
Date: Thursday 15 May 2008 Note change of time - now 8 till 9.30 pm Read more...
Playday
Playday 2008 is on Wednesday 6 August.
Playday is the annual celebration of children’s right to play - a national campaign, which this year culminates on Wednesday 6 August.
On Playday and throughout the summer of 2008, thousands of children, young people and communities will get out and play at hundreds of locally organised events across the UK.
This year's Playday theme is about risk and play.
New publication
What Babies and Children Really Need: How Mothers and Fathers Can Nurture Children's Growth for Health and Wellbeing (Early Years)
This book represents a milestone in our understanding of child development and what parents can do to provide their children with the best start in life. What Babies and Children Really Need examines the crucial early years from a child’s perspective - and concludes that changes in society over the past 50 years have unleashed a crisis in childhood.
Author Sally Goddard Blythe draws on the latest scientific research and clinical practice to demonstrate how a baby’s relationship with its mother has a lasting and fundamental impact. She argues that trends such as delayed motherhood, limited uptake of breastfeeding, and early return to work - driven by economic, social and political pressures - are undermining the key developmental milestones essential to success and wellbeing in later life. ‘We need a state,’ says Goddard Blythe, ‘that gives children their parents, and most of all, gives babies their mothers back.’
What Babies and Children Really Need concludes with a rallying cry for a new Charter for Childhood founded on the four main pillars of child development: nutrition - the biochemical basis for life; affection, nurture and engagement; stimulating sensory experience and motor skills through physical play; and discipline in its true sense meaning ‘instruction, correction, training in action and control’.
Available from Amazon
News from the Children's Food Campaign
Latest!
Sustain comment on FSA decision to voluntarily ban some artificial additives
14/04/2008
Richard Watts, Campaign Director at Sustain, said: "This decision is good news for children and parents, who have known for many years that these additives affect children's behaviour. The FSA had little choice other than to take this step as soon as they received scientific evidence that these additives were about as harmful to children as leaded petrol."
He continued: "We are very disappointed that the food industry continues to produce new products that contain these additives and we call on them to immediately withdraw any product containing these harmful additives."
For more information contact Richard Watts
Children's Food Campaigners say: 'Well done on cooking lessons, now for junk food adverts.'
22 January 2008
Over 50 organisations have written to MPs calling on them to protect children from junk food advertising and marketing. Organisations that have signed the letter include the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, The Prince's Trust, Diabetes UK, the National Union of Teachers and the National Obesity Forum.
The letter asks MPs to support the Food Products (Marketing to Children) Bill introduced by Nigel Griffiths MP. The Bill protects children from all forms of advertising and marketing for junk food.
Quote of the month
“Most parents know that when they interact with their infant and young toddler, they are laying important foundations for the child’s future development,” according to Grazyna Kochanska, Stuit Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Iowa and the lead author of the study. “Now we have a better understanding of what that really means. Your investment in building a mutually responsive, positive, close relationship early on will generate considerable payoff several years later.”
