Report for the Alliance for Childhood website on the Discussion Forum at Roehampton University in December 2006
JANNI NICOL
SWSF EARLY CHILDHOOD REPRESENTATIVE
Childhood, Wellbeing and a Therapeutic Ethos
This discussion forum was organised at Roehampton University in December 2006 in response to the Daily Telegraph Open Letter on Toxic Childhood, which sparked a national debate. Professionals, policy makers and signatories of the letter engaged in a dialogue in the hope of opening up avenues for future research and collaboration on the state of childhood today, and healing for the future.
Presenters Sue Palmer, (Author of Toxic Childhood) and Dr Richard House (Conference and Open Letter organiser) opened the conference, and spoke about developing a common view based on research and taking into account social changes today. Sue made the case that children are entitled to first hand experiences with real people, not be pressured or moulded into what would be good for either economics, commerce or political expediency. Further speakers in the first section were Christopher Clouder (Alliance for Childhood) who gave a picture of what children are looking to us for – that they take account of who we are and how we relate to the world which is a responsibility not just for adults, but for mankind. Bob Reitemeier (Children’s Society) spoke about the ‘Good Childhood Enquiry’ bringing together an independent panel of experts and influencers working together with children, parents, professionals and specialists to collect evidence and research in an aim to renew relationships with children today from birth to18 years.
Concerns were addressed by researchers who gave evidence to back up their findings. Margot Sunderland, Centre for Child Mental Health, London, spoke of her research on the effects of physical/emotional development of the brain (Chronic relationships cause cell death in the growing brain!) Sir Richard Bowlby is seeking a way to extend knowledge of attachment theory to the public. One quote which struck me from another of the presenters was ‘Attention deficit Disorder (ADD) is a result of deficit of attention in children’s lives’.
The third part of the conference addressed therapeutic ethos and/or cultural healing. Dr Kathryn Ecclestone spoke of the links between politics and educational, cultural and emotional well-being – that we project our aspirations onto our children. Dr Richard House spoke of the Steiner Waldorf approach and its central image of what it is to be a human being, addressing the well-being of the whole child, spiritual, emotional and educational. Professor Samuels spoke of therapy in education and Professor Thorne spoke of the vocation of the teacher and adult, working with trust, empathy and relationships.
After much interesting discussion between participants, outlining work for the future, the conference ended with Professor (Lord) Richard Layard, who spoke of the lack of a universal picture of childhood and the fundamental values which should be instilled – stable loving relationships with trust, caring and well-being being paramount. Before introducing the responses from Annette Brooke MP (Liberal Democrat shadow spokesperson for Children), Naomi Eisenstadt (Head of the Social Exclusion Task Force) and Tim Loughton and Anne McIntosh MP (Shadow Minister for Education).
He left us with the thought, ‘do we have more difficulties than in the past, or is it a change of perception of childhood?’
Further information can be found on the following web pages:
www.alliancechildhood.org. (Toxic Childhood debate)
www.goodchildhood.,org.uk (Children’s Society)