The Social Child

This tutorial textbook on child psychology includes chapters by academics in research areas as diverse as evolutionary and cross-cultural psychology, behavioural genetics, social cognition, and media influence on child behaviour.

Children's emerging communication and social skills.

Questions about how children grow up in their social worlds are of enormous significance for parents, teachers, and society at large, as well as for children themselves. Clearly children are shaped by the social world that surrounds them but they also shape the social worlds that they, and those significant to them, encounter. But exactly how does this happen, and what can we do to ensure that it produces happy outcomes? This book provides a critical review of the psychological literature on the development of personality, social cognition, social skills, social relations and social outcomes from birth to early adulthood. It uses Bronfenbrenner's model of the development of the person and up-to-date evidence to analyse normal and abnormal social development, prosocial and antisocial behaviour, within and across cultures. As well as outlining the theory, the book addresses applied issues such as delinquency, school failure, and social exclusion. Using a coherent theoretical structure, The Child as Social Person examines material from across the biological and social sciences to present an integrated account of what we do and do not know about the development of the child as a social actor. The Child as Social Person provides an integrated overview of the exciting field of developmental social psychology, and as such will be essential reading for advanced undergraduate students in psychology, education and social work, as well as postgraduates and researchers in these disciplines.

Here is an indispensable book highlighting information on the problem of child sexual abuse for anyone concerned with the welfare of young children. Focusing on the social worker’s role in responding to the abuse of children, this highly practical volume assesses the state of knowledge about sexual abuse. It includes reviews of the historical context in which sexual abuse takes place and sheds light on issues surrounding the professional’s responses to sexual abuse, alternative models of sexual abuse treatment programs, and practice knowledge developments. The contributors have also addressed a number of clinical issues including family treatment and social work treatment at a juvenile court, as well as the role of the courts and the problem of sexual abuse and sexual education in child-caring institutions.

While social work practice with child abuse is a well-documented topic, this revised edition of Social Work and Child Abuse actually challenges and changes the focus of existing literature. Instead of concerning itself with the ways in which the task of preventing and detecting child abuse can be more effectively undertaken, it presents a critical analysis of the task itself. There has been much new guidance and regulation since the first edition of Social Work and Child Abuse was published in 1996, making this a timely new edition. With a brand new introduction and conclusion, this fully revised text discusses: the implications of the Victoria Climbié Inquiry, the Laming Report, the Green Paper Every Child Matters and the 2004 Children Act the 1989 Children Act and the conflicting duties of the social worker to prevent and intervene in child abuse and also to promote 'the family' the emergence of official discourses of prevention, treatment and punishment the 1975 Children Act and the role of moral panic. Concluding with a call for the full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to strengthen the child protection system by giving children and young people a much stronger voice, this book is essential reading for all professionals in social and probation work, and for students in social work, social policy and criminology.

`A key text in the exploration of social, political and historical changes around child social care. It offers a broad overview of key themes in all areas and aspects of child care within the UK. It is an essential resource for students studying the degree in social work and will support and encourage their knowledge of fundamental issues′ - Sarah Thomas, Programme Director BA (Hons) Social Work, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff This book offers an authoritative overview of child care policy and practice in the UK. It covers assessment and family support services, understanding child maltreatment and protection, the care of looked after children, including the contribution of adoption, foster and residential care, services for those leaving care and barriers facing disabled children and their families. Child Care Policy and Practice reflects the complexity and contested nature of children′s needs, rights and interests and relationships between family and state. It analyses relevant debates and research and highlights practice issues and dilemmas. Readers are also directed to sources of further information on topics they may wish to explore in more depth. At the end of each chapter, there is guidance for further reading, resources for practice and questions for discussion. The book is aimed at social work practitioners and students, both qualifying and post-qualifying, at allied professionals working with children and families and at undergraduate students in Childhood Studies or Social Policy.