Toxic Childhood: panic or peril?

Terry Philpot

There has been a lot debate stimulated by a letter to the Daily Telegraph in September on the nature of childhood. This article carried reactions from young people, professionals and parents to the assertion that childhood is been adversely affected by the conditions of 21st century life.

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Acting Out

Darren Raymond

A young man describes how drama classes in prison gave him the confidence to reject crime as a way of life.

Baby talking

Angela Neustatter

This article looks at the pioneering work of the Winnicott Baby Unit for premature babies. The aim is to make the needs of babies central to the organisation of the unit and to involve parents in the babies’ care, to minimise pain and distress.

Cancer care

Maggie Watson

A recent survey of cancer sufferers set out to assess the impact on their children and identify what support needs families might have. The main recommendations are for more accessible information for parents and children, recognition by cancer services of the needs of dependent children and better support for mothers suffering from depression.

Drinking safely

Hannah Frankel

This article describes a summer residential course that aims to help young people to learn how to drink responsibly and safely. The course instructors include ex-addicts that adds a level of knowledge and credibility that most teachers would not have.

How do you think I feel?

Priscilla Alderson

This article looks at the rights of premature babies in relation to their needs, welfare and care. The author goes on to look at services/units for premature babies. They state that the care of premature babies works best when neonatal unit adopt “baby-led” policies such as subdued noise and light.

Lights, Camera, Engagement!

Jonathan Isserow

This article describes a project that allowed vulnerable young people to make a video self-portrait. The emphasis of the scheme was on the fundamentals of film making, but the effect on the young people was therapeutic as it provided an opportunity to explore some issues that are not easily spoken about.

Living with uncertainty

Reva Klein

This article focuses on the case of Natascha Kampush, the young person from Austria who was abducted as a child and spent 8 years locked away with only her captor for company. The author discusses how seemingly resilience she is and what impact her experiences may have on her mental health. The author then compares this with a recent letter in the Daily Telegraph in which the signatories warn us amongst other things that children need free, unstructured time to play outdoors. The Kampush case reminds us of the dangers out there, but at the same time there is a need to accommodate the ambiguity of the world we live in and be able to distinguish between safe and unsafe uncertainty, threat and the fear of threat.

Reaching the treetops

Terry Philpot

Treetops School was founded 10 years ago for 4 autistic children. It was the first school to use applied behavioural analysis systematically in the teaching of autistic children. The school now has 53 pupils each with an individualised programme that builds on skills and addresses deficits, offers one-to-one teaching, positive reinforcement and a structured and consistent environment.

Terminal Terminology

Dinah Morley & Steven Walker

Young people find the term “mental health” difficult to cope with and are disinclined to use CAMHS services because of the stigma attached to it. Some professionals use terms like “emotional well-being” in the belief that this will encourage young people to come forward and get help. The authors’ concern is that this will diminish the importance of mental health for the individual.

Time to ask the right questions

Jane Glynn

The author propounds the theory that the current education system is failing to motivate children’s natural desire to learn. A system that allowed more participation and less monitoring would make education a more satisfying experience for both children and teachers.

Across the Pond – Home Alone

Patrick Lindesay

This article examines the nature of the empty nest syndrome, when parents suffer stress when their children leave home.

Review: Culturally competent therapy, working with children and young people

Jonathan Wells

The aim of this book is to define for practitioners what cultural competence is. The author stresses that ‘failing to understand the cultural background of the young person one is working with can lead to unhelpful assessments, non-compliance with treatment and an alienation of the individual or family from the welfare system.

Review: Emma’s Secret (Grbavica)

Steve Flood

Emma’s Secret is set in Sarajevo and focuses on the relationship between Esma and her daughter Sara.

Review: In search of belonging: reflections on transracially adopted people

Yinka Sunmonu

This collection of memoirs, creative writing and poetry highlights key issues in the transracial adoption debate and will be of interest to practitioners and anyone associated with transracial adoption.

Review: Rites of Spring

Alison Taylor

This novel charts the disintegration of a family. After her parents separate, teenager Liffy feels herself responsible and begins to starve herself to death. Themes include competing demands of family and self, and problems faced by teenagers.

Review: Seminary Boy

Terry Philpot

The author recalls his childhood in a junior seminary in the 1950’s. It demonstrates children’s resilience and flexibility in coping with a life separated from family and overshadowed by repression and abuse.

Review: Shattered lives, children who live with courage and dignity

Chris Hanvey

Each chapter is a letter from a young person describing their experiences of violence, abuse and neglect. The inappropriateness and inflexibility of statutory care is common theme, but the book also highlights the dignity and resilience of many of the young people

Review: understanding attachment and attachment disorders: theory, evidence and practice

David Howe

This book offers a review of attachment and attachment patterns and details the main age-appropriate instruments used to assess attachment and care giving.

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back?

Kathryn Pugh

The forthcoming report from the Stressed Out and Struggling (SOS) project details the experiences of young people aged 16-25 from a wide range of backgrounds.

Webwatch – Pukka Tukka

Rachel Hindley

School food is the subject of this month’s Webwatch. There is information about improving school meals, teaching resources for schools and sites aimed at young people to encourage healthy eating.