How can I make everyone read this book short of buying and sending you all a copy?

[Malaleche]

Toxic Childhood by Sue Palmer
Please read it.

Is it a life story or parenting book?I do not read parenring books especially if they are written by childless women

It's not really a parenting book as such, it's about how the modern world, TV, food, bad sleeping habits, lack of talk in families, unsuitable childcare, etc is damaging children and what we can do about it. It's written by a woman who has worked in education for decades, has got children, has done masses of research and pulled together the results of hundreds of studies on children and in particular why they have more behavioural problems than 20 or 30 yrs ago.
It's about how if we dont do something to prevent the amount of dysfunctional behavior escalating there will be no-one fit to keep everything going in the future...
It's full of common sense ideas to give our kids the best kind of childhood that will help them become functioning adults.

My description is somewhat cr*p, i just wish everyone would read it.

you can read several of her publications online. just google her. basically she's saying talk to your kids more, less tv, rear facing pushchairs etc etc.

I'd read it if I could find it in a library.

So basically, you're paying £££ to hear the age of 'tune in, turn off, drop out' message.

malaleche i think your intro was perfect. have ordered from amazon. Dh is forensic psychologist and works with young offenders alot and agrees we're heading for a big problem with young adults in next 20 years if we don't do something soon. Oliver james also states this in all his research/books. have you read they f**k you up. very interesting book.
thanks for the recommendation

I read an article about it in The Telegraph and meant to buy it so thanks for reminder. Agree with what article said and feel alot is relevant. Will buy over the weekend.

I read 'They f* you up' by Oliver James as well and hope that my parenting skills improved as a result. It's so important that we give our children the best start and taht we inform ourselves as much as possible.

didn't you find chicpea that it made you understand where alot of your own personality traits come from and relate to your parents on a whole new level?

Sue Palmer was a teacher at my primary school - she was fab and much loved/feared...

what school is that? (oh remembered anonymity aspect of mn so ignore)your ds is gorgeous btw. i still haven't worked out how to download any pics

Thanks

Expat - I dont really know what you mean but although a lot of it may seem obvious she puts it across in a way which makes it seem vital to sit up and take notice. i mean we dont even have a TV but since the laptop came into our lives it gets a lot more attention than DD2 7 mo some days...so we have already made a new rule - no laptop during the day while the DCs are up and awake. Also, she talks about the importance of letting kids play in grassy earthy places with real stuff from the real world instead of sat in their rooms pushing buttons. Also obvious i know but although i consider myself to be a good parent, lentil-weave, buy organic when i can, read to them alot, no Tv (and only a little bit of DVD-watching on laptop) etc etc this book still made me sit up and go feck!, she's right!, if i was rich i would hand out copies at the school gates...I think i'm going to read it again right away...

I'm going to teach my bairns how to whittle spurtles from tree limbs .

Thanks to the others too who have read about it/decided to read it

Well, exactly expat!

errm, this is really embarrasing expat, me being Scottish and all, but i've been an expat too for 16 years - is a spurtle one of them sticks for stirring yer porridge?

Yes, it's a stick for stirring porridge.

Here, read some of her stuff for free

www.culturewars.org.uk/2006-01/palmer.htm

thanks for links, shona what school was it? I'm from Edinburgh and the right age to have been at school when she was teaching...

lady007pink
thanks for the link
I disagree with the reviewer and i think she misses the point hugely but am off to eat chocolate now so will post my answer tomorrow...

link{http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/comment.cfm?id=1423132006\Here you go}

Hmm, can't do links at 4am... here