The phrase "children's rights" is often bandied about as if they are easily understood and readily available to all children but this book reminds us that in many areas there is still much to be done and gives insight into how. I found the content absorbing and thought provoking.
Every Child Matters is a policy agenda that has emerged since the last edition in 2000 and the landscape of children's rights has changed as a result this book helps you understand why it had to. This is a book definitely worth having. It provides up-to-the-minute thinking on the direction we must follow in order to listen better to children and not just in the UK but across the rest of the world too.
-- Professional Social Work
There is much to be commended in Alderson's book... It is written with clarity and passion and adopts a child-centred perspective, and most of Alderson's points are well backed up with appropriate, illustrative, research and practice examples. -- Child Abuse Review
This book will prove invaluable to any who are involved in research or professional practice with children. It is also carefully and quietly making 'child-citizens' thinkable. A final commendation is that it takes the 'tough' cases of young children and babies as its primary focus and still makes a very reasonable and compelling case for their abilities to participate in decision-making. -- Infant and Child Development
This is a highly accessible book that is a useful contribution to the debate about the children's rights and citizenship. It will provide a stimulating and thought-provoking read for anyone who works with (or is a parent of) young children and, despite the fact that she did not win over this reader entirely, Alderson has given fresh impetus to the need to continually rethink our attitude to children's rights'. -- International Journal of Early Years Education
This book does more than simply present an argument for greater consultation of children by the adults who care for them. It gives practical suggestions as to different approaches adults can take to consulting with young children and also includes some brief case studies of good practice. These highlight the case that we all too often underestimate the potential children have to act as socially responsible citizens, whether through a genuine lack of understanding of what children are capable of, or through an anxiety about a loss of control. -- International Journal of Early Years Education
The book contains a lot of common sense and explores events that occur every day in our schools as well as issues I have not yet had to deal with. She stresses that we need to teach children that sometimes they have a choice, but at other times there is no choice. Her argument is that if children can choose on occasions, it is then easier to accept that sometimes they can't.
She offers arguments both for and against young children being consulted in matters which affect them. The book gives clear suggestions of how to deal with possible barriers put up by adults who feel they should be the decision makers. All this provides interesting reading and the basis for a good discussion. It made me think about the school councils I have sat on: very thought provoking... Young Children's Rights gives us a chance to rethink our attitudes to young children's rights in the light of new theories, research and practical evidence.
-- Professionalism in Practice
This book will prove invaluable to any who are involved in research for professional practice with children. It is also carefully and quietly making 'child-citizens' thinkable. A final commendation is that it takes the 'tough' cases of young children and babies as its primary focus and still makes a very reasonable and compelling case for their abilities to participate in decision-making. -- Infant & Child Development
Strange that almost ten years on from the UK ratification from the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) this book, commissioned by Save the Children, should strike such a powerful and challenging note. Two main reasons, As Priscilla Alderson makes clear, is that it deals mainly with 'participation' rights, rather than 'protection' or 'provision' rights (in the commonly used '3 Ps' grouping of CRC articles) and that it is concerned with children under eight, including babies and children with learning disabilities Young children's rights is highly readable, drawing on the authors important research experience in this field as well as being 'a practical collection of ideas and examples' Alderson explores the benefits and perceived disadvantages. for young children and adults of consulting and involving them, and confirms that in the end it is an issue of power sharing Overall this book makes a most valuable as well as enjoyable contribution to the understanding and promotion of young children's participation rights. -- Young Minds magazine
This thought-provoking book addresses the practical issues of the rights of children. Priscilla Alderson considers how children's views, ideas and perspectives can be encouraged and the possible blocks that adults find to avoid even trying to consult with younger citizens. The author points out that 'giving children a voice' as a popular slogan but children already have voices; the adult task is to listen. -- Nursery World
