Child Development

When we think of child abuse, we imagine several different forms of harmful parenting and injuries to children. Most are not visible to the naked eye, but can be seen if you look more deeply. X-rays can detect fractures and other imaging can find internal injury and bleeding, but most maltreated children have more long-lasting harm that reveals itself through behavioural and emotional maladjustment, developmental delay, sadness, and other destructive behaviours later in childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. These injuries to their personality, sense of self, relationship to society and mental health change the trajectory of their lives and dim their potential, with social and financial costs for safety, treatment and their lost personal growth. We think of these as affecting everybody's children and that the responsibility lies with everyone to respond. This is why we put together this book: to address prevention from a number of perspectives and a variety of professions. We hope that it successfully brings together a number of disciplines and perspectives to address child abuse and neglect among the world's families, governments and cultures. We hope that those reading these chapters will realise that there are replicable best practices that can be reliably implemented based on child and family experiences and needs rather than single approaches designed to attack single forms of maltreatment, and we look forward to the day that books like these are not needed.

Ditch the devices and bring back the magic of being a kid Screens are everywhere. Children spend an average of 7.5 hours on digital devices every day with profoundly negative consequences. While some tech may "amplify" real life experience (online music lessons or Zoom calls with faraway family, for example), the vast majority "amputates" by limiting physical activity, creating anxiety, or damaging self-esteem. Childhood Unplugged takes a bold approach to creating healthy boundaries around the use of digital media, suggesting kids should be offline for the majority of their time. Drawing on her own family's experience, plus interviews with digital minimalists, educators, and child development experts, author Katherine Martinko presents: Meticulously researched analysis of the impacts of excessive screen time on children's physical, neurological, emotional, and social development Specific pathways to reduced screen exposure, naturally leading to more time spent outdoors, increased confidence and empathy, more creative and active play, and other benefits Inspiration for caregivers overwhelmed by the thought of severing ties with the digital babysitter Age-appropriate advice for fundamental change, with specific sections for babies and toddlers, school-aged children, and adolescents. Taking a calming, nonjudgmental approach, Childhood Unplugged is a lifeline for parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone who questions the role of digital media and yearns for the young people in their life to experience the profound beauty and magic of childhood.