Saul Levine - Böcker

Rapid changes in urban life are continually reshaping the physical and social environment of the city. This book represents the thinking of a number of leading experts on a variety of topics related to the impact of contemporary urban life on children.Between the introduction which provides a framework for a contextual analysis and a conclusion which draws together the major ideas, each chapter presents a major statement on a particular area of concern, followed by commentaries and discussion. The topics range from the historical context of policies regarding urban children and an international perspective on children’s services to detailed studies of health, daycare and its effects on young children, legal issues, and the problem of delinquency and social control. Another chapter deals with the broad pattern of social change and its consequences for children.Several chapters focus on physical aspects of the urban environment; the overall ecological perspective, local neighbourhoods, and housing. The book as a whole identifies the fundamentals of a broad issue of concern and examines their implications for policy, practice, and understanding.

What do we know about the implications of the major changing forces in urban life for children? What should be our priorities for new policies and practices for children in cities? The traditional view of children as ‘dependants’ obscures the complexity of the urban experience children face. Their social environment is not limited strictly to institutions such as the family and the church. But neither do children have access to the full range of societal offerings. This volume evaluates the basis of current issues of public concern and debate and constructs an agenda for future research, policy, and practice concerning children and families. The perspectives of many disciplines are brought together and integrated in the consideration of such factors as family structure and child care arrangements, urban dilemmas for adolescents, legal structures and practices, urban social organization and service delivery systems, housing and neighbourhood contexts, and ethnic diversity.The book as a whole identifies the fundamentals of a broad issue of concern and offers guidelines for shaping a humane future.