In a rapidly changing world, children have more of a voice than ever before. In The New Power of Children and Young People, David Cohen explores how this has happened, what the consequences might be and how we can best engage with our young people.
David Cohen considers the social, political and psychological issues involved in children and young people’s influence, and how it impacts the balance of power between children and parents and other adults in their lives. It examines crucial topics including the role of high-profile young people such as Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg; their knowledge of and anxieties around global issues such as climate change; children’s relationships with technology and social media; their changing relationships with parents and guardians; how children develop a sense of justice; sex and relationships; how children are depicted in TV and film; young people’s experience of education; and shines a light on their growing political confidence and engagement.
Young people should be interested as well as parents, teachers, social workers, politicians and other key professionals involved in children and young people’s lives. This thought-provoking book offers insight to help us understand young people’s lives.
Author(s): David Cohen
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 170
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Introduction
Give children a voice
Millionaire kids
To start at the very beginning
More savvy less deference
The structure
Chapter 1: A Brief History of Significant Children
The student revolt of 1968
Tariq Ali
Two teenage titans
In power now
Greta Thunberg
Child prodigies
Chapter 2: Research on Political Concerns and Political Participation
Why do teenagers become more politically engaged?
What do we know about young people and politics?
Facts are hard to find
What do surveys reveal?
House of Commons research
Hands in the till, hands up the skirt - scandal galore
Off the pedestal
Global Youth - the largest survey
Hong Kong - dissent means jail
Protests and participation
What we know about protests and participation
Single-issue politics
Chapter 3: Personality Research and the Big Five Model
On the couch
Chapter 4: COP OUT - The Illusion of a Future, Young People's Anxieties
Vaccine anxiety
The lure of suicide
Climate calamity
Under sea disaster
Apocalypse anxiety
Extinction Rebellion
COP26 November 2021
Chapter 5: "And That's Not Right!" Children's Sense of Justice
The rules of marbles
Heinz - whose wife had cancer
A personal note
Chapter 6: Children, Family and Politics
Children on the media
How much do young people know?
How much do they care?
Politicians need to sit up and take notice
School councils
Children's parliaments
You are a dummy dad - and you're no better mum!
Chapter 7: Technoference: Or How Technology Warps the Bonds between Parents and Children
Chapter 8: The Paradox of Tech-savvy and IQ
Chess and flexibility - the best human can still beat the machine just about
Chapter 9: Children as Victims Too
Gymnasts and their coaches
Child labour
Veterans and child soldiers - tough and yet vulnerable
Gender differences
The Taliban
Suicide bombers - and those who order children to kill themselves
Chapter 10: Fairy Tales and Children's TV: Weak Children Who Become Strong
Cinderfuckin'rella
Goldilocks
Peter Pan and other tales
The Green Queen
Chapter 11: The Challenge to Education
Did caning win wars?
If - the school revolt
The TikTok battle
History versus politics
Chapter 12: Sex - Children Are More Knowing, but More Exploited, Than Ever
Chapter 13: The Parental Inferiority Complex
Dad you're thicker than two thick planks!
A testing interlude
Chapter 14: Emotional Intelligence and Politics
How does this affect political attitudes?
Chapter 15: Mental Health and Technology
Officer Krupsky we're down on our knees
Body image
Profit over safety
Lack of concentration
The Commissioner's call to arms
The whistle-blower - Francis Haugen again
Chapter 16: The Typical Child 2046
References
Index
