Madge Children These Days Summary

(b) The book studied for the purpose of this review is Madge, N. (2006) Children These Days. This book deals with the subject of children and young people in modern day England. Madge (2006) aims to compare the childhood experience of children nowadays with the childhood experienced by adults. For the purpose of this text the author conducted a series of surveys involving 2,000 children and 500 adults, to represent the current views and thoughts on childhood today. Madge, N. (2006) Children These Days is laid out in ten chapters, each of which explores different aspects of childhood and issues that young people are faced with. The author uses accessible English throughout the book which therefore creates a broader target audience, however

(2006) Children These Days focuses on comparing and contrasting the childhood experience of children and young people today, with childhood as an experience for adults. For the purpose of this book 2,000 primary and secondary school children and 500 adults, were asked to participate in a number of surveys. Over an account of ten chapters Madge, N. (2006) looks at the different aspects and issues regarding childhood these days. Due to space restraints this book review will not focus on every chapter in the book.

Madge, N. (2006) Children These Days is written in accessible English. As a result of the author’s choice of language throughout the book, the target audience was broadened and made accessible not only to academics and early year’s researchers but also to any person with an interest in children, early years or the evolving concept of childhood. Madge, N. (2006) kept the tone of the book unbiased and looked to record a researched account of childhood nowadays compared to the childhood of

(2006) asked both children and adults whether or not they had a happy childhood, nine in ten children said their childhood was a happy one and adults showed quite similar results when faced with the same question. When children were asked to describe the best thing about being young examples such as having few responsibilities or worries were often used. Children listed not having enough freedom and not being listened to by adults as some of the worst things about being young.

Chapter four (Madge, N. 2006) discusses the legal ages at which young people are liable for legal actions (10), are able to buy and consume alcohol (18), vote (18), attend the doctor without a parent present (16),consent to sexual activities (16) and are eligible for employment(13). Surprisingly most adults and children agreed with the current age restrictions on the previously mentioned subjects. When faced with the question “Do young people lead care free lives?” (Madge, 2006, p.55, fig.4.7), almost half of adults believed this statement was true. In contrast to this most young people did not agree.

Chapter five and six discuss what young people and adults deem to be the correct amount of control over children and young people, the biggest influences in the lives of young people and respect between different