This book explores attitudes towards and experiences of children's rights in light of current developments, and considers the future impact that the current changes will have. "Rethinking Children's Rights" explores attitudes towards and experiences of children's rights. Phil Jones and Sue Welch draw on a wide range of thought, research and practice from different fields and countries to debate, challenge and re-appraise long held beliefs, attitudes and ways of working and living with children. Children's own perspectives on their lives and on adults' attitudes towards them are drawn on throughout the book. Recent developments in the definition of rights are considered from a variety of perspectives and arenas of children's lives and the future impact of these changes on children's lives, and for those who feature in children's lives, are examined. The themes discussed include power relations between adults and children, the child's voice, intercultural perspectives, social justice, social exclusion, empowerment, gender and disability. Examples of research, reflections on research, activities, key points and guidance on further reading make this a really accessible text. "Rethinking Children's Rights" is essential for those studying childhood at undergraduate and graduate level, and of great interest to those working with children in any field. Is childhood changing? What effects are new ideas about childhood having on children's lives? How are children's voices and opinions affecting the services they use? Contemporary debates on the nature of childhood, attitudes towards children, the experiences of children and the emergence of a child rights agenda are resulting in a re-examination of theory, practice and research in many fields. "New Childhoods" offers a re-appraisal of the meaning of childhood - a series of texts that are succinct, accessible and engaging in introducing undergraduates to key areas of Childhood Studies, Education Studies and Sociology, and in disseminating new thinking, research, scholarship and practices. Books in this series will also be of interest to those who are preparing to work with children, such as teachers, early years practitioners, youth workers, health workers and psychologists. Key features include: boxed summaries of research which engage the reader in analysis; case studies to explore each issue in context; tasks to develop critical thinking; and pointers on further reading. Each volume promotes a child rights perspective, and provokes a re-examination of child-adult relationships in the contexts of family, community and state. Insights and experiences across fields such as sociology, philosophy and psychology are combined to encourage an inter-disciplinary approach.

Author Biography

Dr Sue Welch is Principle Lecturer, Leeds Metropolitan University and co-Editor of Childhood: Services for Children (Pearson 2007). Dr Phil Jones is Reader in Childhood Studies, Leeds Metropolitan University. He has lectured and published widely, with work translated into Chinese, Greek and Korean, and he is Series Editor for New Childhoods.