From Katy Morrison Nursery World, June 28th 2012
A new website has been launched LINK to promote
a campaign by early years experts to save childhood. The Save Childhood
Movement expands upon Open Eye’s Saving Childhood Network, which was set up
last October following the publication of ‘Too much, too soon?’ by Dr Richard
House. It has been launched in response to concerns of an ‘erosion of
childhood’ in modern culture, and aims to bring together a team of experts to
consolidate relevant research and protect and promote children’s natural
development and learning.
Behind the movement is Wendy Ellyatt, founder of the Unique Child
Network, Child psychologist Dr Richard House, from the University of
Roehampton, and Kim Simpson, co-founder of the Early Childhood Action Group.
Members of the Save Childhood Movement’s
advisory group include Professors Lillian Katz and Janet Moyles, early years
consultants Wendy Scott and Margaret Edgington and Catherine Prisk - director
of Play England. It is hoped the new website will help to gain sponsorship for
the movement ahead of its official launch next spring at the first of a series
of annual seminar series.
The next six
months will be spent consolidating the advisory board and gaining support to
grow the movement.
Ms Ellyatt, the group’s development
director, said, ‘The movement has been set up in recognition of the rapidly
growing evidence about child health and well-being in the UK. According to the Children’s Society 2012 Good Childhood Report at any one time more than half
a million children are unhappy with their lives and, with increasingly
sedentary lifestyles. One in ten children are suffering from mental health
problems, and there is what is being called an "alienation of
experience".'
‘We have some of the most academically
pressurised children in the world, with an increasing focus on targets and
measurable outcomes rather than the more holistic nurturing of positive
learning dispositions. We think such evidence calls for urgent action and we
are now bringing together a multi-disciplinary team of experts who agree with
us.’
