Nursery World - Let's all debate childhood today

By 110 writers, teachers and child psychologists As professionals and academics from a range of backgrounds, we are deeply concerned at the escalating incidence of childhood depression and behavioural and developmental conditions. We believe this is largely due to a lack of understanding, on the part of both politicians and the general public, of the realities and subtleties of child development.

As professionals and academics from a range of backgrounds, we are deeply concerned at the escalating incidence of childhood depression and behavioural and developmental conditions. We believe this is largely due to a lack of understanding, on the part of both politicians and the general public, of the realities and subtleties of child development.

Since children's brains are still developing, they cannot adjust to the effects of ever more rapid technological and cultural change. They still need what developing human beings have always needed, including real food (as opposed to processed 'junk'), real play (as opposed to sedentary, screen-based entertainment), first-hand experience of the world they live in and regular interaction with the significant adults in their lives.

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