Connecting Children Care and Family Life in Later Childhood

Connecting Children focuses on children's understandings of care and their views of different family lives. Based upon empirical research, it portrays the lives of children aged 11-12 and shows how families connect children in different ways both in the household but also in their wider kinship networks. The children studied reflect upon family life, especially upon situations where their own family lives change dramatically, such as when parents divorce or are unable to care for them. The book: describes the different ways in which children consider their parents, siblings, relatives and friends to be important to them describes the conditions under which it is possible and desirable for adults and children to enact the ethic of care portrays children as contributors to family life as well as passive recipients of their parents' care illustrates how children provide support to their families in both practical and emotional ways Children's conceptions of what constitutes as family emerge as highly inclusive, while at the same time holding strong views about the importance of being part of a loving family. These notions are matched by inclusive practices so that children define their important significant others beyond the boundaries of the household. This book will be of interest to those working in education, social work, child care, counselling, social policy and childhood studies.Brannen, Julia is the author of 'Connecting Children Care and Family Life in Later Childhood' with ISBN 9780415230957 and ISBN 0415230950.