Includes bibliographical references (p. [259]-270) and index.

Acknowledgments -- Prologue -- 1: Taking back childhood: what our kids are losing-and how to get it back -- 2: Through their eyes: child development theory in a nutshell -- 3: Building blocks, dress-ups, and kids' own stories: reclaiming play and imagination -- 4: No more time-outs: sharing power with kids -- 5: From Spider-Man to Smackdown: countering media violence and stereotypes -- 6: All ads, all the time: teaching your kids to talk back to consumerism -- 7: Might does not make right: resolving conflicts creatively -- 8: Love above all: encouraging empathy and caring -- 9: When to step in: helping your kids build positive relationships -- 10: When real life intervenes: nurturing children's sense of security and hope about the world -- 11: Small acts, big changes: taking action in the wider world -- Appendix -- Notes and references -- Index.

From the Publisher: One only need turn on the TV, stroll the aisles of any toy store, or visit any American elementary school to witness the formidable social trends that, over the past few decades, have begun to erode the quality of kids' lives-from media violence and rampant consumerism, to overly structured school days and overly wired (yet emotionally disconnected) relationships. What parent doesn't think back longingly to a time when carefree play with other kids and a simpler life was the norm? Childhood should be a precious time of oasis from the realities of the adult world, yet in today's fast-paced, achievement-obsessed, ever-more-dangerous society, this is increasingly not the case. Based on renowned early childhood development expert Nancy Carlsson-Paige's thirty years of researching and writing about young children, this groundbreaking book helps parents navigate the cultural currents shaping, and too often harming, the lives of kids today and restore childhood to the very best of what it can and should be. There are three attributes critical to all children's healthy development, Carlsson-Paige explains: time and space for creative play, a feeling of security in today's often frightening world, and strong, meaningful relationships with both adults and other children-attributes that we, as a society, are failing to protect and nurture. Grounded in child development theory and research, Taking Back Childhood reveals practical, hands-on steps parents can take to create a safe, open, and imaginative environment in which kids can relish childhood and flourish as human beings.