Minding the Children: Child Care in America from Colonial Times to the Present

(Paperback)

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Description

Beyond childcare theories and early childhood gurus, here is how children have actually been raised in America over the last four centuries. From wet nurses and Southern mammys, settlement houses and orphan trains, to rigid British nannies, foster care, and the modern two-worker family, Geraldine Youcha's delightful book paints a wide-ranging picture of American childhood. In this updated paperback edition a lively new chapter brings the story through current childcare wars and present economic realities. All in all, it is a reassuring picture, for despite a bewildering array of different styles and fads, children have survived and often thrived. While there are some harsh lessons to be learned here, there is also plenty to lend optimism and help anxious parents relax.

Reviews

"Demonstrates convincingly that whatever the dread of the moment - day-care centers, working Mums, low-paying part-time jobs, we've done it before and lived to talk about it". (Washington Post)"

Author Bio

Geraldine Youcha, who writes widely on health, women's issues, and childcare, is the author of Women and Alcohol, and co-author of Children of Alcoholism.