Children, Family and Communities

Critically analyse the roles communities play in sculpting early childhood development.

Children, Families and Communities is an essential resource that will help you to understand child development in the context of the vital roles that families and the community play in educating children.?It acknowledges and discusses the profound inequities that exist in child health, education and wellbeing in Australia, while presenting an optimistic focus on the role of families and communities, including governments, in allowing children to explore and thrive.

The sixth edition continues to focus on Australian issues and research while also drawing on international bodies of work. Alongside the nine new chapters, all chapters have been significantly revised to reflect current research evidence and theory development. In-text case studies with specific research information help you to understand the link between practice and theory, and a diverse collective of authors brings exceptional academic, policy and practical experience to the text.

New to This Edition

• A completely revised text that draws on international bodies of work provides the most up-to-date information in this field.
• A range of topics are covered, now tailored to suit multiple disciplines, including teaching, social work, health and nursing.
• New chapters highlight key topics such as mental health, social connection and loneliness, gender and identity, social inequity, and natural emergencies.
• Essential frameworks relevant to early childhood development are referenced throughout the text, including the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Framework (NQF).
• All chapters have been rewritten to allow complex concepts to be easily understood, whether you are afirst, second or third-year university student.

About the Editors

Rebekah Grace is an Associate Professor at Western Sydney University and Director at the Transforming early Education and Child Health Research Centre (TeEACH).

Jennifer Bowes is a retired Professor from the Institute of Early Childhood and founding Director of the Children and Families Research Centre, Macquarie University. Since her retirement she has worked as a Research Coach with Research Coaching Australia.

Christine Woodrow is an Associate Professor in the School of Education, a Lead Researcher (Early Education) at the Transforming early Education and Child Health Research Centre (TeEACH) and a Senior Researcher in the Centre for Educational Research (CER) at Western Sydney University.

Other Contributors:

Elizabeth Adamson, Rebecca Barton, Deborah Brennan, Abi Brooker, Anita Bundy, Kate Burns, Kay Bussey, Anna-Lisa Camberis, Judy Cashmore, Kathy Cologon, Agnes Dodds, Lina Engelen, Sally Fitzpatrick, Anne Grant, Linda Harrison, Alan Hayes, Jacqueline Hayden, Kate Highfield, Jeanette Lawrence, Karen Menzies, Elizabeth Murray, Geraldine Naughton, Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett, Dorothy Scott, Paul Tranter, Rosalind Walsh, Sarah Wise, Sandie Wong, Wayne Warburton, and Shirley Wyver