ABSTRACT
In this concluding chapter, many of the threads that run through the chapters are pulled together to provide readers with an overview of the key issues concerning the children’s experiences and the implications of these for social policy and professional practice. Firstly, some of the most important characteristics of the family and family life as revealed by the children’s accounts are highlighted. Issues and concerns raised by the children themselves are reviewed. As the rich, qualitative detail of the children’s words will necessarily be lost here, the reader is recommended to go back to the children’s reflections to embellish this review. Secondly, proposals are made about how we might respond to and help children across the variety of family circumstances in which they find themselves. Thirdly, we discuss thorny methodological and ethical issues since these have shaped the research process and provide a framework through which the children’s reflections can be evaluated. Finally, the implications of family-friendly policies for maximizing children’s assorted experiences of family circumstances are considered.
