ABSTRACT
This chapter explores what constitutes the norm for children today and the perceived threats to their quality of life and opportunities. The analysis is based on the Thomas and Hocking (2003) report for the think-tank, Demos. The report examines how children’s quality of life is changing and might be improved. Three social trends are identified:
1 Risk aversion – the tension between the adult’s ‘guardian’ mentality and the desire to give the child the freedom to learn;
2 Colonisation – intensive adult-based supervision of children which may reduce a child’s quality of life;
3 Commercialisation – the rise in children’s spending power that makes them targets of commercial pressure.
