Flats, Families and the Under-Fives

Elizabeth Gittus examines the implications of increased flat usage and sporadic nursery education expansion for families with young children in 1976. She analyzes published data from various sources and advocates for the fusion of official provision, voluntary effort, and parents' participation to meet the need for supervised play in children's free time.

Format: Hardback
Length: 270 pages
Publication date: 09 August 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Originally published in 1976, Elizabeth Gittus delves into two contemporary social issues that played a pivotal role in shaping future housing policies in Britain: the implications of the increased use of flats in new local authority housing for families with young children, as well as the sporadic expansion of nursery education and other services for under-fives. The discussion of these overarching themes revolves around the findings of a comprehensive survey conducted among families residing in local authority flats, maisonettes, and houses in four selected areas around Newcastle. The survey focused specifically on the mothers' reactions to their housing situations and the impact these conditions had on their children.

The author meticulously documents the factors that contributed to the prevailing pattern of new public housing from 1960 to the general election of 1974. Extensive published data from a diverse range of sources are analyzed at national, regional, and local levels. The author's findings provide strong support for the argument that, for certain young families, flat living remains an unavoidable reality. Within this broader context, she examines the challenge of providing opportunities for young children to engage in play within the confines of such surroundings, considering the broader landscape of nursery education and other facilities for pre-school children. She passionately advocates for a harmonious fusion of official provision, voluntary efforts, and parental participation in addressing the need for supervised play during the children's leisure time.

Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032532943