Childhood expert shares knowledge

A big thank you to everyone who came to the Sue Palmer Lecture on the third day of term!  Sue spoke for over an hour and shared some fascinating insights into how we are stopping our children from listening and learning.  A stimulating question and answer session followed and parents were in lively discussion for some time after the event. 


Sue Palmer has been a popular speaker on literacy across the world and a frequent contributor to the educational press, notably the Times Educational Supplement and Child Education.

However, it was her fascination with push chairs that faced the wrong way and a chance meeting with a child psychologist, which led her to write her first book for wider audiences.  “Toxic Childhood” discusses the effects of contemporary childhood on child development and learning and was in the Amazon best -seller charts for two years.  Two more books followed -  Detoxing Childhood and 21st Century Boys and led to Sue’s involvement in many campaigns related to modern childhood and invitations to speak to a wide range of audiences.

Mrs Kathryn Morrell was delighted with the response from parents.  “Toxic Childhood was brought to our attention here at Monkton by a Governor and it is on our recommended reading list!  We feel  strongly that Monkton provides an antidote to the modern world and that our children can actually be children for longer in the environment that we provide.”   

 Sue Palmer enjoyed herself and was heard talking to a parent at the end of the evening saying “What a fabulous school -- your son's lucky to be growing up in that sort of environment.”