Sue Palmer
British educationalist and author best known for Toxic Childhood and related works on modern childhood, literacy, and screen time. A former primary headteacher and literacy consultant, she campaigns for play-based early years education and founded the Upstart Scotland movement.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Toxic Childhood
How the modern world is damaging our children and what we can do about it
Argues that modern lifestyles—excessive screen exposure, junk food, hyper-competition, consumerism, and reduced sleep and outdoor play—are undermining children’s physical health, attention, language, and emotional resilience. Drawing on research and classroom experience, it explains how high-stakes testing, early formal schooling, and marketing pressures distort childhood, and offers practical strategies for parents and educators: prioritizing unstructured play, conversation, reading, routines, nutritious food, consistent boundaries, and community support, while limiting digital media to create calmer, happier, more resilient learners.
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