Wise Words: How Susan Isaacs Changed Parenting

by Caroline Vollans

Overview

"Harassed" writes: "Your answers to correspondents are exceedingly clear, and when I read them I say, ‘That is just the answer I should think of’, though I believe I should have great difficulty when it came actually to putting it into words! However, I cannot answer my own problems, so will you please help me?" (20 August 1930)

This much-needed collection brings together the columns of parenting adviser Ursula Wise, "agony aunt" for The Nursery World between 1929 and 1936, and pseudonym for the eminent educationalist and pioneering psychoanalyst Susan Isaacs.

Wise’s replies, informed by theories in education, psychology and psychoanalysis, provide an insight into the development of modern, child-centred attitudes to parenting, with remarkably fresh and relevant advice. The letters are passionate, urgent, occasionally provocative, sometimes funny and always thoughtful. Topics from behaviour and temperament, anxieties and phobias, to play and education are explored and each theme is introduced and contextualised in contemporary parenting approaches.

Bringing pivotal theories from the fields of education, child psychology and psychoanalysis into dialogue, this is an essential read for early years practitioners, teachers, course leaders and those studying in the field of early years education and child psychoanalysis. The continued relevance of Isaacs’ advice for modern parenting also makes this an enjoyable and informative read for parents. It is also an excellent resource for those interested in social history and the little known contributions made by women pioneers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138096790
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/26/2017
Pages:	246
Product dimensions:	5.06(w) x 7.81(h) x (d)

About the Author

Caroline Vollans gained fifteen years of experience as a primary school teacher before training in psychoanalysis and becoming a member of the Centre for Freudian Analysis and Research, UK. She now works as a school counsellor, freelance researcher and writer.

Table of Contents

[Each chapter includes an introduction to the topic and 10-12 letters]

Introduction

1. Behaviour and Temperament

2. Play, Occupations and Education

3. Fears, Phantasies and Phobias

4. Sleep

5. Eating

6. Jealousy and Sibling Rivalry

7. When Expert Advice is Needed

8. Eclectic Letters

Editorial Reviews

‘There are very few academics at the cutting edge of their field who can engage with parents and practitioners through everyday language and examples which chime with how it feels to be a parent or to work daily with other people’s children. This careful selection by Caroline Vollans of the letters from parents and replies of Susan Isaac’s (known as Ursula Wise) in the 1930s editions of the much respected Nursery World magazine demonstrated her genius in being able to do this. The book brings out the ability of Susan Isaacs to get alongside parents and also to influence the readers of Nursery World who are nannies, nurses, nursery nurses and teachers. She helps parents and practitioners to understand the children and giving them the possibility of acting in ways which help and comfort both child and themselves. Caroline Vollans notes that each letter is thought provoking, reassuring and helpful to read. Selecting which letters to include in the book was a challenge, but one to which she has risen with skill and has created a well organised framework showing the central aspects of Susan Isaac’s guidance for parents and practitioners. I missed my stop on the tube because it was such a thoroughly well put together book and an absorbing read.’ - Professor Tina Bruce CBE

From the Publisher