About Us

"We aim to be a useful source of books and materials for people with young families, and for all professionals involved in supporting and promoting early years child development".

Starting from day one to make the difference

Our daughter, Hannah, was born in 1993, a sensitive baby and very active child. A close friend had worked as a psycho-social family-centred nurse, working with children therapeutically in the community, at the Cassel Hospital in Ham (Richmond UK), and it was she who made us aware of a child-centred approach to parenting, and some of the reasons why Hannah might be behaving the way she was. Without her support and understanding, we may well have had a very different child from the one we have now.

We made a conscious decision to parent without smacking, but our own experience with a baby and toddler who was at times extremely challenging, made us realise just how important it is for the health and well-being of all families to receive help and support right from the very start. And also, even with the best intentions, how easy it can be for us to slip into a negative cycle, especially if we are tired and exhausted. We began to understand why some people can reach such a low point that they might harm their children.

In 1995 we founded The Children's Project and began learning, researching and observing. We believe that by showing why children behave the way they do, parents and carers will be better able to understand them and respond appropriately.

We draw upon the experience and expertise of parents, health professionals and academics to provide up-to-date information in a form that is easily accessible to everyone - parents, carers and practitioners.

The Social Baby and The Social Toddler are examples of how we bring the studies of academics, and the experience of 'hands-on' professionals and parents together to make information available for all in a palatable form.

"When we show our children we can listen to them,
respect them,
and empathise with them,
they will learn to listen,
respect and empathise with those around them
and the world in which we live."
Helen and Clive Dorman

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About Us contents
About Us on page 1
Our Motivation on page 2
Aims and Objectives on page 3
Mission Statement and Ethos on page 4
Activities on page 5
The Bottom Line: Child Abuse on page 6