Child Health

Fiona Stanley

“The health and wellbeing of children and youth are any country’s most crucial future concern (Stanley, Prior, & Richardson, 2005). Measuring health (or ill-health as we usually do!) and wellbeing (or ill-being!) gives us an indication of the success of our society in providing those environments (physical, social, emotional, cultural and economic) that are positive for healthy child development. Interestingly, such environments appear not only of benefit in growing children well, they seem also to be good for economic success, equality, and the care of other vulnerable groups such as the aged and the disabled. Countries with the policies, services and cultures that serve children well are those with good outcomes across the whole of the population. Because they care for the future of their children, they are also more likely to be concerned about the environment, climate change and the negative effects of the modern world, such as excessive consumption, advertising to children of harm, appropriate use of new technology, and providing the best health and social services …”