Life Story Work; A practical guide to helping children understand their past

Children separated from their families are often denied the opportunity to know about their past and to clarify past events in terms of the present. Losing track of the past can make it difficult for children to develop emotionally and socially. Life story work is an attempt to give back this past to children separated from their birth families. It can help children to begin to accept their past and move forwards positively into the future, and give them a structured way of talking about themselves. It also enables adults working with children to listen to them and respect their views and wishes. This book is an authoritative guide that will help anyone who wants to use life story work as a way of helping children. In this comprehensively revised and attractively illustrated edition, Tony Ryan and Rodger Walker, both experienced practitioners, have updated the previous edition in light of all recent legislation, incorporated substantial new material from other contributors, and presented a rich creative assortment of useful techniques and exercises for adults working with children in different settings.