About the book
Childrearing is no easy task. Parents are raising their children in a competitive, individualist society, all while carrying the baggage from their own childhoods. That’s why it’s important to reflect on the purpose of childrearing, in the interests both of the child and the wider society. Because parenting is so much more than preventing behavioural problems—it’s also about helping a person reach their full potential as a human being.
As Long As They’re Happy assists every parent, guardian and policymaker in this task. On the basis of five parenting goals, Marilse Eerkens shows how we can prepare children for the future and teach them to live peacefully and democratically in our increasingly complex society.