First published in Children and Young People Now, May 2016

Kathy Evans piece from 2016 is pertinent to the many reviews that are underway regarding children’s social care. (Residential Forum comment)

In the course of my career I’ve observed five ‘paradigms of childhood misbehaviour’ – five distinct ways of conceptualising what is happening when children break the rules and boundaries we set for them (including breaking the law). Each of the paradigms leads to different beliefs about the right ways to respond, both in policy and in practice. In reality all five are widely deployed in very confused and conflicting ways right across our sectors.

1. Normal
2. Symptomatic
3. Nurture
4. Deliquency
5. Rebellion