Hidden Hands focuses on a specific and neglected area of contemporary child welfare; that of children's paid work and labour. This book provides the first cross-cultural examination of children's productive activities, their relationship to children's broader social lives, and their implications for the child's education, welfare and well-being. The contributors look at the situation both here and overseas. They discuss issues including conflicts between schooling, education and work in the UK, child poverty, motivating children to work, children from ethnic minorities, the work and labour of children in industrialised countries and the situation in the US, Denmark, Germany and Russia.

The growth in the study of childhood encompasses anthropology, sociology, social policy and social work, as well as education. This book will be of use in all of these areas.