Practical Social Pedagogy: Theories, Values and Tools for Working with Children and Young People

Social pedagogical work is a field of practice that is indebted to and illuminated by aspects of knowledge from sociology and psychology, but many practitioners feel that social pedagogical theories are too abstract and distant from the challenges faced in practice.

In Practical Social Pedagogy Jan Storo shows the reader for the first time how the theories and practices of social pedagogy interlock. The book combines social pedagogy theories, psychology, sociology and social work with a social constructionist perspective to help practitioners guide children and young people to cope better with the challenges they face as they grow up. The author emphasises that the actualities of practice are first disclosed in the meeting between the professional practitioner and the client.

The book uses many practical examples to help make the application of social pedagogy more accessible, and is ideal for students on courses covering work with children and young people.

This translation has been carried out by Kirsti Spaven and is published with the financial support of NORLA.

Jan Storø is an Associate Professor of Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Child Welfare Bachelor Program. He worked with young people and children in care from 1975 to 1999, mostly as a leader of residential units and was leader of The Norwegian Leaving Care Project (1999–2002) and the MST Treatment Unit of Oslo (2002–05). Storø is author of five books on the transition from care to adulthood and social pedagogy and a wide range of articles on topics connected to child welfare.