About the Book

There’s hope for childhood. Despite a perfect storm of hostile forces that are robbing children of a healthy childhood, courageous parents and teachers who know what’s best for children are turning the tide.

INDIEFAB Book of the Year award
Their Name Is Today book of the year awards

Johann Christoph Arnold, whose books on education, parenting, and relationships have helped more than a million readers through life’s challenges, draws on the stories and voices of parents and educators on the ground, and a wealth of personal experience. He surveys the drastic changes in the lives of children, but also the groundswell of grassroots advocacy and action that he believes will lead to the triumph of common sense and time-tested wisdom.

Their Name Is Today takes on technology, standardized testing, overstimulation, academic pressure, marketing to children, over-diagnosis and much more, calling on everyone who loves children to combat these threats to childhood and find creative ways to help children flourish. Every parent, teacher, and childcare provider has the power to make a difference, by giving children time to play, access to nature, and personal attention, and most of all, by defending their right to remain children.

Book Trailer

Praise

Stunning.…Who would have thought that there was anything new to say about childhood? In 'Their Name Is Today', Arnold surprises us at every turn.

Diane M. Komp, MD, professor emeritus of pediatrics, Yale University

Arnold writes with deep insight, reminding us of the meaning of childhood and the need to protect it for the sake of the children and all of humanity.

Joan Almon, co-founder, Alliance for Childhood

Beautiful.…It is Arnold’s reverence for children that I love.

Jonathan Kozol, author

'Their Name is Today' is welcome reading for parents, grandparents, teachers and all those who care deeply about nurturing the next generation of happy, healthy, whole children.

Marian Wright Edelman, President, Children’s Defense Fund

A deeply inspiring tribute to children.…Arnold’s basic message is clear, and well worth heeding: a deep reverence for children will make the world a better place.

Publishers Weekly, October 6, 2014

In our hard-charging culture, children often get pushed to the edges of our crowded schedules. Arnold understands the pressures, but points to another way. 'Their Name Is Today' is practical and compelling.

Timothy Jones, author, Nurturing Your Child’s Soul

Tablet of Contents

  1. The World Needs Children
  2. Play Is a Child’s Work
  3. Great Expectations (Second excerpt here) 
  4. Screening Out
  5. Material Child (Second excerpt here) 
  1. Actions, Not Words (Second excerpt here) 
  2. Guidance to Grow
  3. In Praise of Difficult Children
  4. Discovering Reverence
  5. Tomorrow Comes