Sue Palmer

Sue Palmer, a former headteacher, is an independent writer and consultant on primary education, notably literacy. She has written over 200 books, TV programmes and software packages for children and teachers, and acted as an independent consultant to the DfES, National Literacy Trust, Basic Skills Agency, numerous educational publishers and the BBC. She is well known to UK teachers for her inservice courses and articles in the educational press, especially the TES and Child Education, in which she has a regular column. Her 'skeleton books' for teaching cross-curricular writing are used in over 10,000 UK schools. In 2004, she collaborated with Early Years specialist Ros Bayley to produce Foundations of Literacy, now in its third edition.

Sue's best-selling book Toxic Childhood: how modern life is damaging our children and what we can do about it (Orion 2006) was her first for a more general audience, and helped spark a national debate about the nature of contemporary childhood. It was followed by a 'self-help' book for parents, Detoxing Childhood, and 21st Century Boys: how modern life can drive them off the rails, and how we can get them back on track, published in paperback in March 2010.

Since researching Toxic Childhood she has become actively involved in many campaigns relating to children's well-being and mental health. With Dr Richard House she was co-author of two open letters to the Daily Telegraph, bringing together hundreds of experts on childhood to raise awareness of current issues. She is regularly consulted by action groups and politicians, has spoken at conferences around the world, and is regularly named among the most influential people in British education in the Evening Standard's Influentials lists.

Sue is a patron of the English Speaking Board, the Scottish Pre-School Play Association, Carefree Kids and the Children's Football Alliance. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Trustee and Fellow of the English Association, Chair of the Scottish Play Policy Forum and President of Montessori AMI UK.


  • Recent Publications

    Toxic Childhood: How The Modern World Is Damaging Our Children And What We Can Do About It by Sue Palmer (Orion Publishing, Paperback - 15 Feb 2007)


    Detoxing Childhood: What Parents Need to Know to Raise Bright, Balanced Children by Sue Palmer (Orion Publishing, Paperback - 1 Dec 2008)


    21st Century Boys: How Modern Life Can Drive Them off the Rails and How to Get Them Back on Track by Sue Palmer (Orion Publishing, Paperback - 1 April 2010)

Sue Palmer


Scottish educator, author, literacy specialist, media contributor & chair of Upstart Scotland. Advocate for childhood well-being.


Written by Sue, exploring child development, literacy, and the impact of modern lifestyles on childhood:

March 21, 2025
In this important follow-up to her ground-breaking book, 'Toxic Childhood', Sue Palmer provides an essential guide on how to bring up children in a way that avoids the problems of a toxic world
March 21, 2025
Ever heard someone talking disparagingly about the "youth of today"? Ever thought that kids today seem unable to hold a conversation, behavioural disorders seem to be on the rise and that the old-fashioned adage of 'respecting your elders' has withered away?

Books by Sue Palmer

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March 21, 2025
In this important follow-up to her ground-breaking book, 'Toxic Childhood', Sue Palmer provides an essential guide on how to bring up children in a way that avoids the problems of a toxic world
March 21, 2025
Ever heard someone talking disparagingly about the "youth of today"? Ever thought that kids today seem unable to hold a conversation, behavioural disorders seem to be on the rise and that the old-fashioned adage of 'respecting your elders' has withered away?