Child Life in the Hands of the Welfare State is a research-based debate book that criticizes the current upbringing conditions for our youngest children. The book describes the development and needs of young children for present and attentive adults - and the crucial importance this has for the child's development of social cognition, language, empathy, self-esteem, and much more in both the short and long term. However, when looking at the quality of Danish daycare institutions, it appears that some of them are not at a sufficient level to meet the needs of the children.

A group of parents therefore want to take on this task themselves. They take the consequences and choose to look after their child at home. For home care, parents have the opportunity to be the constant, present, and attentive adults in the child's life who can create lasting close and secure relationships with the child. In this way, the parents regain the opportunity to give their child what their parental instincts tell them to. However, such a decision has consequences for career and finances, and it requires political support and action.

The book gives a voice to stay-at-home parents. And based on this, research on the development of young children and the quality of Danish daycare institutions, some concrete proposals are presented on how we can change the conditions for the youngest children and their families.