Dear Friends,

The Children's Society has recently published a major report - after interviewing no less than 30,000 children, adults and professionals and undertaking a comprehensive review of all the available research - into the state of childhood in Britain today.  The results make sobering reading.  But the key finding is clear: most of the obstacles children face today are linked to the belief among adults that the prime duty of the individual is to make the most of their own life, rather than contribute to the good of others. 

The Good Childhood® Inquiry says excessive individualism is causing a range of problems for children including: high family break-up, teenage unkindness, commercial pressures towards premature sexualisation, unprincipled advertising, too much competition in education and acceptance of income inequality.

The report says that although freedom and self-determination bring many blessings, the balance has tilted too far towards individualism in Britain.  The Good Childhood® Inquiry looked at these seven aspects of childhood; the first four were:

Children with single or step parents are 50% more likely to suffer with lower academic achievement, poor self-esteem, unpopularity with other children, behavioural difficulties and depression.

The age at which people have their first sexual experience has dropped dramatically due to many forces including more privacy when both parents work and commercial pressures.

Promotion of sugary, salty high-fat foods to children is leading to rising obesity, and the upward trend in media violence is helping to produce an increase in the levels of violent behaviour.

There needs to be a significant change at the heart of society, so that adults, be they parents or teachers, are less embarrassed to stand up for the values without which a society cannot flourish.

In response, The Children's Society made recommendations, including:

Parents should:
Make a long term commitment to each other.  Be fully informed about what is involved before their child is born.  Love their children, each other and establish boundaries for children.  Help children develop spiritual qualities.

Teachers should:
Help children to develop happy, likeable social personalities.  Base discipline on mutual respect.  Eliminate physical and psychological violence from school.  Present sex and relationships education not as biology but part of social and emotional learning.

I have abbreviated both the findings and the responses, but they are well worth a better (and longer) look - see www.childrenssociety.org.uk - I fear we ignore it at our peril...