Is The UK Child-Friendly?
By admin • Feb 9th, 2010Rounding up the kids and taking them out to the supermarket to do the weekly shop can be a challenge in itself, but mums who have received dirty looks from passers-by may feel as though the whole chore is almost not worth the trouble.
Similarly, when enjoying a family meal at a restaurant, parents may have experienced comments being made by nearby tables about the noise their kids make enjoying themselves, which may put them off repeating what was otherwise a fun experience.
But such mums and dads are not alone, as children’s commissioner Sir Al Aynsley Green has claimed that England is not a child-friendly country.
Speaking to the Independent newspaper about the attitudes of the public and the media towards children, Sir Alwent so far as to claim England is "one of the most child unfriendly countries in the world".
He said that when he visited other countries, such as Canada and Australia, he was frequently asked why the British public "hate children so much".
An example of this attitude he cited was the Mosquito device - an ultrasonic gadget which plays a loud, high-pitched sound in an effort to stop young people congregating in the areas where it is fitted. The noise can only be heard by teenagers and children, as adult ears are not sensitive to it.
Sir Al claimed people asked him why the government was too "spineless" to prevent it from being used. He added while many Britons cared about the children within their own family unit, this goodwill was rarely extended to other young people, such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
"I am not preaching a one approach fits all but we should be aware of the impact of bereavement on children," he explained.
Commenting on the interview, Catherine Hanly, parenting writer, said: "Parents would say we do not live in a child-friendly society. From the looks we get if we are in supermarkets or public places if our child is anything other than silent or obedient, people look at the parents and make us feel unwelcome."
However, she added mums and dads do play a role in this thinking and that for every parent who brought their child to a nice restaurant safe in the knowledge they would behave themselves, there would be those who would allow their kids to run riot.
As a result, parents had a lot to do to ensure their children were going to be good while in public, she stated.
Ms Hanly went on to note stories in the media may also fuel negative thinking about young people, as it was frequently only the bad stories which made the headlines.
Although there are thousands of teenagers who are hardworking, get good grades and hold down jobs, it is easy to forget this when watching the news or reading the papers, Ms Hanly explained, adding if she was a teenager today it would make her feel "pretty low".
In addition, the writer explained there is a growing disconnection between many Britons and children, as there were people in their 20s and 30s who may have never even picked up a baby or small child. In these cases, it was likely such people’s first reaction when confronted with young kids would be negative.
So what can mums do to ensure their children grow up with a sense of self-worth, despite the negative press?
According to a recent study by the Children’s Society, the University of York and Ipsos MORI, entitled Understanding Children’s Wellbeing: A National Survey of Young People’s Wellbeing, happiness is most likely to start at home.
The report children’s wellbeing is far more strongly influenced by levels of family conflict than by family structure.
So, it could be said that ensuring a child feels loved and protected, no matter what the family circumstances, will see their happiness levels given a boost. And this in turn may see kids being far better behaved in public - which could mean those dirty looks become a thing of the past.
Do you think your children could be better behaved?
I moved from Japan (where my children were born) to the UK when my kids were 4. It was a massive shock to come from Japan, where like many Asian countries children are celebrated and valued above almost anything else, to Britain, where it\\\’s the exact opposite. The reaction that people, particularly young people, have towards children in the two countries are completely different. In general the reaction in the UK towards children veers between indifference and over-protectionism. Neither are helpful in trying to raise happy, self-confident and positive human beings.
I believe that the reason why British society is breaking down is down to that fact that most children have a poor childhood. Not poor materially, but developmentally. This is what sets the UK apart from most other developed nations - children here do not feel as though society wants them around. It\\\’s no wonder that when they get older, they want to get their revenge on a society that treated them so badly when they were younger, by behaving anti-socially.
A healthy and positive attitude towards children is a sign of a civilised society. I\\\’m afraid Britain is still far from civilisation,