It’s half-term week this week, the kids are at home, but are they happy 
there? According to a stinging Unicef report, the UK is accused of failing its children, coming bottom of the league table.
It looked at 40 indicators, including poverty, peer and family relationships, when monitoring child well-being across 21 industrialised countries. As a result, the UK has been described as having a “dog eat dog” attitude in society, and under-investment was also blamed. These were the results:
1. Netherlands
2. Sweden
3. Denmark
4. Finland
5. Spain
6. Switzerland
7. Norway
8. Italy
9. Republic of Ireland
10. Belgium
11. Germany
12. Canada
13. Greece
14. Poland
15. Czech Republic
16. France
17. Portugal
18. Austria
19. Hungary
20. United States
21. United Kingdom
I wonder what the top scoring countries are doing that we are not. Will David Cameron have picked up a few tips during his recent visit to Sweden? What can government do to overcome this? Isn’t it really the parents’ responsibility?
I partly blame our young people’s fixation with computer games for causing a lack of communication in families, how it is an easy way out for some parents to amuse their kids rather than spend time with them. How many young people today run errands for their elderly neighbours and are encouraged to be considerate towards others? Where are their role models to inspire them? What will our future generation be like with this “dog eat dog” attitude, if it really is as bad as that, I shudder to think.
I blame the welfare state for paying unsuitable parents to produce more and more children…
I too am concerned about it. That said I think we need to reflect on it a bit before doing anything. Clearly throwing money at the problem is not a solution, as there are some low tax economies ahead of us.
I do agree that as families we need to spend more time together.
That’s a bit cynical Snafu.
Though I fear that parenting must have a lot to do with it.
Talking of computer games, my 4th year PR dissertation students are working on a real life case study to come up with a campaign for a new game targeting young children that involves crashing cars and driving badly. There is no moral outcome to the behaviour and the more you drive in the wrong direction, have accidents, etc, the more points you get. I found it outrageous that they were being asked to work on this and suggested they should put in a report arguing why they wouldn’t ethically work for such a client. How can children ever learn right from wrong with such stupid messages targetted at them. No doubt the company, EA Games, will use controversy to promote this irresponsible product – so be prepared to be irate.
The state has driven metaphorical tanks onto the lawn of the family home.
Children now have extensive ‘rights’ (and the police have to accept this), Single parent families are subsidised, there is no financial incentive to be part of a married couple, children are taught at school (sex edcuation etc.) what they use to be taught at home, both parents often have to work to make ends meet, divorce has been made easier…
the list goes on.
The state wants to ‘help’ but in fact allows feckless people to abrogate responsibility for their parenting. The solution has been until now , more ‘state’intervention. But is is not working, is it?
It is the government’s fault; don’t let them off the hook for this one. Social policy is truly terrible in this country.
PS All the numbers quoted are 5 years old by the way. The report was rehashed to be released today for political reasons.
Cityunslicker:
> It is the government’s fault ….All the numbers quoted are 5 years old by the way
I heard it was seven years. So it all went wrong in the first three years of the present government?
I honestly think that all this is beyond party politics.
Jim, how can you say I’m a little cynical and then agree with me!?!
Hi Ellee, Thanks so much for your comment earlier – I have now fixed the comment section on my blog, thanks to your note. This is a really interesting article you have written today, although sad. You mentioned David Cameron going to Sweden; when I travel abroad I tend to be struck at the difference in attitudes of the general public towards children. In European Cafes, children are smiled at and valued, where as, in British cafes they are often seen as a nuisance. I am not sure if anyone has ever been struck by this? Perhaps in this country we should celebrate childhood and appreciate the challenges of parenthood, and not just blame the state for the 21st place. Michelle
Anonymous: I cannot post a link on a subject that is a legal matter, as you well know. I have deleted the comment. Neither will I allow my site to be used this way. Please do not try it again.
Ellee, what a silly thing to say. Conservative Home has no problem displaying exactly the same link. There is no legal action as far as I am aware. I expect they are far more willing to discuss the facts openly than you are.
Concerned Citizen, I wonder how you know about the link as it was posted anonymously, I smell a rat. From what I have read, the subject of the link is involved in legal action. As a result, I stand by my decision.
Well Jim. We have to disagree. Socialism has afected severly the way a family operates in this country to its total detriment.
This is a political issue. I failt osee how you can think it is otherwise. What do you think all these laws and ‘agencies’ the government it is so keen on are for?
By the by, Croydonian has a super take on this though, much as it wrecks my argument here!
nfb, for some strange reason, you comment couldn’t be moderated, so I have cut and paste it below, many thanks:
“Good quality, affordable childcare system – this is the secret.
When average British family is paying around £50 per day for a childcare, it becomes impossible to look properly after family. And staying at home is not possible for vast majority of women – look at the property prices.”
> This is a political issue
Oh yes! But not a party political issue, particularly, IMO. The rot set in long before this government took over, surely?
That is a shocking list. It reflects society in this country, and that will take a lot of changing, as it’s the result of politics, parenting, education, media and many more.
What about our fixation with property ?
(I agree with those of you who cite welfarism too)
But my point being that our system of habitation necessitates dual earnings therefore puts huge pressure on both parents who end up highly geared.
I often read reports that many women would prefer not to use childcare but are forced to simply to maintain a standard of living; this certainly reflects our peer group. Then there is the guilt followed by the over-compensating towards the children followed by lack of maintainence of marital relations … good grief.
I am surprised that Italy is as far down as no. 8. I do think there is something in eating together as a family, as the Italians do. No “running buffets” for kids in homes here!
Good quality affordable childcare is not the solution. The solution (if there is one) lies in us cherishing our children, not resenting them. Everything that goes on in this country is aimed towards the exact opposite-Families are encouraged not to look after their children, and everywhere one goes children are complained about and wished away from churches to trains to restaurants. This is probably a long tradition in England, but it should not surprise us that our children are unhappy.
Furthermore the pressure on families to work work work means that parents are unhappy too. They dislike their work for interfering with family life and their family life for interfering with their work. In the end nobody wins. BUT is this the price we pay fo a booming economy-note that America was 2nd worst!
How do we change it? Reward parents for looking after their children, reward families for staying together and love our children and other people’s without worrying about their faults
mens sana and electro-kevin, the issue regarding working mums is very complex and personal. I wouldn’t have enjoyed working full time and being a mum, I would have found it too exhausting and I would have missed my sons terribly. But that’s not the way other women feel. An unhappy mum means an unhappy family, it’s a case of trying to find a balance. But, on the other hand,our young people need good role models they can aspire to, they need to be taught the difference between right and wrong and have confidence and self-belief.
Yes, it was interesting to see that America was second bottom, which is why having more material possessions means having less in other respects, having values.
Ellee I have no problem with working mums. For many people thats the right choice. But why can we pay childminders and not grandparents to look after children? Why are so many women (and there are many) being encouraged back to work for very marginal financial gain if they would prefer not to. And why are men stigmatised if they opt to look after children instead of working?
Ellee its got nothing to do with working mums its to do with non working mums . Damn I `m Sorry I missed the fun here because the Conservative view is entirely lacking thus far…I think. Under Investement is the “Liberal Answer” and by the way “Investment” is not a word that should be used when what is meant is cost/tax.
(IMHO)
This complex of issues , housing , benefits , family breakdown , social disorder , educational failure are all very prevalent where we are, with something like 50% of the Borough not only in Social Housing but also on benefits. Whole areas are father free. Gun crime is at a death a week
If we were in a political environment that ever showed anything but contempt for the traditional family I think you would find much more willingness to tolerate a small number who choose different life styles, in the usual English way. Perhaps less furious reaction to every “modernising ” measure. Most of the rage , for me , has its source in this area where the state has attacked our lives consistently and brutally.
It is the government that have failed children by creating a marginal taxation, benefits, and housing system which has torn the white working class family to pieces. The government’s Soviet style Sure Start should not have to exist but they have made a society where it does.
Again and again we see this . They remove peoples power , money and freedom and dignity and then appear the benevolent fairy godmother by giving back a small part of what they took. Unless Conservatives win the argument don’t you see what will happen ? Every sign of social disintegration will be interpreted as showing the need for greater benefits and higher taxation. Educational failure shows that parents can’t cope so higher taxes and greater benefits. Crime increases which shows parents can’t cope so more support is required and so on and so on. It was inevitable that the state would turn its baleful eye on the family its last and strongest enemy
You cannot expect self reliance to flourish when, in some areas , 90 % of the households cannot affect their income with their efforts.
So, I am not at all surprised at this and I hope people will begin to see what a social catastrophe New Labour policies have been exactly as predicted by Frank Field.
Like C U I have to admit that Croydonians surgery of the report pretty much undermines anything you take from it. I did .not need this report to hold these views
PS Sorry CU I see you are here batting for Les Bleu. Good man!
mens san, that is a good point about the grandparets, but the govt won’t make them paid childcarers unless they pass childcarers exams, eg first aid, heath and safety, which they could do now if they went down that path. Obviously, this shouldn’t be necessary. I think the extended family is a very important part of family life for children.
Newmania, you have highlighted so many failings, I just don’t see how the clock can be turned back to repair that damage, what will our future generations be like, their children, etc.
No need for despair like any Conservative I believe people are fine if you just leave them to get on with it. In fact policies are being formed in the Conservative Party and ?(copied) by new Labour to address the chief problem which is rewarding family breakdown through the housing system.
2 mens sana:
In post-industrial society you have to find the substitute for grandparents or the older generation, who would look after children and educate them while parents are working.
Now these functions are performed by the nurseries and schools, after school clubs, play groups and so on. If they are as expensive, as in UK or USA, it will be not the best place for children and families.
Phone to your nearest ballet school and ask, how much will cost lessons for 4-year old. Or music or fine art lessons, or sport activities. I had it all – free, when I was a child. I was busy and happy. You can find something similar in the countries, which are on the top of the list. Maybe not free but definitely more affordable, than here.
It is really strange to see one of the richest nations on the Earth not wanting to invest into its own children.
Who has failed our children? Look around you. We all have.
nfb, it’s true we do have to pay for those kind of acitivities, though some schools may provide music and sport, certainly not ballet and fine art.
Before all of you get too excited about how we’re going to “fix the family”, can I suggest that you (a) remember that the family is none of the state’s business, and (b) consider whether this report is valid. It is not – not even close. Wat at Burning Our Money and I (at pickinglosers.com) have given several examples of how this is a badly distorted study, designed to depict a pre-conceived notion of the authors (that continental, interventionist government is better than Anglo-Saxon, liberal government), not to measure childhood well-being (as though such “measurement” is possible). So before you rush to heap invalid generalisation on invalid generalisation, and to design yet more interventions to provide solutions to those invalid generalisations, take the trouble to read the report (not the media hype), think about what it is saying, and consider whether its notion of childhood wellbeing is one that you share.
For instance, Britain scores very highly on the safety of our children, with a strong improvement in recent years. One part of that “improvement” is that there are barely any “risky” activities left in which children can participate, thanks to the risk-averse, litigious trend of our society. It may have saved a couple of lives, but do you see that as a genuine improvement in children’s wellbeing, or is the lack of adventure and cotton-wool-wrapping that is now inflicted on our children a retrograde step? If you agree with me that the disappearance of trips and activities is a shame, you need to consider whether you agree with the authors’ definitions of childhood well-being.
There are many examples like this. Have a look at the posts by Wat and me.
I’m not denying there are lots of problems with our society. I am just conselling against basing on this report much of your analysis of what is wrong or what needs to be done about it.
Hey Ellee, i have had fun catching up on all posts. I have no clue how you get the time to post so regularly. Some great stories…..this one in particular….well, you only have to look at the rise in Juvenile crime…..parents have a lot to answer for, many need to step up and be held accountable.