The British government intends to launch a programme for advising and guiding all (young) parents through parenthood. Up to now, only parents of young criminals were given parenting classes. Convincing all parents of the importance of learning to become a good parent will demand a cultural change. In order to have a capacity for all parents, the government will take measures to encourage a vast number of commercial businesses to step in to the counselling market for good parenting. There is strong evidence that helping parents at an early stage in building strong and stable relationships with their offspring will improve the chances in life of the children.
I think it is a good thing to encourage parents to get their selves prepared for guiding their kids through life. In most cases, I think it is no longer sufficient to rely on intuition to raise children. Society is complex and demands a lot of different parenting skills to guide kids through childhood. Actually, it is quiet odd, after getting a dog many people are attending puppy classes and yet, expecting and raising a child is still considered to be done without any help. While raising my own kids, I also sought help at some occasions and I experienced this to be very helpful. Of course it should always be on a voluntary basis!
Creating the super-nanny state / BBC News 18 May 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18115921
Very interesting article. I do believe that all parents are doing everything to do the best for their children. Maybe that is where it goes wrong, not everyone has the same standard as to what is best for children. Although most parents do a good job, I think that there are indeed many parents that could use some help raising their children. I wonder how the government will arrange these ideas...
BeantwoordenVerwijderenIt is difficult to raise children. I can tell you. it is more more difficult than raising a dog. I think the childcare in Holland is well organised, from birth till the age of 16 they keep an eye on a child, so they notice very soon when something is wrong. It is good that the parents themselves can get help if the need it, but I never heard of commercial business offering help.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI also think it is good to encourage them to be good parents, but no way would I like someone to interfere with me parenting my (future) children! I will go and get help with family and friends if I would need any, I need no commercial business to do such things. And even if I would need it, I want to go on voluntarily basis.
BeantwoordenVerwijderen