The Growing Strong campaign was launched by children's charity NCH along with a report that identifies Ten Steps to Growing Strong.
Concerns were raised earlier this year when Unicef research into child poverty put the UK bottom of a list of industrialised nations in terms of children's emotional well-being (News, 15 February).
The report calls on the Government to introduce targets to measure good emotional well-being rather than just harmful behaviour. It praises the children's centre agenda and suggests that older children need more services and should participate in at least two structured out-of-school activities a week.
Clare Tickell, chief executive of NCH, said, 'Our children are struggling with the daily pressures of modern life, from exams to worrying about how they look, to fears for their safety. What keeps ringing out is that too many are simply not getting the emotional support they so desperately need.
'Policies on poverty, social exclusion, education and health will continue to be fatally undermined if the chronic lack of provision for the emotional needs of children is not addressed. The Government must commit to tackling this problem if future generations are to receive the chance in life they deserve.'
Further information: www.nch.org.uk.
