Good Childhood Inquiry blames the parents for bad childhoods

A Good Childhood is the conclusion of a three-year survey by the Children's Society, which was carried out by 11 experts and had contributions from 30,000 children and adults.
Issues highlighted in the wide-ranging report include the impact of family breakdown and a new youth culture, which has led to advertisers increasingly targeting children through television and the Internet.
According to the report, children spend 21 hours a week in front of television, video games or the Internet.
It blames advertisers for targeting children with junk food, and claims that the more a child is exposed to television and the internet the more materialistic they become, with consequences for their mental health.
Among a number of recommendations for improving childhood, the report calls on the Government to raise the pay and status of childcare workers and teachers.
It also calls for free parenting classes for new parents and psychological help for families when relationships break down and for  children who have emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Children's Society chief executive Bob Reitemeier told Nursery World, 'As a society we are overly interested in self-promotion. The flip side is children  growing up in a society where we are not as concerned about helping others. There is a lack of collective responsibility.'
The report says children with step-parents or single parents are on average 50 per cent more likely to have problems at school and with self-esteem, behaviour and anxiety. However, Mr Reitemeier stressed that the book 'is in no way a condemnation of a particular family structure'.
He said parents needed to be more aware of the impact that conflict between them has on their children and 'pro-active in helping children develop friendships,' which children highlighted as particularly important to them.
A DCSF spokesperson said, 'We are pleased the review acknowledges the positive impact that the Children's Plan is already having on children's lives.'
A Good Childhood: searching for values in a competitive age is published by Penguin today (5 February) at £9.99.