Nursery World - Interview - Sue Atkins, Parenting expert

Sue Atkins talks to Sue Learner about parenting and discipline, in the wake of the riots that spread destruction through the streets of London and most of the major English cities.

The teenagers involved in the riots clearly thought it was acceptable to loot and vandalise. Do you think bad parenting is partially to blame for the riots?

Bad parenting certainly contributed to it. If children have strong parents with good self-esteem, they are more likely to grow into well-rounded, confident adults. Many of these people rioting were belligerent and angry teenagers, who were out of control.

Should parents discipline their children more, instead of trying to be their friend?

There does seem to have been a shift with parenting, where parents are reluctant to discipline their children and say no. But children don't want you to be their friend. They feel far more nurtured and taken care of if you act as a parent towards them rather than treating them as a friend with no boundaries. It is very important to put boundaries in place and if you say no, you mean no.

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