Is the UK doing enough to support the well-being of children?

Question

The UK is bottom of a league table for child well-being across 21 industrial countries, a report by Unicef says.

The charity looked at 40 indicators including poverty, relationships with parents, health and safety, behaviour, and children's own sense of well-being.

The Netherlands came top of the group, followed by Sweden, Denmark and Finland, while the US was second from bottom.

What is your view of the report's findings? Is the UK failing its children? How important is the well-being of children in your country?

Answer 1

The middle class ‘experiment’ of encouraging -though never for themselves, of course – single parent families, has contributed to the state of Britain today.

We are living in society that values nothing, unless it can be purchased and where children are viewed as fashion accessories or the next 'acquisition' in ones ‘life plan’, along with the car,the house and the spouse.

Then there is the media, who turn the dregs of society into overnight ‘celebrities’ and who hold up illiterate sports stars and their no talented painted wives, as role models for the impressionable.

Is it any wonder why the UK has failed it’s children?

Answer 2

Sorry but all the government seem to do these days is to put money into things to do with children, single mothers are so well looked after its makes those who work hard and pay taxes angry, they get all the benefits they need while working parents have to fork out hundreds of pounds each month for their kids nursery places, basically if the parents can't be bothered looking after their kids and watching how their life's are turning out what can we do, blame the parents who have little or no regard for their kids.

Answer 3

Millitant feminism and the ideals of equallity taken to the nth degree have to take a lot of responsibility for the destruction of the bond betwen nurturing mother and child. Children are seen as an apendage or difficulty, which indeed applies to the affluent as much as the poor. Why have children if your first response is to ship them out for someone else to look after? Of course economic factors are involved, which the government could be more proactive about. Also men's total irresponsibility in thinking that they can sow their seed and sod the consequences is also a big factor. Too much of what is happening in this country is victim culture, and that it is always someone else's fault.

Answer 4

The bottom line on this is that this government is too soft of single parenting and unmarried girls having a baby then getting 'social' housing. The breakdown of the family unit is the problem and the problem has been exacerbated by the ineptitutes of this government and the lies it has been feeding us.

The Government, parents and propoganda are what is to blame. Unfortunately most people in this country are like sheep - feed them and they will follow!!!

Answer 5

Sorry, but alot of parents don't care.
They don't care if their son/daughter comes in at 2:30 am drunk. I know, I have friends.
They don't try to talk with their children, don't help them.
It is true and often happens, I find, on council estates (sorry!).

Answer 6

Isn't that the PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY????? to look after the wellfare of their kids????

Answer 7

we care why????