With even middle-class parents like the McCanns any wonder your (British) kids are out of control yobs?

Question

Are British parents the worst in Europe?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6108302.stm

"On every indicator of bad behaviour - drugs, drink, violence, promiscuity - the UK was at or near the top, said the Institute for Public Policy Research. "

My employers posted me in the UK for 12 months - I'm so glad I'm leaving.

Answer 1

We're not exactly in tears over your leaving either ! ! !

Answer 2

I'm not really sure it's indicative of British parenting (or lack thereof!) these issues are common in western cultures (America included if that is where you have been posted here from) and yes we do need to improve our track record on things like alcohol and drug use, teenage pregnancy etc but its not all down to the parenting, we have a wider societal responsibility for children and we are all failing the kids of today.

Don't get me wrong, I have worked in youth justice for over eight years and parenting or familial issues (such as domestic violence etc) probably have had an impact on over 80% of the kids I have come into contact with in my time.

What the McCanns did was wrong but what is worse is they have not publicly aknowledged that they broke the law - worse still they have publicly stated that what they did was 'well within the bounds of responsible parenting'. As a trainee social worker I can tell you that is absolutely not true, what they did is classified as wilful neglect and as such is illegal in the UK and social services will be speaking to them on their return to the UK.

I think the governement have more of a role to play in fixing some of these issues - but a lot of parents could be doing better too and there should be more money invested in preventative social work - this concept is almost unheard of these days as social workers are under enough pressure 'fire fighting' in high risk cases.

Answer 3

There is bad parenting in the UK, but the good kids outweigh the bad, they are just never shown on the news.

There is bad parenting everywhere, I live in Greece and I see bad parenting here all the time, some of the kids I know will grow up to be hooligans and some will go a long way.

Where are you from by the way? Let us know so we can visit and learn how to be perfect parents, as obviously all the kids there are angels.

Edit - If you are from the states then you question is a little insulting - most of the violence on the streets of the UK results from kids being influenced by what they see on American TV shows.

Answer 4

Have you seen the date on this article? I would agree that we have more that our fair share of problems in this country with kids as you call them and yes respect has gone out of the window. What do you expect when programmes such as the Simpson are shown at children's peak viewing times. I watched it yesterday for the first time and I could not believe what I was seeing. We grown ups know it is all tongue in cheek stuff but impressionable kids do not have a clue and use this as programme as measure of behaviour towards others.

You say that you have been here a year on secondment well I'm sure that you will be taking back a lot of pleasant memories as well as the not so pleasant and you will have learnt a great deal from a country that has given the world so much.

You can blame the bad parenting on the liberal attitude of the so called do gooders...you will have them in your country too.

Answer 5

I think your a bit out of line not all parents are like that yes there are some people you cant control there kids or leave them but its harsh to say "your British kids are out of control yobs" cause that makes out that every child in Britain is and they are not I know more well behaved kids with very good parents then I do the so called yobs your on about

Answer 6

I'm not quite sure what your connection between the McCanns and yobs is.
However in some ways, I do agree with you. It's a waste of talent, childhood and it wears down the social structure.

BTW It took me two years living in this country before I really began to appreciate it and now I love it. Woulnd't move back home,f or anything. and my four children are very well behaved, polite, well adjusted, etc.

Answer 7

its actually a mixture of things-bad parenting(especially those who let their kids roam the streets from a young age without knowing or caring what they are up to)& a justice system that is laughable-why not get drunk, steal a car,wrap it round a lampost then mug an old lady on the way home when you only get a slapped wrist and a 10p fine. the McCanns made a mistake-all parents do no matter what class they are.i'm sure all parents in your country are perfect and polish their halo's daily.haven't you got a plane to catch......make sure you don't get sat next to a british child or parent though....you may not survive.bye

Answer 8

Like most countries England has its problems with Yobs. Thank goodness these are in the minority, but these are the ones that make the newspapers as they get into gangs, have too much to drink and then cause problems. Perhaps its because they have more money to buy drink, hard to say what the main causes are. It is not just a recent thing it has gone on for years.

Answer 9

Yes England may have a problem with out of control children but it is just a very small minority. I have to say i worry for my children because i hate to think what it is going to be like when they are teenagers / adults.

But other countrys are alot worse than here, I was in America recently and all that you ever read about or heard on the news was about people being killed.And that includes teenagers killing each other. im glad to say England is not anywhere as near as bad as USA yet but im sure it wont be to long until it is.

Perhaps England should start by giving out sentances to fit peoples crime................ They should get LIFE in jail if they kill someone instead of just a few years. That includes drunk drivers who get in their car and kill innocent people.

Answer 10

Its not just British children that are out of control you know. Yes, I do blame parents for a lot of out of control yobs behaviour, but sadly Madeleine is not even probably going to get the chance to be out of control is she?

Answer 11

No i do not think so ....

I have lived in many countries and i have to say every country has out of control children ...

I think this report is unfair and biased ....

Children from all nationalities will express themselves through bad behaviour etc ...

Is this not part of growing up ?

What annoys me is parents always get the blame for their childrens behaviour ..

We can teach our children right from wrong.. we teach them morals and standards and so on ...

What we can not teach them is not to give in to peer pressure that is something they have to do in order to grow from a child to an adult