Many of you may have heard of Sue Palmers book Toxic Childhood and her follow up book How to Detox…. http://www.suepalmer.co.uk/toxic.php She was in conversation about her findings on childrens development with Prof John Frank from Glasgow Uni (Public Health) at the Edinburgh festival. This talk and the following one with Carol Craig (Centre of Confidence and Wellbeing) really drilled home what an important job being a mother is. I have captured some points from the discussion below with links to other work which can give us confidence to say (to ourselves of course!) ‘My job really does makes a difference!’.
A recent UNICEF report http://www.unicef.org.uk/press/news_detail_full_story.asp?news_id=890 asking children in England and Wales about thier life has produced some alarming statistics. Despite increases in material wealth the UK (excluding Scotland) and the US fall far behind other comparator western countries for childrens health and well being. Scotland was not included. Prof Frank concluded that should it have been the results would have been similar to those of Northern England and therefore would be even less favourable particularly in respect to behaviour, alcohol, education and poverty. Though many countries are winning the battle of childhood poverty it appears to be growing (above 30% according to charities) in the UK depsite being a target by the present government. The link between single parent families and a doubling in mental health issues was made though no recognition that Sweden also has a high numbers of single parent families but scores well on many of the criteria?
Sue talkedof how teachers report children are not able to concentrate as easily in the classroom. 50% of children are now reported to have language delays which is affecting the way their brain develops and assimulates infomation. This is particularly important under the age of 3 where little or no advice or standards are being given by the Government. Instead many children are in group childcare being cared for by young girls who have had poor parenting themselves. One of the greatest concern in the survey was that kids feel they are just not getting on with one another or with thier parents.
Susan Greenfield a nero scientists is currently looking into the way children process information and what effect this is having on their long term development. The present thinking is that our brains are flexible and much damage can be corrected http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/susan-greenfield-the-toomuchinformation-society-694093.html . However with the average time per in front of screens being 10 hours (including white boards at school) the incident of damage is also increasing.
Marketing to children, particularly through TV, was discussed. France has now banned all marketing to children but there are no moves to do so by this government.
There was a recognition that creative schools can help expand the minds of children. For example Montessori teaching is being introduced to China as their schooling of choice. Such role models as the google entrepreneurs and wikipedia founders show what outcomes Montessori philosophy can bring.
Carol Craig http://www.centreforconfidence.co.uk/projects.php?p=cGlkPTExMQ== talked of the fear in Scottish culture of getting things wrong & blaming others which she believes comes from the church.
Glasgow is now twice as violent as London and New York. Womens health is worse then Poland and Estonia. There is a culture of worthlessness and lack of self respect.
The director of http://www.mindfulnessscotland.org/ spoke of how we can address some of these issues by focusing in on emotional stability. knowing you can ‘get through anything’. Alienation from people is a direct result of technology and drugs so in order to get people off this, they need to learn how to cope with themselves and give themselves the respect. Accepting yourself for who you are is an important stage. Mindfullness has been found to reduce depression and physical pain in studies. retreats and a university course are presently being developed in scotland.