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Regarding the implicit assumption that playing computer games is a bad thing for children, while I personally worry about the risks of RSI from prolonged use by my 6 year old, I also think Steven Johnson makes a good point in his book Everything Bad Is Good For You, when he argues that sitting playing a computer game is no worse than sitting reading a book - in fact it is much more challenging and mentally stimulating. I think this point is valid as several children's authors seem to be involved in this campaign. Do they think children should climb trees rather than read their books? Computer games are an easy, but rather lazy, target for this kind of campaign.

I agree.I was an 80's child and i'm now a father myself.Even in the 80's i would be out building a den or a bogie but now i fear my child will be a prisoner of a new generation of tests,results and electronics.Basicaly turning them into a future generation of zombie who will be malfunctioning through even the early stages of adult life due to pressure,fear and lack of exersise.

My 14 and 16 year old have hours of homework to do each evening and they worry constantly about exams. There seem to be exams or coursework deadlines every few months and they have little or no time to relax and develop hobbies and talents outside school.
During the last year of GCSEs the pressure of coursework was such that my son had to drop all his sporting and musical out of school activities and after six months of this developed migraine and back problems. The latter was not helped by the school requirement that they carry everything for the day in and out of school and around with them. In my day, the teachers came to us, our books could be left in our desks and we only took homework home with us not all the textbooks for the day.
My 14 year old daughter is definitely depressed by the onslaught of coursework deadlines and has already said she cannot continue her flute studies as she has no time to go to after school lessons and to orchestra rehearsals which she loved.
I think our children are over examined and over pressurised.
One of my children goes to a State comprehensive and one to an Independent school. There is no difference between them in terms of pressure. Both are unrelenting.

You (the media) are constantly asking what the public (in general) think about all manner of subjects. Do you ever check to see whether the people offering the comments have anything other than their personal opinion, which may well be uninformed,to offer? What is wrong with listening, for a change, to those who have taken a lifetime to study the problems which they seek to address and redress?
Where does the media see the seat of Authority in these licentious days?

I couldn't agree more, I'm 52 and one of the best times of my life was when I was a child and was outdoors playing all day. There were seasonal games, we were in the sun from June to September I was brought up in Ireland(British school summer terms are bad because they keep children indoors until nearly the end of July, when often the best of the sun has been and gone) We need more outdoor based activities for summer. What's happened to all those lovely outdoor pools of the fifties. We even went when it was raining. I suggest a TV free month once a year in summer as a national campaign, to jump start our kids into outdoors again. They simply don't know what they are missing. Its up to us to change it.

From my experience kids today are overprotected and too passive. When do they get the chance to be creative?
Most parents I know spend an awful lot of time and money making sure their kids are either
1) on a computer or playing computer games
2) have the latest gadgets
when will kids learn the value of money if they don't have to wait or work for something?
3)carting them about in a car so they hardly ever walk or get the bus/train and therefore never get streetwise

Where is the space for day dreaming, creativity, making their own games?
Where is the space for walking, talking, and I mean talking and discussion?
Where is there the space to just let kids be ? without the noise or activity?

I could not believe friends who covered their outside patio with pretend plastic grass to ensure their little darlings did not hurt themselves..
Please this overprotection is suffocating and counter productive and just NOT HEALTHY

Let kids breathe!

I think this report is correct.

Young people are told that if they do not become brilliant entrepreneurs and superb achievers then they are worthless.

The pressure on young people today is greater than the pressure on young people in 1930's Germany.

Here in the United States children are definately overscheduled with some sports team, service group, or lessons everyday after school. I grew up in the 40's and 50's and I climbed trees and read books. I had some after school activities but not more than two a week.

Just take a look at what children's clothes look like -- minature adults. Not tartan skirts or smocked dresses. Yes I think we are both forcing kids to grow up to fast and at the same time by extending education opportunities denying them the ability to mature.

Their comments have good reason but I do think they get misled when they start saying that children are too protected, rather it's the other way around! Children are given too much choice at an age when they don't have enough knowledge to make a wise decision at times. Yes we can learn from the 50's childhood - good & bad lessons. It's about bringing a balance to all of this by learning from the past (even the most recent past). There's an excellent book called "The Five Love Languages of Children" that we can all learn from in human nature. Even the "wife swop" programme once revealed how a rebellious teen appreciated it when her father began to discipline her more and place healthy boundaries in her life - she felt loved and cared for. I think when we try as parents to be too "cool" we don't realise just how much a we don't care attitude gets reflected/interpreted by a child even though it's natural for children to try pushing the boundaries themselves. In pushing the boundaries they're only learning naturally what's ok and what's not but parents of today end up not teaching them anything by being on too much of one side of the fence.

I don't really think that it matters or not whether the letter writers are harking back to an non existant ideal. The fact remains that children are living, breathing organisms that require more then merely to be regarded as miniature adults.
Children deserve so much more then merely to be fed with the latest 'in thing', whether that be the latest 'fashions, the latest electronic gadgets and the input of charming scripted hosts on the myriad of programmes we have allowed to take the place of active interaction.

When we lived in Athens with our young children in the 1960's and 70's, we didn't have a television because we thought it would be better for the children if they didn't spend their time looking at TV.
Our children never complained about not having a TV. Of course, the screen based Playstation type of software didn't exist at the time. The climate encouraged outdoor play and the homework at the British school was not too onerous.
Our children are all nearing 40, but no signs of obesity or self-obsession. They all seem quite happy.

I think the best thing is not to have a TV when children are young. If nothing else, it would encourage them to go other children's houses which do have a TV...

I believe children do have too much homework which detracts them from the opportunities of social interaction through play. Its a fine balance between keeping children safe from harm, and those that would wish to harm children, and allowing a balance of positive experential growth. We need to readdress the balance as I beleive we have gone too far on the safe, sendentry approach

We have a 7 year old boy who seems to be happy. He is physically active, bright and has friends of various ages in the neighborhood, along with caring parents. What he doesn't have is television or video at home.

He is certainly exposed to it, raising our mixed feelings, due to its use at school and at after-school care (both parents are full-time professionals). He believes we should have one at home so that he cannot be bored. Nevermind that families receiving hundreds of TV stations still complain of 'nothing to watch.' We do not expect to add a set as we've been happy without it for 20 years.

My husband & I are trying to give him a relaxed childhood but it can be hard, as the 'outside world' threatens to intrude more than we would like. We wish our employers were more generous with time off duty.

OK - I left school (Boarding)in 1974. highly educated - incessant & most enjoyable competitive sport - debating society - choir - you name it.
from the age of about nine (1964) I travelled unsupervised on tube trains and buses from north to Central London and beyond.
I would take off with friends, small sisters, sandwiches, home-made cake and our dogs for whole days of picnicking on what were known as Open Spaces - trees, streams etc; where we devised games ran about, had arguments, read books and generally had fun. for most of the Summer holidays. no mobiles, texting, PDAs, or playstations. we we reonly allowed 2 hours of TV per day in the holidays, and at School, a couple of appropriate programmes at the weekend. Generally Cliff Richard or James Herriot( although how I Claudius could have been certified suitable is anyone's guess...)
we were rarely bored, and we rarely worried our parents.
however, I would have benefited (as my daughter has) from health & nutrition information available today, and probably would have embraced the advantages of modern childhood as much as I enjoyed my anti-diluvian experience. the world has changed, and that is a good thing in most ways. we can only seek to educate our children to appreciate what is worthy, what is dangerous and what is transient fun.

Of course they are right, I have been saying it for years and so have many other parents..especaially concerning the amount of homework and the pressure put on children to grow up and take resposibility at to early an age...many children crack under that strain for it's not natural.. it really doesn't take Einstein's brain to work it out.
Nothing wrong with the modern way of life,or in fact the older version, if the two are combined.. all of one or the other isn't so good...
Lance...

Of course the letter writers have a point. But we have created a society in which house price inflation has been allowed to dominate forcing both parents to work and rely on the kind of crap food, attitudes and entertainment that are destroying the health and well-being of young people. The best thing that could happen for the well-being of children is a substantial fall in house prices so that average families on average wages can comfortably afford an average house. Ease this pressure on parents and everyone will be happier. Allow debt and inflation (including house prices) to spiral out of control and well-being will remain far out of reach.

I totally agree with the letter writers. It takes time and hard work to bring up children well - encouraging them to play, to read, to joke, to share, to talk and to think for themselves. There are no short cuts and you lead by example (you don't tell them to behave in a certain way, you show them by your own actions).
Our children watch TV only once or twice a week and never for very long - not because we won't let them, but because they just have better things to do.
It started when they were just toddlers, when we spent time talking and listening and playing (something they don't get much of if they are put in nurseries full time from a young age) - now they are older, they have all the inner resources they need to get on with life themselves and all they need from us adults is space and free time.
So the letter writers are not wrong and they are not 'harking back' - they just have a good idea of how childhood should be.

Until a school was found where my children fitted in better, they were considered to be 'freaks', even by some of their teachers. Why? They very rarely watch television, do not have MSN, and eat a properly cooked meal at the table, as a family every evening.They use the library frequently and invariably hand-write their homework. As a family we play sport, board games and visit interesting places. It's hard work, but now our happy, confident children have many friends visiting, all keen to join in!! Incidentally, they do well at school also.

The "1950s idyll of childhood" did exist. When we got home from school in the 50s and early 60s, we changed our clothes and went outside and played until dinner time and we played all weekend and all summer. I had no homework until I reached junior high school and high school and, of course, by then, we weren't interested in climbing trees and building forts - but we did spend a lot of time on the telephone.

Children are not safe outside any more, because adults are not willing to take care of them. In the far-from-idyllic fifties, any and every passing adult would intervene if children playing outside got out of hand or into trouble of some kind. Now, adults will walk past a gang assaulting another child without lifting a finger or a voice. No wonder children turn to gangs - and gang life is not childhood as we know it or would wish it to be.

Children, like adults, need a balanced life with enough play, stimulation, and quality interaction with their parents and friends.
We cannot bring up our children in the same way we did in the 1950s because the world is a different place, but today's children like yesterday's need to grow into independent adults while getting all the support and affection they need from their parents. The tendency today for us busy parents is to get rid of their constant demands by allowing them to spend their day in front of a screen, thanks to new technologies. We adults need to look at having a better balance in our own life to be mentally present with our children and not only physically. Children are given life and brought up by adults, they can only respond to what they do.
French mother and professional

Physical activity encorage endorphin relaease redcing depression.Physical actiovity as sch has been fond to work as effectively as antidepresant medicines.therefore tv and internet entertainment may not alliviate depression the way physical exercise dose

I agree completely. When I was growing up in Jamiaca during the 50's and early 60's, we spent most of our time outdoors playing in the garden and enjoyed regular trips to the seaside and rain forests. For indoor entertainment at night it was cards or board games. We didn't have television until 1963 but I never missed it. A sheltered life maybe but also a wonderful carefree one. Today, my own children are much too pressured by life trying to keep up with their friends, meeting school targets and watch too many videos. They also see and hear far more on the TV news than is good for them.

The entire question is moot, as there simply isn't a "typical" child sharing his or her sensibilities and sensitivities with all the others. A truly smart or gifted child will usually survive all but the most severe blunders of bad parenting. I know I did, and while my kids were born in '59 and '60, they have done smashingly, as have their kids. Much of it just the luck of the draw, that is, where you were born, and of what sort of parents and schools. Some will be Bill Gates, and some Charlie Manson.

I think that these people must have been handed free rose tinted glasses.
I was a child in the forties. Yes, lots that they say applied to us. Yes we did climb trees, make steering carts as we called them, played football and cricket in the street.
Generally we were out in the fresh air.
Of course we did not spend hours sitting watching television or playing on computers, only because we didn't have them. If they had been around we would most definitely have used them
However, we also suffered a lot of illnesses that are practically unheard of present day. Gone are the days when your mother would send you to play with little Tommy in the hope you would catch measles or whatever it happened to be, just so that you would hopefully become immune, and not suffer in later life.
Junk food, well I'm not sure where Brawn and Spam come in classification.
Nor am I sure how healthy whale meat and something called Snook were.
All this apart I do agree that todays children are forced to grow up much to fast. We cry out about Paedophiles and yet allow pre-teen kids to dress like scantily clad pop stars.
We also say that we must listen to our children's views on life. I doubt very much that the majority of them hold the same opinions as they reach adult hood.
Let them be children. Don't mollycoddle them. Let them take risks, life is one continuous risk for all of us.

I don't think there is a need to hark back to the 50s idyll but whichever way I look at it, whatever aspect I consider, I find that children today are given too much responsibilities too early.

For one thing they have no role model to look up to, neither within the broken family, nor at school where quality teachers are few and far between, nor is the government where politicians have become devoid of any sense of decency a good example. Not even the Church is free if scandal. They have to find their own morality without any experience of the world.

I don't feel that they are protected from the world, on the contrary they are just thrown into it. They are too exposed to our reality which is full of violence, lies and deceit...This cannot be cured by a healthy diet or by giving them less homework which is seldom looked at in any case.

I think we generalise far too much. Not all kids are the same 鈥� we don鈥檛 all hold the same potential; we only hold our own potential. We all develop in different ways; some excel in school and others later when they leave. We may all be genetically disposed in our own particular way; but it is our environment which shapes and drives us. Currently our environment is stressed, hurried and target driven. It forces people to make early choices fast and is very inflexible should you decide to change. Life, all too often will go on the backburner and our kids are in danger of blinking into retirement. We are becoming very conformist and need to be a lot more adaptive and flexible if our kids are to discover themselves, the world around them and realise their own potential. In that regard I think there is a lot of truth in what they say in the article.

As a parent I find it helpful to look for signs that my children's energy levels are flagging.

Keeping them active and interested in life is best managed by guiding their intake of exercise, multi-media and of course junk food. But balance is everything and there us usually room for a little of everything so long as it comes with quality.

So, Proverbs 12.09.06: manage your children's energy levels and not their time.

Quote: "Is it really possible to live a life with children where they only ever climb trees and graze knees, never watch telly and don't do too much homework? We want to hear what you think. Do the letter writers have a point or are they harking back to a 1950s idyll of childhood that never really existed?"

Of course it existed. This describes my own childhood and those of my friends.

It is my observation that the deterioration of the mental health of certain sectors of Britain鈥檚 youth is due to the two very serious problems of:

1/ Poor diet, convenience foods and junk foods leading to malnutrition, consequent poor brain development and brain damage;

2/ Violent Video and Computer Games warping the minds of gullible youngsters and eroding any sense of morality.

A confluence of these two problems is leading directly to the increase in yobbish behaviour, violence and murder.

I suggest that if the industries mentioned above are unwilling to rein in their excesses themselves then the Government should take steps to ban these personally harmful and socially destructive items.

In the meantime TV adverts for junk food should be completely banned as should adverts for violent computer games.

If smoking and drinking adverts can be banned because these habits are harmful and costly to the Nation then why not these other equally harmful and destructive things?

I agree. I think that children now spend too much virtual time with their peer groups and are subject to constant input through web, t.v., mobile phones, etc. with little time away from these active or passive electronic media to leave time for their own imaginations and creativity - and to see the world through anything but someone else's eyes.

Does an editor/producer or designer think everything a child wants is zap, soundbytes and electronic imagery? Where are the fictions based on engagement with the real world.

They need more space see the world about them and to relate to people face to face, to ask their own questions and follow their own feelings rather than being sucked into the depressing global culture that is emerging

Children are getting to be what parents are.
Nerds parents get same kind of kids.

Getting too involved in the life of children puts a lid on their personal experience of themselves and life in general
And school is in the top of the list

there is nothing more beautiful that a mind of a child talking without restrictions or fear or rejection

"So are they right? And is it really possible to live a life with children where they only ever climb trees and graze knees, never watch telly and don't do too much homework"

What a silly, nay asinine, response.

It is all about balance. Not "no computer games". But not no fresh air, mud, cold , wet, tired, hungry, banged, bumped or sore either.

They need to use their senses and their muscles and use them exhaustively.

I think the letter writers were priviledged enough to have real food, real interaction with life and, very likely, a real public school education.
What do they know of those they seek to judge? With a shocking 3 million children in this country living in poverty, tens of thousands of families living in overcrowded flats on deprived estates, sometimes there is little choice.
These parents live on the edge of poverty. So buying fresh vegetables may not be at the top of their list of priorities. When you are stuck in a cramped flat with a screaming toddler, an 11 year old constantly badgering for the new Playstation game and the knowledge that young gangs and drug dealers patrol the streets outside, your priorities change. So if crips stop the toddler crying or the Playstation keeps the energetic 11-year old occupied and safe, who can blame you?
Instead of blaming hard pressed parents, perhaps the letter writers should start a campaign to end overcrowding, provide free, universal childcare, as well as the all important end to child poverty.

It seems that the young of today copulate earlier and have vastly greater familiarity with communications systems, but otherwise are about eight years retarded by comparison with children of the 1950s. Walking, speaking, writing, self discipline and knowing how to cross the road safely are among the more basic items, never mind the ability to do anything practical. The 1950s were less than perfect - poliomyelitis comes to mind - but overpopulation, urbanisation and hedonism appear to be evolving humans into a species of smart rat: fit for their environment but soon to fall into Mother Nature's rat trap.

The kind of childhood you speak of was only ever real to those who could afford it. I recently watched a group of "grown up children" at play, building sandcastles, messing about in boats all summer. Not for them the daily routines of workplace and home. Their parents are so wealthy that their offspring need never take the word "work" too seriously. They still inhabit a "Famous Five" or "Secret Seven" World that belongs only to the well-heeled.

I was at school in the 40's and 5o's---thank heavens my grandchildren live now! Greasy, overcooked schoolmeals and you were kept in after school if you retched over the fat on the meat. Sadistic teachers ---we had two who enjoyed hitting the boys round the head and the girls at the very top of their thighs. They laughed when we cried. Money was so short in our household (as in a great many others in the post war era) that my mother (a war widow) took in lodgers to pay the bills. It was taken for granted that I would help to look after them, serving at table, washing up, preparing vegetables etc---I think the first tree I had time to climb was with my own children in the 70's. Of course todays children have problems---life is never perfect and every generation does its best for their children--but spare us the rose coloured specs, please.

Our daughter , 4 and half years old is attending the "kid garden " at aschool that DO NOT use any kind of computer . Only real wooden blocks , real paint and inks , the kids have been plaing on " good old fashion lawn " etc... and they do not push on "letter them now ! " . She is about crazy to go to school . They really tought her to love the school . That is it !

The type of childhood that the 100 writers hope for does exist for a few lucky children in small school in Leiston in Suffolk called Summerhill. Children are fed well with whole foods, are not given large amounts of homework and spend a lot of time playing outside. If only more schools in Britain were like Summerhill. I strongly urge Newsnight to feature the school and the philosophies behind it in any items on this sort of topic.

I agree that there is too much pressure on children and adults alike, to become just another cog in the wheel of the economy. The endless testing, the emphasis on consumerism and materialism but all is not lost. My 17 and 19 year old kids still go swimming in the lake, cycling, skiing and travelling. they enjoy fell walking and camping One has just come back from eastern Euroupe. Yes they do spend time on the computer but they also go out clubbing and go to parties. Each age has its advantages and disadvantages, my kids have never seen anyone with polio and they can eat a much greater variety of food than I could. On balance kids today have more stuff but much less idea what to do with it. It is as though life has 400 channels but there is nothing to watch. Anyway I'm off out on my bike now. Shaun Silson (nearly 50)

I have two daughters aged 6 and fourteen, I work in a local primary school that my youngest daughter also attends, My eldest daughter started her new school mid term last year, however since joining the school she has brought home very little homework sometimes nothing in any one week. My youngest brings work home at least once a week. As for the electronic age we live in I do find (especially the boys) in the primary school I work in are always in front of the screen playing violent and sometimes gruesome games on their consoles, sometimes it beggars belief the things they tell me about the games. As for the art of real playing they just have no clue, one of my roles is however to teach the children the good old fashioned playground games to the likes of, skipping, tig, cricket, ect, maybe this is the way forward?.

As a child growing up in the rural south here in the states we had two means of entertainment, when we were not doing our chores. The radio and only when the batteries were charged or reading at night. The rest of our leisure time was spent fishing, riding horses or visiting with our neighbors. School was in session from the middle of September to the end of May.
Yet today even without the tons of homework and year long sessions we can make change read and write are computer literate and hopefully well adjusted. One of our grandchildren is being raised as we were. Even at two she can reson and communicate better than her cousins of the same age. Yet they have all the benefits of our modern age. Perhaps some of the old fashioned ways are the best, or perhaps the teachers then were dedicated professionals who actually cared about their charges and their vocation. Instead of the impowering me syndrome which is so evident today.

I have a lot of sympathy with the letter, though remain unconvinced that the majority of children are overprotected. I think that stupid/ selfish parents are mostly to blame, compensating for a lack of parental involvement with ridiculously high levels of cash and expensive gifts.The media make matters worse,as do politicians, but parents do have the option of ignoring them and remaining responsible for their own children.I believe that most children want to be given parameters-OK they want to break them but only to a point.They want some-one to care about them enough to say 'No'and give them some discipline,but this is sadly missing these days, encouraged by soppy liberals and their new age human rights.

Technology is just a tool 鈥� it can stifle thinking if used badly but it can enrich it when used well

We wholly endorse Susan Greenfield鈥檚 point that we should not be 鈥榮leepwalking鈥� into the future.鈥� In other words 鈥� we need to understand the impact of the use of technology on young brains. Today鈥檚 coverage of the subject and the formation of a new All Party Group will no doubt stimulate and accelerate debate more widely in Society as well as in the two houses. This is welcome. However, we think the luddites surrounding Baroness Greenfield go too far.

Technology has a place and when used well by good teachers it can engage and motivate children, accelerate their learning and provide an additional, rewarding outlet for their creative thinking. When technology is used poorly with children just left to 鈥榗onsume鈥� content with no involvement it can be like a classroom 鈥榥anny鈥�, winning children鈥檚 attention without a clear purpose. (There will also be times when it shouldn鈥檛 be used at all 鈥� where another non-technological method is more effective.)

1. We do already know 鈥� it is well researched in the UK and US - that gaming devices accelerate the learning of simple maths like times tables allowing children to progress on to more difficult concepts with a stronger foundation.

2. We also know from new pilots in mobile learning like Wolverhampton鈥檚 Learning2Go initiative that attendance and behaviour improve when children are respected with the provision of their own personal computing device for use at home as well as at school. Boys who were disengaged and demotivated have begun to read e-books and improve their extended writing skills. Devices are used to help with PE and the ability to capture pictures and write notes stored within a GPS linked 3D map brings field trips to life and allows that authentic experience to be shared back in the classroom and at home.

3. Our company leads the UK market in interactive whiteboards. They are at times represented as 鈥榮aviour鈥� and at others as 鈥榮inner鈥�. They are neither 鈥� they are a just a tool. When good teachers use them well, they save time in conveying concepts and ideas leaving room for more discussion and deeper learning 鈥� the kind of reflective thinking time Baroness Greenfield and others speak about as being so important.

This is not technology stifling childhood 鈥� this is technology enriching it.

Adrian Hall
Director of Mobile Learning

Steljes

I am a child of the 1950s and I think that every generation has its reasons for causing depression in children. I would tend to agree that real food is better than junk food but may I say that real food in the early 50s was firstly rationed and secondly terrible. So I don't think the food is a contributing factor in child depression. Real life in the fifties, where the technological advances for the masses then consisted of the wheel, electricity in its infancy and the internal conbustion engine. No wonder kids didn't have much else to do but graze knees and climb trees. As for homework I remember it taking me hours to finish mine with four or five subjects each day. Child depression is a factor of the fear of not being able to live up to expectations be it in the 50s, 60s, 70s, or today. Life can not go backwards. If you want your children to live without depression then take time for them and show them you believe in them and encourage them in a suportive way.

I was a child of the 70s and as such played out a lot. There was little concern for our safety and you were free to play as you would. However with all the attention put on crimes against children (of all sorts) more and more restrictions are placed on children to ensure their safety, combined with busy roads, the result is that children, my own included, are required to stay in the house/garden if they are are not accompanied.
This has led to a greatly reduced set of "life" experiences for our children, which is a bad thing.
I can see that this will lead to a rise in the popularity of summer camps and similar which will give the protection required, and the exposure to many new experiences.

Standing whilst using a computer could ensure the child has some natural muscle use, including improved blood-flow in legs, better posture for back and upper-spine and reduced eyestrain.

Methinks an hour of this in between physical activity (eg casual sports) or sitting down to do written homework would soon come naturally to most children.

As the months pass and children grow taller, the height of their screen or monitor could be adjusted by adding a telephone directory or thick book underneath.

Standing at the computer is also helpful to adults, especially the many with spinal or wrist injuries.

Since moving to Switzerland we were shocked (at first) by things like: children from the age of five walk to Kindergarten/school on their own and walk back at lunchtime on their own (they get training from the local police about how to cross roads). They also go once per week into the local forest to learn how to light fires safely and cook sausages (from age five remember). They climb trees, bash each other, fall over (and learn their lesson) and don't sue each other or the school ever. Is it better than Britain? Absolutely. Are they obese? Not at all.

Do they play computer games? YES.

This is the thing. What kids need is the chance to play and figure out what danger is but it doesn't mean that they should not also play computer games. You just need something to do outside. Real life can be fun too. Follow the Swiss way. By the way, I am sure the Swiss have just as many "bad people" as Britain does, you just don't hear about them hurting children all the time o parents are less worried.

I agree that children spend far too much time in front of the television and eating junk food but we need to do more than talk about it. It's time we got proactive and did something about it. And anyhow, is it really the children or the choices made by their parents/carers?

Liking kids, though not a parent myself, I observe the parenting of my middle-class friends. Most are comfortably off, and do a very good job. Yet even with their advantages, I'd hate to face today's pressures in parenting.
This much under-appreciated privelige (- certainly NOT a right -) is harder than it's ever been, as a result of:
- parental guilt at neglect, due to ever-lengthening working hours & the default expectation that both parents should have a fulfilling career
- parental fear of "losing" the kids through divorce (c. crippling at around 45%) leading to over-protectiveness, over-indulgence & a temptation to be the child's "friend", not its parent
- the eternally rocketing expectations of our absurdly materialistic, acquisitive society. These lead to
"extrinsic" competition, i.e. a fear, among parents as much as kids, of not being able to indulge them with the same fads & possessions with which their peers are rewarded, and
"intrinsic" competition, such as the perceived compulsion to succeed in school tests, in esteem & popularity

Truth to be told, in its values, the UK is an extremely sick society, so it's to be expected that kids share our psychoses in their own way. As adults, we are living through an unrecognised epidemic of mental illness, spiritual psychosis & stressed behaviour, which we satiate in a variety of addictive, compulsive behaviours, usually associated with material goods or gain.
Turning our backs on the false values of individualism, materialism & consumerism, of building "careers" (whatever they still mean), may free us up to be better parents - and to pass on less psychologically harmful values to our kids.

My daughters are consentently grazing their knees and only come inside to watch telly once they're tired out or its dark.

So we must being doing something right in the parenting department.

But agree that the pressure in schools is getting too much.

I loved my childhood. Secret was, I had kind, loving parents who were always at home when I came home from school or play. I don't remember ever asking for much because my parents did not have much. Love, a kiss and a hug,a smile and 'mind the road' was all I was given or indeed needed.I spent my leisure hours playing football or cricket or tennis or mini golf. Football in the school playground at the week-end was watched over by our local policeman who, apart from saying 'mind the school windows' would give us a wave and shout 'shoot' whenever one of us neared the school wall which was our goal, marked out in thin chalk.

Advertisers are to blame for the demise of childhood.

Best Wishes
Jack, Wirral, Merseyside.

Clearly we must debate this. Read the Archbishop of Canterbury's full analysis of this subject published only a few years back...

Dear Staff,
I can only comment from a Canadian point of view.

I think that it is very important for children to to have a balance between computer and physical activities.
As a High School soccer coach as well as a coach in the community where i live,I have found that one can have to many physical activities and no time just to be kids.
On the other side there are far to many children who practically live their live their live's on the chat line,or cell phone both talking and sending text messages.
Parent

i have so enjoyed reading different points of view, eloquently and thoughtfully expressed.
this is not just the opportunity to revel in nostalgia; but a broad-cased snapshot of our hopes and fears for the growing generation.
let's hope that some of the wise words and ideas translate into more than a couple of watered-down initiatives and a celebrity-led series on Channel 4!

I realise that in this modern age a good education is vital if our children are to get the most out of life, but really,
our 5 year old came home with 20 minutes
of homework on Monday.

Has anyone thought of asking some children what they think about this? All we seem to have heard so far is comments from adults!

It's actually interesting.Children have to learn things from the very early age,but they should be imparted based on their age.Because children at the age of about 11 and 12 do imagine concreate objects.So by this time they should not be stuck with only sedentary thinngs like computer game.They should do various exercises,even work on small activities.They should learn responsibilities and plan for their future.Parents should not restrict in most of the children participation.

It is reasonable to presume that the experts know more than I do.
Nevertheless I would like to suggest that
(a) There should be a compulsory O level in the theory and practice of fitness.
(b) Incorporating knowledge in ingenious computer games could vastly reduce the hard slog of study, and particularly homework. The games could be played individually or with friends over the web. The possibilities are enormous.

I couldn't agree more. Children need to spend more time out of doors rather than being 'slaves' to T.V and the fashion industry. Homework is in my view a waste of time and an infringement on personal liberty. What amazes me is despite all this pressure and homework the majority of school leavers know no more about key subjects than I did when I left Primary School! If you don't believe me ask a teenager to complete a simple long division calculation without a calculator. Very few can, but we were taught to do this at the age of seven!

Such is progress.

What i understand as a responsible parent is that the children are growing and in this age of cut-throat competitions, they have to be way up in their respective classes and have to come out with flying colours. What we parents were lacking, perhaps we want to give that 'extra' to our children. I do not think there is nothing wrong. You see the WOrld is coming closer and closer as time progresses. For example was it ever possible to fly non-stop across the Mediterrean to the States from a starting point from SE Asia, say about twenty years back? YOu see did we ever in our childhood days have the Internet and Computers to help us out in our daily Homework(s)? You see one must see the present childhood of our children against these little but very important facts and backgrounds so as to have a more comprehensive force in our arguments. No i do not think that there is anythin called as DEATH OF CHILDHOOD. I refuse to accept the fact in toto. Let us not live in a fools' paradise and be conservatives in our way. We as parents are also growing up every day and learn new things so what is wrong and where? Excuse me i do not agree!! OK technologically we have advanced and it is this only that gets reflected in the up-bringing of our children. Don't you agree that that as we are geting older and older it is for our children to take up the charge on our behalf and forge ahead in life? So what if in that process and in the backdrop of fast-changing technology and competition, a little childhood gets lots. Let us not forget the fact that the present generation of children's IQ is far far superior to that as of us, parents. The sharpness of mind gets reflected in their psyche. I do not think we as parents had this much of variety, diversions and the wherewithal to choose from. Well i feel that our children are very fortunate to have what they have and i, as a proud parent can tell this forcefully that my children are ten times brighter than their parents. Well done. Keep on going children, you are going great guns!

Mothers and fathers should spend more time talking to their children. One parent should be at home unjtil the children are old enough to go to school. Working hours for parents of young children should be more flexible.

There are some terrible things about childhood today but it is really foolish to make childhood of the past out to be anything less likely, overall, to cause depression. We can be fairly certain that depression in children has been grossly under recognised until very recently, and it likely still is. Even if one were to completely set aside all the many likely triggers for depression that existed then (surely far more than today, with more illness, more death, more poverty, more ignorance, more abuse), there is the fact that much propensity to depression is chemical, very probably genetically predisposed, and that won't have changed.

Also, I was a child in the 1950s, of very successful parents living in a beautiful English city, and I can tell you it was hell. So bad, in fact, that one of my teachers once asked me, very seriously, without us ever having had any private conversations, to promise her I wouldn't hang myself. I doubt there has ever been a idyllic time for the generality of children.

I am not convinced that its necessarily the problem of computers and televisions that we do not live in an Enid Blyton shaped world with rudly named relatives and timmy the dog. I am 16 and have lived a happy life climbing trees, walking, picking blackberries and other outdoorsy type things. I however also keep up with current affairs and as you can see clearly spend an insane amount of time on the computer. : )

Another thing about the children complaining about having too much homework and it 'robbing them of their childhood' its rubbish, have you ever known a child not to complain about having too much homework, hell im sure that you at one time or another resented the amount of school work that you had to do as a child. But many children today have the marvelous advantage of not having to do very many chores to stop them from playing :)

Counting myself among the children that have to cope with the consequences of modern life and modern education (I'm 18)I think that it would not be possible to live the life people did in the 50ies.

Things have changed and they still are changing today, faster than ever, I suppose, and the greatest problem I have been confronted with is that I was not given the opportunity to develop individuality, personality, character...

Teachers in school don't value these things enough. In truth, there's nothing more important than that.

No wonder teenagers turn into alcoholics when they feel the pressure of school is too high.

This has become an age of entitlement where everyone seems to think they can do what they want with no repercussions.How many very violent video games is there a need for???How is it healthy for chips and pop over apples and milk???With the throwaway world we live in the next is our childrens proper education;calculators in math classes how is that learning??Computors in classes there is no longer a need to physically get information and only learn a small portion of what is needed. The non-involvement of some parents which makes their children raise themselves.This is a fast paced adult world that needs the citizens to take a step back and take an honest look at where we are headed.

The world is changing, as it always does...in more ways than one. Everything from the food we eat to the water we drink to the air we breath is affected...and is affecting us...physiologically and psychologically. The way we live today has been modified and altered over time, and we are desperately trying to adapt accordingly...thinking we know what we are doing...but we're all to proud to admit that we don't.

Our children today are living in the muck and mire of the human race. The bottom of the bowl, so the speak. They are living in the shadow of every previous generations mistake. Had humans been concerned with balance, moderation and obedience centuries ago, and taught their children the same, the question you are asking would hardly be a concern to us right now.

I was a child of the 60s & 70s. We didn't have TV. Now I find myself addicted to it, trying to make up for the earlier deprivation. We didn't have parental supervision, either; we were outside all day in "gangs" of children. I suffered from depression my entire childhood, thanks to the physical and sexual violence that was just as rampant but well hidden in those days. I saw my grammar school records: "we don't understand why she's complaining -- her parents seem so nice". Nowadays, there is no question that authorities would get involved to protect a child in my circumstance. My children have an idyllic childhood in comparison, complete with some TV and the occasional junky snack. Moderation in all things, including moderation.

"A group of more than a hundred top scientists, teachers, childcare experts and even children's authors have written.." says it all. The kids here in Old Trafford play in the streets much as we did in the 60's and 70's. They are certainly experiencing real life today. The real issues include the need to undo the increasing polarisation of society and provide ALL our kids with inspiration for their futures.

Every lad remembers wanting to grow up as fast as possible...psychiatrists poison those who grow up the fastest and are the most adult in their confrontation and freedoms and complaints.. psychepolicists want deluded idyll childhood remembrances of nice people doing what they liked and seem to have a deathwish necrophiliaism about those they inflict their treatments on and the sexual thrills they get from vindictively turning a great adult personality into a disabled child wimp who has to comply with their needling!!!

Psychiatric care = protection racketeering, intimidation of witnesses, fraud, breach of contract, GBH

I am an Asian British. Born and partly brought up in India. I spent my childhood playing primitive games with my friends and cousins. Did home work taxing my own brian (without calculator, computer etc). My mother did not buy a television till all of her childen completed schooling and she always cooked fresh food every day. I had a perfect childhood and learned to love and respect people, animals and plants- never was moody, never cried, never got bored with school or home work and so on.

On the contrary both the children of my closest friend gave up schooling, teen age daughter already has a baby, and the teen age son- comes and goes as he wishes. They have been brought up with chocolate bar and crisp and fizzy drinks, given designer cloth, all portably gadgets to play with- off couse I agree with the author.

As a matter of fact, all my nieces and nephews in india are having good child hood and doing well in exams and social life.

Reading many of the comments on this thread I'm forced to wonder if the opportunity to be control freaks doesn't motivate too many to be parents. It makes me vary sorry for the children who are being experimented upon and not being given the opportunity to develop their own ability to make decisions, which many must find very depressing. This is especially strange considering their parents obviously consider themselves more than capable of deciding everything. I wonder when these parents feel they became that capable?

I have been doing voluntary work in Cuba for many years. What stands out above all in Cuba, are the children.

I have four children and believe the Cubans have children most parents in the developed world aspire to have, but they are reluctant to give up the TV in the bedroom, the computer games, the mobile telephones, and the trips to McDonalds.

It is a pleasure to watch the Cuban children play and have fun with so little.I remember one day watching them.

The grass had been freshly cut in the play area. The children spent about one hour collecting the grass into a pile, them they found an old tractor tire to use as a spring board to dive into the pile of grass. About 20 of them played like this until their parents called them in when it was dark and time for bed. Watching them stand in an orderly line waiting their turn, the big ones watching out for the little ones making sure they also had a turn.

Happy children do not need much. Children in the developed world know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Sincerely praise you for this discussion topic.
Broken homes, single parent families.
Big business, outsourcing.
Pharmaceutical industry have become 'pushers'.
A culture of fear.
The decline and fall of ethics and accountability.
Global warming, pollution on land, sea and in our air.
Even our food is polluted with 'alterations.
The advertising alone, in the United States is enough to
depress the children.
They are confused, depressed, they are terribly afraid.
The responsibility is not only with our leaders but ours as well.
My opinion, The European Commission is a wonderful start.
They are saying, stop, no more, we have had enough!
The Rule of Law in the English Speaking countries is based on
the Judeo-Christian ethic. The problem we have is that we, and
as a consequence our children, do not know what is right or wrong.

"STOP THAT AND DO THIS " V "CALM DOWN AND BEHAVE" : IT IS CONSERVATIVES V NEW LABOUR IN THE BATTLE FOR THE FUTURE OF CHILDHOODS

New labour have made active pursuit of what you want illegal! in order to make money being in charge of a moral permission denial culture... and it has made the nation intermittently insecure distressed weak and sick ...and it shows in examples throughout society from kids upwards...

New labour are fundamental behaviourists selfish communists victimising name calling pisstaking criminal mental types, demotion supremacist reductionists, with holistic indicative incriminative symptomatic thinking, theoretical prejudiced and fictional, who think everyone should calm down and behave so that they can be the valuable one and earn more money....plenty of examples of it!

Conservatives have active pursuits and want to establish a reputation for getting things done, and enjoy the adversarial challenges of competing for something worthwhile, who if they muck about get told to stop that and do something else... usually concentrate and get on with it..... we act within the boundaries of not harming others and are trustable even if alarmingly active and challenging..

New labour have made active pursuit of things illegal in order to make money being in charge of a moral permission denial culture and it has made the nation intermittently insecure distressed weak and sick.

Benedict TLC

The ingredients of a great childhood:

1) Being able to do what you want

2) Beautiful aupairs and next door neighbour girlfriends

3) aggressive sports fairly and easily matched with training

4) being taught how to read write and do maths young

5) lego and meccano

6) tuition on how to get your own back

7) teachers who make you feel popular

8) a conservative dad and an entertaining divorce

Benedict TLC

I agree with the comments stipulating the need for children to have plenty of exercise and a healthy diet, free of convenience food. I also agree with the writer who described the difficulties of people living in inner city tower blocks. I am very lucky, and have rented a cottage with a garden on a small farm for 11yrs. My children are now 13 and 10. I grew up without a TV which I think was very good for us - it taught us to entertain ourselves and be resourceful. On the other hand, we felt excluded from conversations sometimes. My kids have TV & DVD - but I use the OFF button. I regulate how often they watch it - and what they watch. We cycle or walk whenever possible instead of using the car. They both do sport and dance several times a week. We don't have foreign holidays or a fancy car (I'm a single parent, working part-time & don't receive maintenance) but we do have a big trampoline and space to run and shout. When I had time to garden we used to have home grown veg too. This I learnt to grow by reading library books on gardening and buying essential implements in car boot sales. I cook everything from scratch and we virtually never have junk food - when we do, it makes us feel unwell. The children also help around the home e.g. my son cuts the grass, my daughter puts the bins out. They play on the computer sometimes - but it's a treat. They have sweets sometimes - another treat. It's a question of common sense, balance and effort. I am lucky in many respects; I'm a graduate, a professional, with a passionate interest in nutrition, cooking & gardening. As a family, we love being active and being outdoors. My point is that our society has been seduced by consumerism and materialism. There is a lack of time and energy invested in children and I'm afraid we are reaping what we have sown. It's time to use common sense instead of romanticising about past eras. We don't have to buy into relentless consumerism. We also need to be more responsible about what we expose our children to. As a society, we have become confused about what's important - but we have so much potential, the potential to do things better, if only we would make the effort to use what we know.

Children more miserable because adults are afraid to love them

Children also more miserable because adults are more miserable...the reason: hostile error feminism, permission denial ethics, and humility punishments..they all disallow full romance, eliminate proudness, disallow better or worse say what you want culture, reduce the possibility of fun entertaining activity games and showmanship, and stop family natures from flourishing..

Those who climb rather than spread shrink society

Only hopes remain

Professor Sir Albert Aynsley-Green (the Children's Commissioner for England) wrote: "It is unacceptable that in the recent Index of Child well-being, the UK was ranked as the fourth worst nation in Europe on child well being - our children are drinking, taking cannabis and having sexual intercourse more than other children in Europe."

How would reliable figures for all those illegal (for children) activities be reliably collected, in England or elsewhere? It is highly likely that such behaviour is more open and more discussed here, and more recorded. More useful would be figures for observed self-harm and detected abuse.

"What we are experiencing is the relentless and ruthless commercial exploitation of children, the insidious promotion of early sexuality, increasing pressures from school targets and attainment and the loss of time for children to be children."

What children are experiencing is increasing surveillance and decreasing opportunity to be individual. It isn't clear if increased safety is being delivered in exchange for that. Children often find themselves in a looking-glass world compared to how most adults perceive their lives, and find it impossible to convey that, and of course have no power to change it.

"This letter calls for parents and policy-makers to start talking about ways of improving children鈥檚 well-being, in supporting this I want to stress the need to involve children and young people in these discussions and in developing solutions to these important issues."

I have never yet seen a meaningful involvement of, or consultation with children in any English policy making or legislation. Most are just fronts for existing professionals to boost their theories, or meaningless exercises. Children are individuals, and those with problems are often the least likely to feel free to speak up or participate in "youth parliaments" and such. In this case, where the issue is apparently depression, those who suffer it are certainly unlikely to be ones to push themselves forward to speak, and others will not be qualified to speak for them. Be very open to information from children, by all means, and act to improve what it reveals. But primarily work by solid facts based on verified evidence.

At nearly 73 I am constantly fascinated by this debate.We ran a children's home,,and it is easy to think that everything was better in times gone by; certainly in the many children we had contact with invention and ingenuity brought great satisfaction.Tv was limited, being alarge household, but nonetheless very popular; but so also were rabbits cats and dogs, youth organisations, and camping holidays in which everyone had a share both about rules and jobs...We kept open house always, and always laid a place for the prophet at the table...lots of personal skills were learned in different groups.
for education..it seems that the basics are ignored, judging by the lack of skills of these. at the same time, the standards of exams seem to have gone down, while the pressures on children have risen. Myself at 16, I was doing three to four hours homework most nights, I enjoyed the challenge and it didn't stop my other interests or my social life as a teenager; but the families i knew thought much the same way. I think today there is too much emphasis on everyone achieving, and at the same time scorn of excellence which degrades education into a struggle for marks, instead of forming the young person for life.

The truth:

Individualism is decreasing in the sense
that we are all taught the same things at school and that beaurocracy has been increased in the school system, ie more tests whilst the knoweldge and standard of our graduates decreases year after year.

This is due to the increased importance of the grade in our culture. It has become trendy to work hard and achieve the highest grade possible, but I seriously doubt whether a 2:1 in 2006 really requires the same amount of effort and knoweldge to achieve as a 2:1 in 1956. People who achieved average grades in previous generations probalby had to work a lot harder for them and know a lot more than nowerdays. The whole system is set up for the selling of universities and school results to the public and to the word. Education has become a capitalistic market. The enjoyment of education especially if you are talented is decreasing because it simply isn麓t challenging enough.

We think we are clever, becuase we achieve high grades. We are clever in terms of our consistancy and productivity but not in terms of our quality, which is actually falling in the traditional sense of the word compared to our european rivals. Statistics mean ZERO believe me, most of our university ratings are done on research anyway with only one of the five critera actually being relevant to teaching quality. In other countires this is different.

Whilst working like rabbits as children simply to better sell our country (ie for the government statistics department in the home office) we cannot enjoy the traditional aspects of education like actually being interested in what you are doing rather than marks and also developing our social skills through friends and play. This increased competition leads to an incohesive society of over confident, snobbish, rich, people who are told that everything is rosy and never learn to accept their limitations and play to their strengths in adult life. We are all led to believe we are geniuses or at least very clever from the word go. I麓m not saying teachers shouldn麓t be open minded about what people can achieve but the true test of that is not to do basic things well but get people stuck into some really hard and interesting academic concepts, then we will all know who we really are as children. Can we produce the best quality or not? The current system is all bull. As we say in Germany viel reden nichts machen.

Mr Paxman, get real what sort of news round viewer (kid) will be up watching you on newsnight?

I think that childhood is changing. In a world where the government and middle aged no-it-alls think they can control the ways in which kids are brought up, and parents are getting more anxious, aren't we forgetting to ask the kids? yes we all want wants best for our kids, but who the hell knows what that is? o.k spending 9 hours infront of a playstation is too much, but it is between parents and children to sort out their way of growing up, the government and middle-aged busy-body's should just fuck off and leave them alone and let people get on with their lives and try running the country for once rather than just faffing around. all i say is do something, and don't just say something (to the government, and middle-aged jackasses)

as someone who a) grew up in the 70s and therefore did make dens and read books and climb trees and b) works with kids I can tell you that there are validities with this argument.

modern parents are too busy with their own lives to think about the consequences of their actions. Either it is one extreme (TV/computer/extracurricular activities and afterschool nannies) or it is the other (home tuition and no contact with the real world). Few children these days just go to the park and play football (those that i see in our local park are late teens presumably because the parents won't let the younger ones out in case they are attacked/abused).

they don't get to play on the grass at school during winter months (October to March basically the school year) in case they bring mud in.

they don't walk to school (adding to the road rage of adults and the pollution issue plus of course depriving them of exercise).

all in all the fact that the kids lives are not the same is indisputable. they are lazy, their parents seem to think having children is a right rather than a responsibility, little attention is paid to the children's requirements rather than their demands, it has been forgotten that they are children NOT ADULTS.

All in all a sorry state. I'm only glad that some parents are able to resist this. My goddaughters for example are vibrant personalities with 1 parent at home most of the time (shift workers so able to balance the responsibilities with their partners) who read to/with them, watch TV with them within limits, go to the park, let them go and do activities that they want to do (rather than forcing them to be ballerinas or violinists).

It can be done it's that too many parents are weak willed.

Child psychologists are drumming up business for the hegemonic dictatorship of their latest selfworried unknown

The leadership and opinions of the public are more important that the "proper studies" of theorising psychologists who are drumming up business for the hegemonic dictatorship of their latest selfworried unknown... denial permission hostilities instil miserability into culture...and full on entertainment showmanship personality is the antithesis they try to deny... world class active pursuits enervate whilst compliance and behaviourism defeat and turn off those with the most enthusiasm..society is not run by them even though they think like that ...it stop starts through the altercations of life and grows through them with leadership

Dear All,

I'm glad to see that there are _some_ people who would consider themselves "children" or just out of childhood posting here! I can't help but get somwhat fired up in this debate considering I've just come out of my teenage years and have experience a very similar debate between my parents. I agree with 'all things in moderation- even moderations itself'. Sounds about right to me.

Moreover I am proud that I know how to make a fire, to cook, to mend a wall, prune trees and mend roofs and enjoyed my early childhood in the outdoors. I am also proud that I am now employable, having excellent, mainly self taught computing skills- mainly from experimenting so long on the computer.

As was previously mentioned here, many european countries are just as 'addicted' to the internet, but do not have the same levels of obesity etc... It seems foolish then to exclusively blame computers and gaming. Blame terrible food, blame unsafe streets that don't allow easy comfortable safe interaction outside, blame schooling that focuses so little on personal development as to be numbing beyond belief- take your pick.

This is a 'technology native' generation, is it really so surprising that kids are spending more time involved in something that is becoming intrinsically part of our lives? Kids are nothing if not adaptable- they are growing up in response to the stimuli society is giving them as a whole. How can we expect kids to grow up in the same way as they did 40 years ago- do we not think the world has changed?
Hope this has been interesting at least!
Thanks,
A.

Certainly my 11 year old & 8 year old do not live the life of "Milly Molly Mandy" or "William the Outlaw" and sometimes it's easy to feel sad about this. And yet, although I myself lived through that supposedly idyllic 50's childhood, I don't believe I'm now a more psychologically healthy person for that. I believe the truth is far more complex. There are compensations for the life our children lead now; and we all find it so easy to idealise "the way life used to be" back 20,30,40 years ago. Consider some of the idealistic pictures you see in a magazine like "Best of British" - could life ever have been so flawless?

i fully agree with this article. though my opinion to it is that nothing can be changed. i mean its like a dilemma that you are never going to get out of. only very rarely it is possible to get out of such a problem. you can compare this to a million other things. for example the problem of polution..or the problem of meat eating. by not buying a car just for the sake of the earth and the environment is not going to make a change to the trillions of cars bought on this earth. but then ofcourse there are always the people who come up with the argument..."but if more and more people do it then it will make a difference!.." but you know it never does! and people can keep trying and trying, but its not going to get you anywhere. the polution problem will remain the same or it will even increase. anyywayys...so my point to this article is..that for exmaple they said: its not a race to grow up. and ofcourse i know that, i mean its a fact. but if you want to hear the opinion of a teenager..then its this: we're not even doing anything. as philipp pullman said..its this world that we're growing up in. i do think that the article sounds a but like it is our fault that we're developing so fast, and thats something i disagree with. because its not like im thirteen and i look at all the people that are 18 and think OOH i wanna be like THEM! so i wear the clothes that they were and i act like them. but its not like that. its just natuarl. we're not doing those things on purpose. ofcours there are the few that really do try and look up to 24 year olds and want to be like them, but i would say the majority of kids are not like that. so coming to my final statement about this, my opinion is that this is a quagmire that is not going to be solved unless suddenly a miracle occurs and we all go back in time to 1655 and have to relive the revolution. if this scandel is suppose to change anything..it wont. telling people that this world is fucked up cos its messing up the childhoods of kids..is not gonna help cos everyone already knows that. all im thinking now is HELLO, DUUUH!!!!?? its a bit obvious, but i guess that they have to get famous authours to do it for us..
anyways... im glad that finally adults and producers of video games and all that other crap..have finally realized what theyre doing to us kids. and its nice to see that you've all understood it, but you're too late. this should have been changed years ago...kids realized this years ago...you're just all a bit slow..
sorry i g2g
still gotta do history hw!--Arri--13 year old

Of course everyone knows junk food is bad for you - there have been too many TV programmes, from Jamie's Dinners to You Are What You Eat, for anyone to proclaim otherwise. Everyone knows too much time on a computer or playstation is bad for you - just try it yourself and you're cross-eyed after about 20 minutes. Everyone knows fresh air and exercise is good for you - you'd have to have been on another planet to have missed the millions of newspaper and magazine articles on the subject (that's if you can't remember your own childhood). Everyone knows the ratrace is bad for you. Everyone knows they should "talk" to their children. So why are so many parents still doing all the wrong things? Money. The cost of living is beyond the average wage of one person these days, so both parents have to work. This means they don't have time to cook proper meals, to talk to their children, to have fun with them. Fortunately, their double-wage means they can afford computers, after-school clubs and activities and child-minders, and lots of ready meals.

I have recently given up my job to be a housewife, chosing poverty over life-style, and when I asked my six-year-oild what he thought about about Mummy not working, he said, "You'll be at home for me and my brother and Daddy, and that's much more important, isn't it?" Now I enjoy feeding my children chicken nuggets, fish fingers and burgers, but I make them all myself so I know what's in them. It's not about policies, it's about choice. The choice would be easier if we had a government that TRULY supports families.

I don't know about children as I don't have any, but it certainly seems to be true of their parents, who also eat 'junk' food, spend their evenings watching TV and DVD's, and spend large parts of their working lives in front of a computer screen whilst communication with other people using email and mobile phones. Perhaps kids are simply mimicking their parents...

This is a mad claim, made by people who remember technolgy as crystal radio set, sputnik and possibly the wheel!!

Children are depressed well thats news eh!
some of the people behind this letter are authors. hmm call me cynical but calling for kids to read more books...
Media is to blame. around every corner is a peado, kids are safer indoors etc, when i was a kid i was never in the house.
But standing in the rain 70ft up on the roof of a steelworks, wishing i had an Atari 2600 (in 1981) instead and worrying how to get down the drainpipe in the wet without falling.

Gun crime is rising around here, want your kids to catch a stray bullet, needles, crack heads , yeah kids come on and play on the playground watch out for the junkie asleep on the bench covered in his own vomit.

As for testing kids every few minutes (or so it seems) to make the government look good, why if there arent any good jobs, (oooh! four A grade GCSE`s want a job at Mcdonalds)

When i was at school i wanted to be an engineer, but was told in my motor vehicle maintenance class , dont bother manufacturing is dead in this country, and seeing the works closures on ITN news complete with job losses on a nice tally scale on screen. i could well belive it.
So i didnt do any exams at all!

My friends taking their exams were bundles of nerves. and that was just once. testing kids when they are 8 (or whatever) why? If not to comfort the government so they can have pages of stats to be repeated parrot fasion by the media.

As for kids drinking getting stoned etc, cider is cheap the stuff that blows your head off is about 75p.
Whats there to bother about most areas in which this takes place there are no jobs, and the kids realise it aint gonna get better the countrys sunk. it sank years ago, and they like there parents before them are realising that were ghosts on a ghost ship.

Finally computer games. lets think about this, in a computer game you have control as the player, its safe you can do pretty much anything, you die, hey just press continue.
Its also an easy target, imagine the people behind this letter "what do kids like most i know lets vilify it yeah!!"
As for violent games thay carry an (18) Cert, kids carnt buy them, so if mommy still thinks games are for children watch somone play Grand Theft Auto then maybe they would realise 18 Cert means players aged 18 or over.
Also for children in america killing other kids blame the games??
I see, not a culture where you could buy hand guns at wal-mart.

I would love to see my nephews playing in woods or fields, but the sold them to build on!
I would like to see them build a go kart, prams dont have metal wheels anymore, and finding a hill that wasnt used as a rat run, or speeding bass powered cars would be very hard.

As for junk food, well if you want to taste poison drink tap water, with added flouride to make you brain go mushy.
The rise of places that sell this food is alarming though. on my local high street it is every 5th or 6th shop that is a indian,chinese,pizza,chippy,or burger bar.
but THEY DONT HAVE TO EAT IT

These post seem to be "back in my day the sun always shone" etc. well i remember it too along with snow every winter up to your knees, yet looking back through old weather forcasts it wasnt the case hindsight isnt always 20/20

I certinately do not believe that childeren are forced to grow up too quickly today. They do not know that they are born!! Including my 4 children.I, the eldest child, in a two child family, looked after my family, from the age of 7 and after my father died when I was 15.I cotntinued to care for my family.Since then I have obtained a degree, in Theology, from Oxford University,and 3 of my 4 children are University graduates.
Roberta Lunt.

I grew up during the post war years, when sugar and a number of other food items were still 'on the ration', so there was less chance of an unhealthy diet. We had no television until I was eleven and no fridge until I was fifteen, but I never felt deprived in any way. I felt that I was safe and secure, and was allowed to mature at my own pace.

Today's children are not allowed to mature naturally. Showered with material goods, but often deprived of basic familial and social interaction, they acquire a surface sophistication, which often disguises an underlying insecurity.

Everything has its price, and this generation of young people is in many ways ill prepared to shoulder the responsibilities of adulthood. When problems arise, which they surely will, they will be ill equipped to deal with them. A natural phase of their development has been cut short, or, in some instances, never happened, and this may have a negative impact on the development of their characters, to the extent that in middle life they may be more prone to emotional and mental illnesses.

Turning the clock back is impossible, but the reintroduction of certain positive features from the past is very possible and even desirable.

The pressure on girls to dress and otherwise behave like women, even while still in junior school, is particularly worrying and increases their already fragile emotional vulnerability, and both sexes are pressured into too early sexual experimentation, alcohol consumption, etc.

No good can come of it.

While reading the contributions to the debate, it occurred to me that a major difference between today's family environment and that of the 1950s is the sheer quantity of people, and children, around today. Except that they are not out and about - they are contained within the home.
Just imagine if all the kids in all the towns and cities were in fact out and about on their bikes and in the
parks, playing football in the street, climbing all the trees, fishing the ponds and streams, exploring the areas beyond their homes and all the things that we
used to do as children. Limbs on trees and children would get broken, initials would get carved on the trees and park benches, windows would get smashed, fruit trees and vegetable plots would get raided and police stations would be unable to cope with the phone calls from irate adults. Society would be unable to cope and the cry would be for parents to supervise their children, which is
what they do today.
Maybe there is a case for every town and city to have a huge, secure 'outdoor' dome for children to 'experience' or rather play the play that 50s kids grew up with. It could lead to a whole new industry for bright, creative people to work on how to recreate the 'childhood' that is missing today. It sounds dreadful but with care it might be a useful addition to the amenities available to parents, and above all, the children themselves.

Re: The Death of Childhood

A MUST READ...

I'm a mother of three children, ages 14/12/7. As a parent, you are exposed to such a wide range of different parenting views/parenting skills. Currently, what I'm seeing is a lot of parents becoming too competitive, having to have a child that is good in school, sports and even higher expectations, TO BE POPULAR'. I see that the parents are choosing who their kids play with rather than having the kids play with who they are drawn to. I've experienced a neighbor going through almost a breakdown, through the sheer fact, her son wasn't within the in crowd or to be good in sports. It becomes a mission to this woman, to make her son part of the crowd, so this prime goal takes over her life. I've experienced this lady to demonstrate jealousy/cunningness/manipulative behaviour, to the extent that she will turn on friends in order for her son to meet HER expectations. I experienced this mother to reduce her son to tears through putdowns and punishments if he can't play the game of 'being able to fit in with the crowd'. The boy is not left alone to develop naturally, his mother has other plans for him; YOU WILL BE SMART / YOU WILL BE POPULAR / THERE IS NO 2ND BEST!! Today's lifestyle isn't always down to environment or faster pace technology. You've got to look at the personality of some parents, such as 'controlling/obsessive'.
MY VIEW IS; the pace can't slow as such, we can't go back to what parents did in 1980's, we have to move with the times, but to be, MORE RELAXED PARENTS. TO ACCEPT 'NOT SO PERFECT RESULTS'. I live in an area where I actually noticed that children aren't allowed to be silly, or watch silly types of shows. As this would appear to be juvenile and would be viewed as bad parenting choices. This would be considered as a waste of time/brain power. Parents wanting only educational/serious subjects to expand their childs brains.
The results from what I have seen is that my children's peers don't know how to be compassionate, forgiving, kind, and oh 'sense of humour' undeveloped. For a child to be able to relate/communicate at all levels is such a credit to their parents, but is rarely seen. HOW DO WE ACHEIEVE THIS... I'M NO EXPECT, BUT... being a little more relaxed, with expectations would be a start. TOO MANY PARENTS WANTING TO BETTER THEIR NEIGHBOR IS ONE OF THE DAMAGING EFFECTS ON OUR CHILDREN.
Children are loosing the inability to accept 'not quite to scratch' craft projects / home work results / personal sport development. It's been reported that my children are grown up/worldly for their age, judged on dress wear/personality. They are a product of moving with the times....oh but do we laugh, allow sillyness, and listen to others views. Maturity has somewhat been put onto our children, as now we allow our children to speak out, have an opinion. We want our children to be assertive, as the days where you were punished for giving your personal opinion, speaking out against your elders, and doing what you are told without question, ....ARE HOPEFULLY SO FAR GONE. There is of course an enormous amount of child abuse that still goes on and went on in much early days, but the fact that most schools encourage our children to be assertive, confident in themselves, hopefully allows the children to prevent such soul destroying acts impacting their lives. The schools where I live, encourage the children to make wise choices, build strong characters in everyone. I personally wouldn't have it any other way to have my children challenge me in decision making or personal opinions. It allows us as a family to hear two sides, therefore, viewing what is either a fact, or what appears to be perhaps the wiser choice as for seeing the outcome of the decision.

On the same day as this report was aired a report of a child being taken from a playground and disfigured for life by being burned with cigarettes was also broadcast.I am nearly 70 years old and things like that would have been unheard of in my childhood as would paedophiles
How can people be so shortsighted as to say we could go back,we were brought up strictly with discipline our children today have a lot to say for themselves (Iam an invigilater for exams so Iknow)but not a lot of basic common sense they would not accept rules and that is why we cannot go back as it is these rules that protect them

One of the adverse effects of the test-focused school curriculum is that education in the arts has been marginalised. Music in particular has been pushed to the margins. In many primary schools music disappears from the curriculum in Year 6 because everything is geared to preparing for SATs. Older students often pull out of youth orchestras because of the ever-increasing pressures of homework. It therefore seems totally bizarre that Newsnight should have thought it appropriate to illustrate the letter's concerns with film of children learning to play the violin. Making music with real instruments is part of the cure, not part of the disease!

Today we are faced with fast-paced change and pressure to perform and succeed; work demands and takes time away from the family and this is a huge impact on the relationship with our children who are born in this challenging environment. We have to work around what is available and make use of the best of what is on offer to improve their life and chances.

I think that the most important thing is the family itself. To recognise that you are all in life together and to love and support each other - if a child understands that parents support and encourage and love them and can see that in family members around them, then this presents the best platform for them to face the modern world.

With multi-channel information delivery you can't hid the TV, advertising, computers, internet and phones so you can have to balance this with play time and incorporate the best parts - who can't join in with Boogie Beebies as you fall around the front room?

We are lucky to have parks close to our house and a small garden, even though we are in London - this gives plenty of time for real play and our daughter loves being outside, playing with other children and discovering everything - we make sure that she spends time outside and most importantly play with her as well as giving her freedom to play for herself.

With eating, her worst habit is too much fruit, but she likes this 'sugar' over anything processed. We have tried hard to feed her home cooked food and balance the types of meals she eats, importantly we don't force her to eat and she will try everything and has very little food that she won't eat (mainly cheese!).

Your children need space to grow, develop, make mistakes and learn - leaping to their aid at any little fall; preventing them from getting dirty and putting material things first don't generate the right boundaries in encouraging them to appreciate their self, others and the environment around them.

Are these people who are keen for children to play out in the street and on open spaces the same ones who complain when a child is making noise kicking a football or riding a skateboard near their houses? Or maybe they're the ones who look disapprovingly at teenagers sitting chatting on park benches or recreation fields? Or perhaps they're the ones who are keen to slap asbos on anyone who is walking down the street wearing a hooded top or a baseball cap?
Attitudes to children and teenagers who do play outside need to be changed, then maybe the kids will actually feel able to actually spend time outside.

The death of Childhood. Hi, I can only speak for my own childhood, as I have no children. During the time I was very young,until nearly 9yrs. I
lived with my parents in India and attended a British School.To me, looking back it was an idyllic time, we were reasonably well off,and life,
in those times were school,with the usual subjects to prepare us for a Public Prep School in UK.We learnt all the necessary subjects,and because the school was attended by Indian children, alot of their background too,it was an enlightened syllabus,including homework.However there was sufficient freetime to climb trees, full off one's cycle and break a wrist! What we did not have was TV, only radio and the gramaphone,and contact with each other,which I must admit made us read. Here in France & Italy from whatI have seen, TV is prevalent amongst children and grown-ups,is always on (no disrespect)but when do they do their homework? Later, I went to PrepSchool in UK, there was still no TV, and later on in life,in senior school still no TV but Current Affairs and a newspaper to read. Which is best? Jennifer Watts.

they are wright in some ways,but first of all the world has been changed by science especially when it comes to food. we are what we eat and when we take in fast food then thats what makes us and shape us.greed and lawlessnes makes it impossible for parents to allow children to run around the park by themselves and not to have a care in the world. people who want to make money will sell to us anything, i wish we could slow down and go back to the 50s but it is impossible so it seems evrything is going to crash so next generation to start afresh.

I feel Chilhood needs to be lived, though we belong to the digital age, I feel a child is born in a family and a child must experience not only nurturing skills from the family but from nature too.
I myself grew up climbing trees playing in sand, mud , watched birds fly in and out of the house eating tiny bits of grains , seen peacocks dance and bears rollick, fed monkeys with bananas had pets at home, in the street and adored the other pets like tortoise in my friends place, took care of tiny fish ponds and acquariums in the absence of neighbours and oh!!!!!!!!!! the experience is indeed unforgettable;
then why deprive the children of today with these natural beings and pressurise them to study?
watch T.V. channels only for knowledge , perform , win prizes and make parents happy, I think it is basically the mind set of the parents , the parents have to decide whether to let their children play with neighbours pets, bring in a truck load of sand in front of the house and experience making sand castles , take the children on treasure hunt and do not inhibit their experiences .
I strongly feel and believe in the fact that parents have to decide how judiciously , how prudently and how determinedly they would want to provide the natural learning experiences rather than blame the society, schools or any government institution(s)for not providing the right environment.
I am a firm believer in providing realistic experiences in the limited time available, limited space available , with limited number of children there is whole lot of world and nature waiting to be explored.
Debates and discussions are for publishing research papers.
Let us all just be ourselves, work with nature / and nurture our thoughts to befit and benefit from and for the future generations.

Pressures of study fine;
who says that only an A grade student does well in life , I have nurutred my children adhering to strict school timings , complete homework at school, home is for family and week ends for outings.
Today I proudly say that my son Studied with scholarship right from 11 grade to university and my daughter is equally successful and an active participant in her college music band and literary clubs.
So folks it is the mind set of the parents as to what is to be given to the child and parents can play a proactive role with the institutions .
The organisations and institutions must provide and divide the school timings to imbibe: Knowledge through curriculum, skills through experiential learning.
Vedas have proved that
one quarter of Knowledge is obtained from the teachers
one quarter of Knowledge is obtained by analysing self
one quarter of knowledge by discussion
one quarter of Knowledge is obtained during the process of living, each learner uses the method of addition, deletion, correction and modification.
So folks, lets all agree with the above proven facts and provide right kind of opportunities in right kind of atmosphere.

Why is it that children seem to get such a bad press? They don't spend enough time outdoors, they spend too much time in front of computers, they are stressed because they have too much work, they spend their time studying GCSEs and A levels that have little or no intellectual rigor... The list of complaints is endless. These complaints do children, parents and their teachers a diservice though.

Amazingly, every year GCSE and A level results improve and every year, without fail, we are told that standards are falling.

Many children use the internet to research their homework assignments. This means they are having to develop ways of filtering through vast quantities of information. By contrast when I was doing my coursework I would use the textbook we had been given and possibly an encyclopedia (I am currently doing a PhD in theoretical chemistry).

Recently I have been working with an Nuffield Bursary student. This scheme allows a 17 year old A-level student to come and work in a real research environment. The work this student produced during the 5 weeks she worked with me was remarkable. Despite the fact that she lacked a chemistry degree she produced a report that a second year undergraduate could have been proud of.

So if you're a child or a parent reading this I would just like to say well done!

Psychology is not the answer to miserability: they are in fear... not in society..lets dictate their characters instead...

Newsnights TV psychologist: obviously cant cope with the changes in modern living...has poverty and resentment thinking, wants to rule the lives and prevent the freedom of the young they hate..it is quite common, they cant enjoy it, they have hatred and envy instead, and they think people should be made to do things to be miserable but mediocrely strident like they are...

Most of us can have multiple points of view and speculate about what is making someone miserable...one obvious answer is the punishment of others that prevents them enjoying all the expressive fascination and excitement they used to...

..but psychologists like punishment and believe it is the way to manage society...they are defending their money and their beliefs system...they were made to believe they were good people for suffering it rather than getting annoyed about it...

Because they know they aren't liked, aren't popular, and are distressed by the incriminations of others they have to work hard to express quasi leadership that really says they want to be in charge...and they often have singular not coupled and social points of view...

They are in fear and so cant have all the emotional freedom and mates that others do and cant see from others points of view...self absorbed punishment fear is well known to stymie the brain sometimes into a kind of amnesia and social disability....and violence makes them stupidly stuck up hypermannered and morally superior....it is done strategically by pupils and housemasters everywhere to make people less popular successful and more lower middle class

Lack of comprehension instils an interest in psychology which is often seen from a singular not coupled and social point of view

As people feign ignorance of incriminations hyperpretension makes them weird and deteriorates ability...the process is finally finished when they are denied permission to know from society and instead have to learn the lessons of fear self doubt and theoretical transitives instead...

The desire to triumph leads to idolisation superiority conceptual modelling and theorisation... usually with the thinking "there is nothing wrong with me they are like it or if there is i want to know why" until the become a classic quizzically intimidated quizzically intimidating psychologist self absorbed away from the knowledge of society, finding value in their struggle to changes themselves and the people around them to be the way they like....

Eventually such people lose their memory completely.... particularly if all their character and background indicators provoke the violent resentment of others..and those people become primitive predictors rather than sexual and adventurous engagers in humanity...

Whether psychologist or not... the lack of human enjoyment makes people miserable... and the easiest way to enforce this is with "socialist" violence to the person because their character is more popular than the belligerent...there a loads of examples everywhere ....

..and it got much worse with Blairism ...as new fears were introduced and people got even... more people learning to be victim victimiser, feminist hostile error sexual dysfunction, child fear.... moral compliance and repression...all create intermittent distress boredom and miserability...

The errors that leads to violence are usually trivial, and though the errors seem the same and one may be reminded of them does not mean one is the same, the ethics of the violent are perverse deniable and ignorable, and no-one actually needs to deny themselves permission to turn on fully and show off or engage all their interest and passions for the world....

Apologies for any failings here exhibited ..

Benedict TLC

Children are products of the environment whether we want to accept this fact or not while the environment on the other hand, results from the only "constant res called change" which occur in societies we live in which in turn, is a result of technological advancement or lack of it as, the case may be.
The bottom line, is "to be or not to be".
Parents have choices of how to bring up their children but like in everything else, there are pros and cons. For instance, do we raise them at the pace of "light or sound" and have "hipped corporate children" barely out of dippers? or do you adopt the "slowier" approach where we allow them "sit" before they
" crawl", "stand"and then "walk" before they "run".
The answer obviously lies in the dream parents have for their children and what they can afford.
Today, schools apparently can afford computers so, at school they are exposed to using these. Those parents who can afford to have one or more computers at home, boost what the school has started "after hours" but in reality, there are parents who cannot afford a computer at home etc.
We live through our children, our hopes, dreams and aspirations snd sometimes we fail to ask ourselves what "values" really matter, are our children interested in "our dreams" for them? vis-a-vis what obtains in the society we live in particular or the world in general." To be or not to be" - is, really the question.

During the discussion of this subject, Ellie Crissell (Newsround), remarked that 'a Child that lived in a house, without a TV, wouldn't be very popular'
Firstly, I am interested in the quality, of the intellect, that produced this remark.
Secondly; 'popularity'-is this important, to a child? this concept, in itself, is an extension of 'Celebrity (trash) Culture', to Children!; and we have some fine examples of what has happened to 'Child Stars', over many years.
Finally, the malaise that some children find themselves in, is caused by their parent's angst, over their own perceived under-achievment.

We have 4 children, aged 6,4,2 and a few months.
We have one old fashioned TV and a VHS player.
We do not have games consoles nor MP3 players nor electronic games.

What we do have is a big collection of jigsaws, games, books, toys, dressing up clothes, bits and bobs boxes all with easy and free access at any time by any of our children.
In our experience the TV transports our kids onto planet strange where it's ok to be rude, obnoxious and violent. Invariably when the TV goes off if takes no more than 10 minutes until all the children have found something to do, either individually or as a group. The amount of creative play they get up and the amount of bumps, scrapes and other general fun they have fills me with pride and astonishment.
In many ways, modern life is rubbish. Kids need to sometimes just "be". Slow down, what's the rush?

To Newsnight,if your are still taking comments, I always seem to leave it to the last, it is my timetable, and no disrepect to others. I would just like to mention my brother, who had the same opportunties as myself and never made it, except for Prep School in England, where he did an extra year to put him forward to his chosen Public School. It did not work. It was found at birth, not in India, but at Westminster Children's Hospital, that something had gone wrong with the birth,then early days. He could not, and never will be able to live a life on his own, perhaps due to a virus, undiscovered at birth.He is unable to know the value of money,and the very essentials of life, like cooking,mending and washing one's clothes in a machine. He is now midly autistic, but before I was able to get him into a home, I had to wait until my mother had died. By then he was a BIG problem, unale to articulate he used "clout". He has an aweful life,according to most of us, and his autism really showed up when my father died,early. It showed in the protection of his mother, the jealousy of myself, and because he was inarticulate, in mild+aggression.
He had past his driving test on the first event, better than me, but continually crashed his cars, to no harm to anyone except his car. I bought him 3 second hand cars and over a dispute on whether he axcepted a 2nd gearbox for the lastest car, he sold it for a motor-cycle,for 拢50. I luckily,(because my mother had died) was able to get the restriction, he was not capable of driving. To him, TV is essential, he is now 56yrs old, but TV has been his life,not Newsnight or other programmes as such, perhaps the 18h news, but I doubt he remembers anything. Spectacles, and other things such-like, takes his attention. He is now, after a terrible life for him, where everything went topsy-turvy when my mother died,andhe went through a sort of hell(sorry, unrecognised by his cousins,supposedly happy in the environment he lives in,a very small home for people such as himself. There is not meant to be any pity to the story, it is factual and shows the difference between brother & sister,both brought up with equal oppurtunties.I would say he needs the TV shows and detective stories, and anything unrealistic he is satusfied, while I do not need them. Again, which is best? I have learnt from this experience that children need different things and ideas in this life, and in teaching,I have come across this syndrome, and the different ways to teach adults,children et all,a foreign language. It is more than important,to accept them! I have not checked my spelling ot grammar, and would be obliged, if people would not show stupid sympathy. We have to work around this problem, and decide whether children need visual games and other "silly programmes" on the TV. or whether they use it for instruction. Regards, Jennifer W.

I have given you my comment about my brother in regard to children. I am not about to repeat it. If you do not like it, tant pis for me - it shows you what you have never considered in this programme. Regards Jennifer W.

Look at it properly, ther is nothing abusive about my letter, accept the agony to post it, for your programme, so youknow the ins and outs of life. I do think you live in a wonder-world. Regards, Jennifer Watts, and I am not repeating anything I have said todate, take it as you wish, but from all this my letters to Newsnight, end on this comparison of my brother and myself. No bad language has been used, no abuse to anyone, no swearing, capable of yours. End. Jennifer W.

Newsnight. My comments did not faail on any of your requirements. I will appeal against this decision, and dislike you for it. Jennifer W.

Hi, Newsnight. I have sent you a private e-mail, not for publication on my part, although you can say what you wish. I hope it clears any misunderstandings between Newsnight and myself. Except that I was silly enough to enter this forum, which had in the programme alot of other very interesting items,which I missed.
Kind regards, and please do not leave my email address after the last comment. I get all sorts of weird emails, from people who know this address, and I do not think I need anymore!

What children don't have anymore is FREEDOM. Freedom from fear specifically. They cannot run about and play without being afraid of being murdered or kidnapped. This fear is foremost in children's thoughts and games, and in most video games and movies.

Also, as more anxious kids are put on "anti-depressants" and "add" drugs, we are inflicting addiction on millions of children who will grow up to retaliate and fight back what was done TO them.

My two overriding memories of a fifties childhood are of being forced to recite latin verbs for up to four hours a week ad nauseum and of the swift and terrible retribution that followed when I sneaked a cigarette by the bike shed.Funnily enough I took my family's shocked reaction so much to heart that I was never ever tempted to smoke again.

We keep our children inside our homes and amuse them with video games and T.V. and busy them with homework. Is it really safe outside our homes to climb trees with the unstable adults walking the streets who think that my child may be "cute"? When I was growing up, I was constantly outside because "it was safe". Maybe we overprotect our children, but is it not because we have to?

Things may have changed since I was at school (probably not though - I'm only 20 now) but I think the whole "too much homework" thing is a myth. In fact, I was always amazed at how little homework I was given. The only time when I felt seriously pressurised was in the weeks preceding the end of year exams.

And therein lies the real problem. Children are taught HOW TO PASS EXAMS rather than being taught in depth about the subject itself. Indeed, I can remember almost nothing about what I learnt at A-level and still less what I learnt at GCSE.

Regarding the supposed overuse of computer games and television, I really cannot see how this is the government's domain. Surely it is the parents' responsibility? Also, I think spending a certain amount of time on the internet is beneficial, and it would be counterproductive to withdraw a child from an environment which is so crucial to modern day life.

On the subject of outdoor activities, I think government is responsible on certain levels. It could (and should) increase the amount of physical education in schools. It is often stated that the healthy option is the expensive option. But we must remember that playing football in the park and riding a bike is completely FREE. Why do parents not encourage this? How can this possibly be the government's responsibility?

To conclude my post, I feel that the government is responsible for certain things (I would suggest a rethink on the education system and more PE in schools). However, I think parents share the burden of responsibility as well and should be doing more to encourage their children to play and exercise. I think that nostalgia and rose-tinted glasses come in to this somewhat. With a little guidance, it is more than possible to have a enjoyable, productive childhood in the 21st century.

What do parents of teenagers expect? No tests? No homework? I was at school in the '40s and '50s. Whilst there was little pressure early on, there was quite a lot of end-of-term testing towards the 11+ exam. At grammar school there was a yearly increase in homework hours, with relevant text books being carted back and forth on the bus. At 14 years one was expected to do about 3-4 hours of homework per night - and there were longer school terms. If GCEs were to be taken (and there was only PASS or FAIL) we had to do the extra work. Mind you, we had playing fields on hand and PE, sports and outdoor games were built-in to the daily timetable. We were the lucky ones, i.e. not turfed out to work at 15. Higher education was only for very clever pupils. I think over a time parents themselves have almost wiped out childhood by allowing their kids to have everything available. Their children get gizmos, fashions and even makeup in the years they should be enjoying freedom from adult preoccupations. The only way children have time for tree-climbing and musical instrument tuition is to leave the computer games and mobile phones alone some of the time. Also in the 50s, there were technical schools available to those from secondary schools who, at 13 years, passed appropriate technical tests. There was a pre-nursing stream at our school where girls could follow a special curriculum from 13 years, and their homework really was onerous so they were ready for entry into nursing colleges. Also, all class tests are just as much to show that teaching is of the required standard as anything else. There was a period in the '70s where teaching was poor; many teachers had an easy ride, with no end-of-term testing of the pupils' knowledge.

Well I'm at the tail end of my teens and maybe I've ruined my childhood by getting addicted to newsnight and news in general 20 years too early. However I love my childhood. I mean education obviously has to be tolerated and especially the comments were the teachers 'motivate' you. However my parents have instilled in me with a great love of history and whenever we go on holiday we also go to sites of historical importance where you can also learn beautifully grotesque things to do with ways of killing soldiers if you are in a castle. Also if you go the tolerant castles and areas of land you can play and run around and still I play football with my brother when I know I should not with my dignity to maintain. I have always loved television and I alway will. I do not think it has ruined my life and stunted my brain growth or made me depressed. I purely watched programmes that interested me and I think we all should and should carry it on into adulthood. I think something that has massively helped my brother and myself is that our parents treat us like adults they do not 'baby' us and have always thought of us as miniature adults.

I'm just incredibly grateful that I do not have to work down a mine or go out and work in order to provide enough money for my family to live.

For 2 & 1/2 years I have taught in south Korea. The stresses brought to young children from the age of 6 years is incredible. Mother directed, hogwons make up the entire day after their regular classes from kindergarten to high school end. Some students go to as many as four 2 hour long classes in English, Chinese, music, taequondo, dancing,
mathematics etc. Often there is no outlet for them to play, get physical exercise and just be kids. When a student has to sit for the University entrance exams in November, then the day usually starts at cram school at 6 a.m., regular school from 8:30 to about 2:30 and then on to more intensive cram schools. Prior to the actual day of the exams the mothers, grandmothers often are at the churches and temples praying for success for their off-spring.
In the Korean Herald today, Korea now holds the first place among nations with suicides. These built-in stresses begin at far too early an age and there is few if any chances for counselling or social workers to give support to families that have youngsters that are depressed. What is the answer?
As a fully retired Canadian teacher, I am most sympathetic with goals that do not bring pressure to bear on young children. They need to have fun, to grow and have both physical and creative outlets. Thinking outside of the box is a difficult concept for people here in Korea to understand, let alone put into practice. Surely the government will do some affirmative action to relieve the stresses on young people who are so obediant.

I think that the letter is condemming the use of the latest technology. I am 16 and I have played violent video games since we got an Play Station 1 in 1996 and had a PC a year before that and I did not turn out to be violent and started to beat every one.
I mean what do the people who signed the letter want us to do? put stickers on the schools, tests, PCs, mobiles, Ipods, games concoles and even the junk food saying that this product may SERIOUSLY IF NOT KILL your childhood.

hello newsnight i grew up in the early 1970s when life ws free and as children we were allowed to run about freely making dens and tree house,sometimes i think we scare our young people to death with media headlines? too much telly perhaps,making them grow up too quickly.

Hi There !
I lived my childhood at 80麓s ! It was wonderful !!! I could play a lot , not too much television,homework, and also the internet wasn麓t exist at home. I climbed trees to eat fruits, played Hiden-hiden and play with dolls until 14 years old . Can you imagine that now?? This afraid me . How everything have been changed so fast and so strong?? When exactly was that ??
I think that at same time that I was growing everything have change just behind me. And Now When I look back I saw that childrens of today really need more love ! Love of your parents , love of your real friends , not virtual !