Reducing
Protection or Reducing Over-regulation?
Naomi
Eisenstadt, the head of Sure Start, recently defended the
Government’s plans to reduce the regulation of some
forms of day care – after-school clubs, holiday play-schemes
for the over-fives, nannies and childminders for the over-eights.
The plans are contained in a new Bill, with consultation closing
on 7 October. She acknowledged that the proposal had provoked
“a very, very strong lobby against it”.
Is
that surprising? Professionals have been lobbying for ages
to have the child care profession properly regulated, with
the registration of all workers and systems for inspecting
services, and here the Government is, doing a u-turn and merrily
re-opening the door for bad practice to come sweeping in again.
If there are under-regulated areas, those are the ones where
the dodgy providers and practitioners will go.
A
National Profile
We
were in the National Portrait Gallery the other day when we
came face to face with a familiar portrait. In among the twentieth
century greats was Dame Eileen Younghusband. The portrait
was donated by the National Institute for Social Work at its
demise, and anyone who went there for meetings will recall
the picture. When the social professions get so little public
recognition, it is good to see her contribution as a significant
figure acknowledged in this way.
Ritalin
It
is reported that the number of children prescribed Ritalin
to control their behaviour has increased to 359,100 - a rise
of 344,400 since 1995. We expressed our alarm as far back
as 2000. It is now said to be prescribed to deal with the
normal emotional problems of childhood, and not limited to
dealing with the children with the most acute problems. If
the stressful nature of normal experiences is diminished in
this way, children may be deprived of the opportunity of learning
to cope with difficulties. And who knows if there may be long-term
side-effects? Perhaps it is time for a campaign.
Cameos
Children
can sometimes get the wrong end of the stick quite easily,
and can be very upset for no apparent reason. Only when the
cause is found out does their behaviour fall into place.
There
was the little girl at the Centre Parc who would not settle
down to sleep on the first night of the family holiday and
howled her eyes out, until her parents found out that she
had overheard her mother saying to a friend, “Of course,
the nice thing about Centre Parcs is that you can leave your
children”, meaning that there were loads of activities
which kept the children absorbed, while the little girl thought
that, as soon as she dropped off, mummy and daddy would be
heading off, who knows where, and leaving her behind.
Then
there was the little boy whose family were moving house. He
got it into his head that he was somehow part and parcel of
the house and not his family, and that his parents, brothers
and sisters would be going to the new home, leaving him with
the new owners. Now there’s a thought : would we need
to include transfer prices for the children when buying and
selling houses? And if so, who would pay whom?
Yet
Another Response to Paedotrophia
A
Thora Pip Ode : Rules
When
you’ve a problem with your child,
You must be firm and clear;
Or else he may get naughtier,
Worsening year by year.
He might miss school or pinch from shops,
Take drugs, trade stolen gear –
Who knows how far your child might go?
A criminal career?
So
if he throws his toys around
Or bites his sister’s ear,
Or jumps upon the furniture,
Or smashes something dear,
You must not get into a rage
And shout so neighbours hear,
Or have a tantrum, stamp your feet,
Or show a sign of fear.
You
must kneel down, and eye to eye,
So that you’re really near,
Speak to him firmly – simple words –
So that your meaning’s clear,
And tell him what he’s done is wrong;
Be sharp but not severe.
Then sit him on the naughty step
(Ignore the infant’s tear)
And tell him, “You must stay until
You’ve spent two minutes here”.
And
take him back if he gets up –
No violence, just a steer –
And make him stay till time is up:
You’ve got to persevere.
Make sure your partner backs you up
And does not interfere.
Consistency must be your theme,
So words and deeds cohere.
Your
child will learn how to behave.
His boundaries will appear.
He’ll learn just what is good and bad.
If he should chance to veer
Away from what he’s learnt is right,
The naughty step is near.
From
little things do big things grow,
So make your child adhere
To little rules and ways to live:
He’ll grow up straight, sincere,
Avoiding problems when he’s big,
Escaping blame or smear.
When he’s internalised your rules,
He’ll make you want to cheer.
From
the Case Files
[The
Social Worker] said that, with regard to X’s sexual
activities, he had mounting problems.
We
can’t imagine what he might mean. Needing horse-riding
lessons perhaps?
