Music piece is called Music piece is called REFLECTIONS REFLECTIONS composed by my dear friend Ren Chang composed by my dear friend Ren Chang

This PowerPoint is based on an article written by This PowerPoint is based on an article written by Sue Palmer in a Women’s Section on the net. Some Sue Palmer in a Women’s Section on the net. Some

text has been changed to fit in line with today’s text has been changed to fit in line with today’s situation.situation.

MostMost of today’s children live in some of the of today’s children live in some of the wealthiest, most technologically advanced nations on wealthiest, most technologically advanced nations on

earth. Most have had years of peace and prosperity with earth. Most have had years of peace and prosperity with free education and medical services for allfree education and medical services for all

TheirTheir homes are crammed with labour-saving devices homes are crammed with labour-saving devices and electronic entertainment that previous generations and electronic entertainment that previous generations couldn't even dream of. Surely these children should be couldn't even dream of. Surely these children should be

growing happier every year?growing happier every year?

TinyTiny babies, who can't feed or look after themselves, babies, who can't feed or look after themselves, need to know someone is caring for them at all times. need to know someone is caring for them at all times.

They are programmed to recognise and become attached They are programmed to recognise and become attached to this "someone" by sight, sound, smell and so on.to this "someone" by sight, sound, smell and so on.

TheThe carer therefore needs to be a constant and carer therefore needs to be a constant and consistent loving presence in the child's life.consistent loving presence in the child's life.

LifeLife may have changed enormously over the past few may have changed enormously over the past few decades, but the human brain evolves much more slowly - decades, but the human brain evolves much more slowly -

in fact, it hasn't changed since Cro-Magnon times.in fact, it hasn't changed since Cro-Magnon times.

AllAll babies are born as little Stone Age babies, and it's up babies are born as little Stone Age babies, and it's up to their parents to help them towards maturity, gradually to their parents to help them towards maturity, gradually

equipping them with the inner strength, skills and equipping them with the inner strength, skills and knowledge they need to live in a complex technological knowledge they need to live in a complex technological

culture. culture. AnotherAnother essential childhood need is the emotional essential childhood need is the emotional stability that comes from feeling cared-for and secure.stability that comes from feeling cared-for and secure.

We'veWe've come to believe that 21st century come to believe that 21st century children are different from children in the past - children are different from children in the past - that they can get by with less parental time and that they can get by with less parental time and attention, skip stages in their development and attention, skip stages in their development and

cope with pressures and emotional burdens cope with pressures and emotional burdens children shouldn't have to cope with.children shouldn't have to cope with.

The brutal truth is that they can't.

ThereThere has been a massive increase in marketing has been a massive increase in marketing pressure on children and a simultaneous increase in the pressure on children and a simultaneous increase in the pressures they face at school. We now live in a winners pressures they face at school. We now live in a winners

and losers culture.and losers culture.ChildrenChildren now face up to 70 academic tests before the now face up to 70 academic tests before the

age of 16. We enter our offspring into this high stakes age of 16. We enter our offspring into this high stakes educational rat race at a younger age with many educational rat race at a younger age with many

embarking on formal learning at the tender age of four. At embarking on formal learning at the tender age of four. At this age many children aren't even physically competent this age many children aren't even physically competent

to hold a pencil, let alone write with one.to hold a pencil, let alone write with one.

ParentsParents, teachers and other members of the , teachers and other members of the community must find ways of reforging an "adult community must find ways of reforging an "adult

alliance" in their community  to support families in alliance" in their community  to support families in raising their young.raising their young.

TheThe main responsibility for rearing children, however, main responsibility for rearing children, however, lies - as it always has - with parents. They have to wise up, lies - as it always has - with parents. They have to wise up,

stop being paralysed by a combination of rapid change, stop being paralysed by a combination of rapid change, uncertainty and guilt, and find new ways to provide a uncertainty and guilt, and find new ways to provide a

secure, healthy family life for their offspring.secure, healthy family life for their offspring.

WeWe need to attend to the well-being of need to attend to the well-being of our children and tackle the growing our children and tackle the growing

problems with their mental health, the problems with their mental health, the next generation may not be bright or next generation may not be bright or

balanced enough to keep the economy balanced enough to keep the economy healthy and nations together.healthy and nations together.

AA damning survey by the National Consumer Council, damning survey by the National Consumer Council,

revealed that children who watch too much television and revealed that children who watch too much television and spend hours on the internet are "greedy and unhappy".spend hours on the internet are "greedy and unhappy".

other children," the report said. If a other children," the report said. If a child gets used to eating dinner with child gets used to eating dinner with the television on every night, how are the television on every night, how are you going to tell them they can't do you going to tell them they can't do that any more because you've finally that any more because you've finally realised they never talk to you at all?realised they never talk to you at all?

So how is this unhappiness So how is this unhappiness manifesting itself?manifesting itself?

"TheseThese children argue more with their families, have a children argue more with their families, have a lower opinion of their parents, and lower self-esteem thanlower opinion of their parents, and lower self-esteem than

WellWell, there's increasing evidence of , there's increasing evidence of mushrooming behavioural problems in our schools, mushrooming behavioural problems in our schools, these days even among the very youngest pupils in these days even among the very youngest pupils in

primary schools. But many unhappy children lie primary schools. But many unhappy children lie low, bottling up their misery, and the symptoms low, bottling up their misery, and the symptoms don't become apparent until the teenage years.don't become apparent until the teenage years.

AnAn international poll found out that childreninternational poll found out that children

suffer from suffer from anti-social anti-social behaviour,behaviour,

self-harm self-harm and and

eating eating disorders.disorders.

AccordingAccording to some estimated figures thousands to some estimated figures thousands of youngsters try to kill themselves every year.of youngsters try to kill themselves every year.

SoSo what is happening? Researching the state of what is happening? Researching the state of modern childhood for over five years has shown modern childhood for over five years has shown

that adults have lost sight of certain fundamental that adults have lost sight of certain fundamental truths about child-rearing.truths about child-rearing.

ChildrenChildren need adults not only to love them, but to need adults not only to love them, but to provide regularity and to set and maintain boundaries provide regularity and to set and maintain boundaries for their behaviour. So parents have to balance warmth for their behaviour. So parents have to balance warmth

with a degree of firmness.with a degree of firmness.

ThisThis sort of balanced parenting is extremely difficult sort of balanced parenting is extremely difficult when adults are exhausted from juggling work and when adults are exhausted from juggling work and

domestic responsibilities or - in a materialistic society domestic responsibilities or - in a materialistic society based on an "I want" philosophy - unsure where the based on an "I want" philosophy - unsure where the

boundaries ought to be drawnboundaries ought to be drawn..

NowNow that we that we are aware of the are aware of the

problem of problem of childhood childhood

unhappiness, unhappiness, there's no reason there's no reason why we can't find why we can't find

a solution.a solution.