Growing Up

June, 20th

Английский язык. “Экспедиция” (B2-C1)

Life cycle
Life cycle
Life cycle
Children have never had it harder, say their parents
Children are being put under too much pressure from exams, the internet and celebrity culture, parents have warned.
An investigation into the children's welfare in 21st century Britain has found high levels of concern that their
development is being damaged.
Research by Mumsnet, the parenting website, found that adults believe it has never before been harder to be a child
growing up.
The study found that nearly nine out of ten parents feel their offspring are suffering from pressure to look like
unrealistic images used in the media.
Almost two thirds of those polled said that there was too much testing in schools, while three quarters admitted they
struggled to spend enough time with their children because of their long working hours.
More than half said the rise of the internet had added to young people's problems, while 78 per cent said children do
not play out enough on their own.
Half of those questioned said parents nowadays failed to set proper boundaries for their children's behaviour,
compared to when they were growing up.
The survey, which polled 1006 parents, was commissioned for ITV1's Tonight programme, which this week
broadcasts a series of programmes investigating the current state of British childhood and the pressures facing young
people. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p052jthy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p052jmtx
The first show, on Tuesday, will examine a rise in childhood depression, as well as growing concern among young
people about their body image.
It comes after the Government last month announced it was looking at ways to curb the sale of sexualised products aimed
at young people, including whether rules should prevent the marketing of items such as padded bras to children.
Sarah Teather, the children's minister, said: "I want this review to look at how we can equip parents to deal with the
changing nature of marketing, advertising and other pressures that are aimed at their children."
The survey's findings also come as the Government has announced attempts to reduce the number of targets set for the
youngest pupils at school.
At present, pupils are required to meet 69 targets by the age of five before they can start full-time education. These
include counting up to 10, reciting the alphabet, and forming sentences using basic punctuation.
Sue Palmer, a former primary head teacher and author of Toxic Childhood, said it was important that the Government
relaxed rules on early education. "It is state-sponsored child abuse in terms of what it does to their long-term
development," she said. "Testing is necessary and important, but it should be something incidental rather than something
that presses down on them and hinders their ability to grow emotionally and socially."
Justine Roberts, founder of Mumsnet, said the findings indicated the importance of employers making provision for
flexible conditions.
"I think there is so much we can do to make Britain more family friendly and child friendly," she said.
"If we want the next generation to be well adjusted we need to give parents time to parent."
Britain was ranked as one of the worst places in Europe to grow up in a study by the Child Poverty Action Group last
year and came bottom out of 21 industrialised nations in a Unicef league table for child wellbeing published in 2007.

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/millennials-growing-up-in-the-21st-century#
Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1W2UddURXI
Family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eqpHvzkc_0
Generations Apart?
● What can be gained from a
grandparent/grandchild
relationship?
● Are there any negative
factors?
● How can relationship with
grandparents differ from that
with parents?

http://www.fox16.com/klrt-good-day/building-relationships-grandparents-and-parent
ing/393120852
See you soon!