British children need time not money

A report by UNICEF on child wellbeing in economically advanced nations has indicated that British children are not given enough quality time with their parents. Material possessions that are ‘often neither wanted or treasured’ have taken the place of conscientious parenting in a society that fails to protect and promote valuable family time.

Four years ago UNICEF shocked Britain by placing them at the bottom of the scale of developed countries for child wellbeing. Now a new comprehensive report attempts to delve deeper into the reasons behind these findings. It is not news to discover that there is no obvious relationship between levels of child well-being and GDP per capita, but UNICEF claims the problem of a deprived upbringing stems from an undervaluing of quality time.

The assessment of young people’s relationships placed Britain in last place using data collected from family structures and surveys, including the data for the ‘percentage of children who report that parents spend time ‘just talking’ to them’.

British parents work longer hours to raise household income and are often short of spare time, compensating by buying their children expensive toys and goods. Other European countries with a strong emphasis on family life, such as Sweden and Spain, have come out as having high child wellbeing. The report suggests that this is partly because these societies were more able to ‘challenge the materialist culture they see around them’.

In response, the report is calling for reforms of advertising laws, protection of child facilities for active and creative pursuits and a ‘living wage’ for families that will allow them to spend more time at home.

Read UNICEF’s full report here.

Published: Thursday, 15th September 2011 by Ellen Haggan