Spoilt children disrupt schools

[PABLOP]

here

Margaret Morrissey thinks we cannot instill values unless we are sahm

"If you are in a situation where you have got to work, you can't be with your child and you can't be giving it the sort of values that the older generation did."

yes silly generalisations from the spokesperson of the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations

sorry, i misread in my angry haste!

i have yet to meet one of these childrne who tantrum like this and parents who buy their childrne everything they want.. they must exist..

I teach lots of children who tantrum like this and yet their parents buy everything that they want.

I think it is too easy to generalise that working parents "spoil" their children and children of sahm aren't "spoilt". But have to say I am meeting more and more children who have obviously never been told NO and are shocked when they first encounter rules.

Sorry, but I think this is true. I have noticed that far more children nowadays have innefectual parents who are almost ruled by their children, have no authority over them and pander to them. I don't notice any particular difference on the employed as well v not working in addition to childrearing front though. It seems across the board. Spoilt little beggers who are clearly used to saying jump and getting the question "how high?" Not everyone, of course, not even half, but a significant number. And it is only hurting the kids, who have problems as a result - in school, in relationships, in work....Learning that the entire universe does not, in fact, revolve around you and your needs is hard to learn when your parents work hard to give you the impression that it does.

I'm a working mum and was whilst my dd was growing up, I did feel guilty for working but my dd assures me she had a very happy childhood. Because I worked I used to ensure that all her time was quality time, regardless of whether I was skint or not we would go somewhere every Sat, whether on train, bus or foot, I would read her stories everynight. I didnt have the financial means to spoil her materially but I don't think I would have, had I been able to. Everyone comments how lovely and polite my dd is so glad I was able to instlll values although I wasn't at home.

I know a mum who bought her 2 boys sons a wii each because they wouldn't share.
I do think that with more disposable income children do get more materially but don't understand why values cannot be instilled.

yes agree FioFio, from the article " a mother who celebrated the fact she had been able to get her five-year-old to bed at 1am instead of his previous bedtime of 3am". Unbelievable.

Violent computer games really frighten me, some parents do not see them as problems.

It is interesting that if you took the material things out of the equation, these children would be described as neglected not spoilt. Funny how buying a tv for their bedroom and a playstation switches you from being a neglectful parent into one that spoils their children, as if the latter somehow was more palatable.

Failing to care for your child by ensuring that they get enough sleep, have a good variety of stimulating activities/experiences, eat healthy food regularly and get enough exercise, is neglect - no matter how many 'things' you throw into the equation.

I think the woth thing is a red herring - spoilt/neglected children exist in both scenarios.

here here soapbox

oh god this article is awful, and can sympathise with the teachers.
It does highlight how children shouldnt really be in formal learning aged just 4 though.

Although none of my children have been up til 3 am yet, ds1 has trouble sleeping, and sometimes cant sleep until midnight. His light goes out at 9, and I strongly discourage further getting up after that, but sometimes he just doesnt drop off.

And the Playstation pressure - I have been informed that I am solely responsible for my children being social outcasts, because they are the only ones in the school without some sort of handheld computer game. Furthermore, these games apparently contain valuable maths and german training, that will assure top marks in tests
I am holding firm at the moment.

It really is a constant battle.

soapbox - I was a bit puzzled by the word spoilt too. I assumed it meant spoilt by not being told No.

oh and by your definition ds1 is neglected, soapbox, because the au pair doesnt ensure that he gets enough stimulation and activity to sleep properly.
Unfortunately, I work full time, and there is nobody else. It is the lesser of 2 evils, the alternative being to stay at home on benefits, ensuring that my children eat healthily and go to football practise.

Agree with Soapbox!

I work too - and using childcare is no excuse - you need to get your au pair to do what you require.

Taking them to the park or out into the garden after school isn't asking a lot is it

how very rude and arrogant. There are 4 children. The au pair isnt a nanny, she doesnt get a nanny wages. She already has enough to fill her 6 hours.

Totally agree soapbox.

it is hardly rude nor arrogant to suggest that an au pair take children to the park or garden after school

If she is caring for the children as part of her duties then it is surely about what she does with them in that time rather than adding to the time she already spends looking after them.

Nighbynight I'm sure Soapbox can stick up for herself but I didnt take her post to be rude and arrogant, you were the one who said your au pair didnt give enough stimulation.

I agree Fio - stimulation isn't just about doing things with them, but making sure they have time to create their own fun, i.e. not slumped in front of the TV or playing games on a machine!