'slammers'

'slammers'

by: sally - 12-02-06 20:27

if you wish to read the article it can be found at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2036862,00.html

by: Steve Biddulph

Dear Sally

Steve Biddulph here -

thanks for your mention of my new book "Raising Babies, should under threes go to nursery?"

Could you expand a little on your comment about the governments intentions - a "economy friendly family" ?

Sincerely

'slammers' - 19-02-06 22:55

by: sally

Hi - I was very interested in your article.
Its a phrase I have heard before and it struck a chord. An economy friendly family is one that can work full-time. Pays its taxes, provides its own pension and earns enough to afford its own mortgage; pay all the bills and spend as much money as possible back into the system. If the government can provide somewhere for the children to reside while all this is going on - the economy will continue to tick.
These are not the signs of a government interested in the welfare of the child or family.
I live on the continent with a multicultural workforce around me and what a difference! My husband comes home for lunch - its expected! Even on a nightshift, he returns for an hour for dinner at the insistance of his Italian boss. Sunday is closed - its family time. If you phone a switchboard at 4.50pm wanting a detailed answer you'll be asked to call again tomorrow when there is more time because people go home at 5pm. If the government was working towards an economy friendly family surely it would be doing its upmost for families to spend MORE time with each other as a family, instead it seems we are now able to spend more time apart. The home is now a roof where people that are related sleep - at different times of the day!
A child can now spend upto 30% of its time away from their family...I'd love to reaserch a comparison to other countries and 20 years ago. What affect does this have on a child? What would be the maximum percentage away from the home recommended by experts?

'slammers' - 19-02-06 23:26

by: sally

Just to add further information - a typical school day of 6 hours a day is equivalent of 18%, a 40 hour working week is 24%. A preschool session of 3 hours a day is only 9%. And this isn't even including school holidays. The worst affected group (and if you consider attending a nursery as a babies equivalent of 'working')will be the youngest children in full time nursery care with only 4 weeks off a year! - If they were adults - they'd go on strike!

'slammers' - 22-02-06 20:43

by: spannahxxx

I work in anursery in west London. One of my parents is an author and last week she ran an article in the daily mail arguing against Steve Biddulph's view, her daughther has attended the nursery since her first birthday and she is thrilled with her development and social skills. She was telling me that he used to be an advocate of nurseries and really wanted to know what made him change his mind. Her article was printed, Mr Biddulph declined to take part.

'slammers' - 21-03-06 14:31

by: Sarahmum

Could I suggest that she would be equally impressed with her development and social skills if she was at home and attending toddler groups. Children develop very rapidly at this stage and it is a joy to see each moment when they do something new.
(We relocated so that I could stay at home, having put our son into nursery at 10 months after losing our childminder. At the time it was heart rending, but we got used to it and by the time he had 'settled' after 6 weeks I wondered if we were over-reacting to move. Now, after experiencing being at home caring for him, looking back on that time, remembering his behaviour as I peeped unnoticed through the doors before collecting him, the memory fills me with horror. I have nothing but admiration for the nursery staff, their passion for their work, the excellent way in which the baby room was kept and run etc, however, it wasn't home.)

'slammers' - 06-04-06 18:42

by: rohan

In Spain children finish school at 12.00 or 12.30 and most of them have lunch at home, spend some times with their family and go back to school for a couple of hours. Their siesta time is actually a time to rest, have a cup of coffee and a nice chat with relatives.
All children go to school at the age of 3 and I would say that their development, self-esteem and knowledge levels are as expected in normal children. Government does not help much as the British one although Spaniards values and family commitement are enviable.