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| Modern life 'poisoning' childhood | Modern life 'poisoning' childhood |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Childhood creativity is being stifled by a combination of junk food, school targets and mass marketing, a group of authors and academics has claimed. | Childhood creativity is being stifled by a combination of junk food, school targets and mass marketing, a group of authors and academics has claimed. |
| Dozens of teachers joined children's authors and psychologists to write a letter to the Daily Telegraph. | Dozens of teachers joined children's authors and psychologists to write a letter to the Daily Telegraph. |
| The signatories highlighted "the escalating incidence of childhood depression" and demanded action. | The signatories highlighted "the escalating incidence of childhood depression" and demanded action. |
| Children's writers Philip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson, and scientist Baroness Greenfield signed the letter. | Children's writers Philip Pullman and Jacqueline Wilson, and scientist Baroness Greenfield signed the letter. |
| 'Academic straightjackets' | 'Academic straightjackets' |
| In their letter - entitled: Have we forgotten how to bring up our children? - lead signatory Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood and a former head teacher, claims the government has failed to understand how children develop. | In their letter - entitled: Have we forgotten how to bring up our children? - lead signatory Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood and a former head teacher, claims the government has failed to understand how children develop. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The national curriculum and a psychologically abusive education system have to be called to account Michael, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The national curriculum and a psychologically abusive education system have to be called to account Michael, UK Send us your comments |
| The group also includes former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo, child care expert, Dr Penelope Leach and environmentalist Sir Jonathan Porritt. | The group also includes former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo, child care expert, Dr Penelope Leach and environmentalist Sir Jonathan Porritt. |
| They warn that poor diet, restricting exercise, putting children in "academic straightjackets", and dressing them like "mini adults" will "restrict their creativity and enrichment". | They warn that poor diet, restricting exercise, putting children in "academic straightjackets", and dressing them like "mini adults" will "restrict their creativity and enrichment". |
| The end of their letter reads: "Our society rightly takes great pains to protect children from physical harm, but seems to have lost sight of their emotional and social needs. | The end of their letter reads: "Our society rightly takes great pains to protect children from physical harm, but seems to have lost sight of their emotional and social needs. |
| "However, it's now clear that the mental health of an unacceptable number of children is being unnecessarily compromised, and that this is almost certainly a key factor in the rise of substance abuse, violence and self-harm amongst our young people." | "However, it's now clear that the mental health of an unacceptable number of children is being unnecessarily compromised, and that this is almost certainly a key factor in the rise of substance abuse, violence and self-harm amongst our young people." |
| The childhood experienced by today's children is significantly different from that of previous generations Bob Reitemeier, Children's Society Is modern life ruining childhood? | |
| The group has also recommended a public debate be initiated on "child-rearing in the 21st Century", which should be "central to public policy-making" in the future. | The group has also recommended a public debate be initiated on "child-rearing in the 21st Century", which should be "central to public policy-making" in the future. |
| Bob Reitemeier, chief executive for The Children's Society, said that there was "fear and confusion surrounding childhood". | Bob Reitemeier, chief executive for The Children's Society, said that there was "fear and confusion surrounding childhood". |
| "The childhood experienced by today's children is significantly different from that of previous generations," he said. | "The childhood experienced by today's children is significantly different from that of previous generations," he said. |
| "Despite our wealth as a nation, the well-being of children in the UK is amongst the lowest in Europe. | "Despite our wealth as a nation, the well-being of children in the UK is amongst the lowest in Europe. |
| "Too many children in the UK are still experiencing poor childhoods." | "Too many children in the UK are still experiencing poor childhoods." |
| He said the charity was opening an independent inquiry into childhood which would inform future debate. | He said the charity was opening an independent inquiry into childhood which would inform future debate. |
| Patrick Holford, a psychologist and nutritionist, who heads the Food for the Brain Foundation, believes swift action is needed to help children. | Patrick Holford, a psychologist and nutritionist, who heads the Food for the Brain Foundation, believes swift action is needed to help children. |
| He said: "There is absolutely no question that there is a profound link between children, their poor performance and a poor diet." | He said: "There is absolutely no question that there is a profound link between children, their poor performance and a poor diet." |