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Labour MP Frank Field,  is working with the current government as the Poverty Tsar,  to find effective ways of ensuring that parents in the poverty trap with children under 5, have the knowledge and help to ensure these kids have a better start in life – The Independent Monday 16th August

No one can argue with this.  Good parenting skills ( or good enough parenting skills!) are essential to  try and ensure that ALL children are given the chance to grow up as well balanced individuals, who, although they may choose not to contribute to society, will hopefully not detract from it either.

Mr Field suggests that a GCSE in parenting might be an option and I’ve often wondered why parenting skills were not taught or discussed in schools as it is the most important role anyone, from any background, can take on, and when done badly can have the most devastating effect on the whole of society.  I’m not suggesting that parenting skills should be dictated, which is why I use the phrase ‘good enough parents’, and although what constitutes a ‘good’ parent is open to debate – it is quite easy to indicate bad parenting skills.

I’m also in favour of  the proposed ‘initiation ceremony’ – I think that’s an excellent move that all parents are told what is expected of them when they register for child benefits.

I would also suggest that parents of  kids who cause criminal damage  and embark on anti-social behaviour should be held responsible  and be subject to fines and property confiscation – it’s ridiculous that parents can be jailed for their child’s truancy, but not be held accountable for criminal behaviour. I’m certain that many parents would take a firmer stance with their children rather than lose their car or plasma TV !

Let’s start giving our children the choice and the tools to become better parents – and to start warning lazy parents that they need to tighten up or lose out!!

This applies to all sections of society – not just the poor!!