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thomas davison

Strong families make successful children, not the nanny state, says study as No10 launches baby guide
Research found children from broken homes did worse regardless of how much state support is given
International study singled out the British welfare state as an example of failure

By Steve Doughty, Social Affairs Correspondent
PUBLISHED: 16:29, 18 May 2012 | UPDATED: 00:36, 19 May 2012

The welfare state has little or no bearing on how children turn out, an international research project has found.
Strong families are the key to producing well adjusted and successful youngsters, it adds.
In fact, say the researchers, the children of married parents are likely to do better than those from broken or single-parent families � no matter how much state support the family is given.
The study singled out the British welfare state as an example of the failure of state support to make a difference to the lives and success of children.
Across the pond: The study said the influence of 'family structure' - whether a child has its two birth parents, or just one parent, or lives in with a step-parent - was more important in Britain than in America
The findings, published in the US in the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, come in the wake of David Cameron�s announcement of free parenting classes and relationship support sessions, and a �3.4million website which will give tips on every aspect of child rearing.
More...Married men and their traditional view of women are holding back equality in the office, claims study
Yes, it can seem a struggle... but parents are actually happier people, study says
No10 scheme will text and email parents with child-rearing tips from choosing baby names to changing nappies

The findings came in the wake of David Cameron's announcement of free parenting classes
Critics have called the spending a waste, saying that parents have always understood naturally how to bring up children and that a stable family is far more important to a child.
The study carried out by researchers at two American universities examined evidence from both Britain and the US � one with a large welfare state, one without � on how the lives of children progress between the ages of five and 13.
It said there were a number of risk factors common to both countries that increased the likelihood that a child would have behavioural problems.
Boys were more likely to have difficulties than girls, health problems led to other difficulties for children, and children of divorced parents faced a greater likelihood of trouble.
In Britain, the study said, the influence of �family structure� � whether a child has its two birth parents, or just one parent, or lives with a step-parent � was more important than in America.
Professor Toby Parcel of North Carolina State University said: �We found that stronger home environments � those that are intellectually stimulating, nurturing, and physically safe � decrease the likelihood of behaviour problems in both the US and Great Britain.�
�We wanted to see whether the role of parents was equally important in both societies because the argument has been made that more developed welfare states, such as Great Britain, can make the role of parents less important, by providing additional supports that can help compensate for situations where households have more limited resources.
�This study tells us that parents are important in households, regardless of the strength of the welfare state.�
The effect of having two married parents was more important in Britain, the study said. It also found that children from big families were more likely to have problems here.
The study found that family structure effects were more pronounced in Britain, where a child from a family with a single mother or multiple children was at a higher risk of having behavioural problems.
Broken homes: The study's authors said their findings revealed that parents are important in households, regardless of the strength of the welfare state (file idiot)
�Additionally, the more children in a British family, the greater the likelihood a child from that family had behavioural problems. These effects were absent in the US.�
The report, Children�s Behaviour Problems in the United States and Great Britain, adds to a large body of evidence which points to the importance of married parents and a stable family background in the upbringing of a child.
Mr Cameron�s own research into the happiness of individuals and families in Britain � being carried out by the Office for National Statistics at a cost to taxpayers of �2million a year � has found that marriage makes a difference to levels of life satisfaction.
A report on the happiness research last month said: �People who are married or in civil partnerships reported the highest average levels of life satisfaction, significantly higher than cohabiting couples.
�The lowest average rating was reported by people who are divorced or separated, including those who have dissolved civil partnerships.�

Well, would you believe that? They will be trying to tell us the Eiffel Tower is in Paris next and Buckingham Palace has a balcony. Many, many people could have told them this 50 years or more ago, but were told they were old fuddy duddies and ridiculed. Of course if you dare to say it now you will very likely be prosecuted by some obscure group citing some equally obscure section of Human Rights legislation.

2Anne · Joined: 04 May 2008 Posts: 399 Location: Norfolk

Its amusing that this study was done by Americans and how they pinpointed the fact that a load of welfare makes no difference. The UK being the prime example.
In fact as God has ordained the married man and woman with kids are the lynchpin of society and rear balanced and decent children.
The UK is awash with dross. Single parents who have serial partners and dozens of kids all on Mrs welfare. In fact in the UK the lower your personal standards the more cash you can collect.
I am sick of hearing how people of all ages expect the state to fund them in everything including their toilet paper!!
The UK is not just the sick man of Europe,its gone totally down the lavatory.