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May 29, 2007
It Takes a Village
Parents of babies and toddlers will be expected to record their child's progress in new 'learning diaries' under a £9million Government scheme.You know, a lot of moms do this already. Only they put pictures and cute little stickers near the facts about their child's first year. Some suspiciously cult-like companies encourage this strange practice.They will be encouraged to log details of every activity attempted by their children, ranging from stacking play bricks to singing nursery rhymes.
The diaries will be scrutinised by childcare experts to check that parents are doing all they can to prevent their offspring falling behind.What? These people are aware, of course, that those 'milestones' trumpeted in childcare books are approximate, right?
And really...is there any group of "professionals" more annoying than childcare experts? Before my daughter was born, I skimmed a few books on the subject of raising kids. All of it was opinion or anecdote. Except "Babywise." That book was weapons-grade crazy.
I discovered an obvious truth a few hours into parenthood - babies don't always like what other people think they should like. The nurses at the hospital were fanatic about swaddling Natalie - they wrapped her until the blanket was about as tight as a sausage casing and then put her under a heat lamp like she was a fast-food burger. Yes, I'm aware that I made multiple food metaphors about my daughter - but it's appropriate if you've ever seen her eat.
Natalie had her own ideas about that, though, and spent a lot of time struggling to loosen the baby-blanket straightjacket. Even now, she doesn't like being held much and doesn't go for jackets, blankets or the constraints of the car seat or stroller.
It would be interesting to see what developmental milestones are used as benchmarks.
The scheme will be trialled by a sample of councils serving disadvantaged areas and could eventually be extended more widely. But the initiative, the latest in a series of interventions in the lives of the youngest children, is certain to provoke renewed claims of 'Nanny State' interference.The heck you say. Nanny state?
Noooo...
The article does go on to say that different areas of London will use varying methods to promote good parenting, but is it really the place of government to determine whether a parent sings enough nursery rhymes to their children?
Posted by slublog at May 29, 2007 08:29 PM
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Comments
It's a good thing no one's ever figured out how to weaponize crazy. This whole planet would be a glass parking lot with a healthy green glow.
Posted by: Hal at May 29, 2007 11:21 PM
Both Rachel and Emily are "behind" on physical development. So what? Rachel's "ahead" verbally, and Emily probably will be too. With all the pressure we get from our pediatrician, though, I'm glad all she can do is nag.
Posted by: mainiacjoe at May 30, 2007 07:29 AM