I just received details of Barnado’s Children in Trouble campaign, based on a recent survey of British public, which suggests (among other things) that:

• Just under half (49%) of people believe that children are increasingly a danger to each other and adults
• 43% agree something has to be done to protect us from children
• 45% think that children are feral in the way they behave.

Details can be found here.

Some of the results are shocking, and show just how far the tabloid media have exaggerated the problems in the minds of the public. The campaign film is deliberately provocative (I’m sure it won’t be allowed on TV!), but Barnardos have a strong voice, and I welcome the initiative.

Of the responses from 393 young people:

• 44% said bad behaviour is encouraged when the media portrays their peers as misbehaving
• 84% said young people get into trouble because of boredom
• 88% said having more things to do and places to go might stop young people getting into trouble
• 32% would go to friends for help if they were in trouble.

The first point is a subtle influence, but I think it’s important. As a parents, I know that if I expect good behaviour of my child, he will generally oblige. But if you assume and expect the worst (and of course, they can tell, from a very early age), this is more likely to be the behaviour that will result. If parents’ and society’s expectations have this effect, it’s a huge shame that the tabloids have to exaggerate problems in order to sell papers.

We need to get some good news stories out there…

David