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Parents of babies to be given learning diaries

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AB Asks | 11:48 Wed 30th May 2007 | Body & Soul
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A new �9m Government scheme will see that parents are encouraged to log details of their children's learning development. Experts will then check the diaries to ensure that parents are doing their best to see that their children do not 'fall behind'. What do you think? Is this a great way to ensure that parents are encouraging their children to learn? Or this a waste of money that will set parents up to fail?
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what age group is this for? Babies are all different and learn things at different rates.

And who's to say that a parent wont lie about how developed their child is in fear of being labelled an unfit parent, thus meaning that some development problems may not be spotted by the professionals.

I think that things are OK as they are, with children having basic assessments every few months or year and the parents being able to contact a health visitor for advice at any time in between
I don't really see how you can monitor such a thing when we all have different learning styles and we all develop at different stages in our lives.

I'd rather the money was used to provide some form training to prepare you for parenthood and what steps you need to take to ensure your child is developing well. Maybe they could make provisions for childcare whist the parents are given time during maternity/paternity leave (if employed) to take part in a short course.

The reality is, they're spending �9m on an idea which has been running for many years - how many of us have written in a baby diary to mark down significant dates? ie. first rolled over, first tooth, first sat up, first word, first held toy etc etc.

I dont like the idea.

People have different ways of dealing with children and thier lives. Other than the obvious exceptions who have failed have parents we've coped for X amount of years without "diaries" so why would we need them now?

Seems likes another step in the direction of the UK Big Brother type future.
(should have read..) *other than the obvious exceptions who have failed AS parents...

And yes, �9m could be used much more effectively in areas the government are failing already. I suggest they correct the current ongoing issues with NHS, Midwives, Childcare etc rather than investing in something which is also likely to fail.
well if its like the recycling scheme the parents in my street will probably use the diarys as shopping list pads and scribble books for the kids.

they use the recycling boxes as toy boxes already
lol @ cazz(they use the recycling boxes as toy boxes already) what sort off street do you live in
Redcrx hit the nail on the head, babies are SO different at the rates at which they develop but by school age are more or less on a par.

Why worry parents that their child isn't developing properly when there are measures in school these days that pick up on most learning difficulites a lot earlier than they used to. They could be worried for nothing.

Plus public awareness is a lot greater these days.

An online friend of mine was concerned about her son's development and sought advice, it turns out he has autism. Most of the time this is not picked up until the age of 3, her son just under 2 when diagnosed. You don't need a set of targets - sometimes you just "know".

Why not put the money that this is taking into early years education?

Pre-school life should be a time of fun and learning - not with parents stressed out beacuse the kid next door is streaming ahead in its diary and therefore feeling a failure as a parent.
it was funny sleepy because they see nothing wrong with it!, I asked my neighbour with 5 kids could I borrow his recycling box while he was away (the boxes aint big enough) he said yeah , you can keep it cos my ex wife has four boxes she uses for keeping her cups and plates in! (she will let him have 2 for the kids toys)

the asbos across the road had a bar b que when the weather was nice, they used the plastics recycling box for the kids toys and the paper recycling box as a tray to keep the bread/baps n stuff in !!!

you would have to see it to believe it, I am one of the few families that bothers to recycle!
How will it work if the parents can't read and write lol
Parents who care will be aware and monitoring either formally or informally and will use their health visitor to support them anyway, parents who couldn't give a toss won't fill it in anyway, so who is going to benefit? A total waste of money!

They will end up with about 20% of the books pristinely completed by the anally retentive.

50% partially completed by parents who love their kids, but just don't have the time to log every time the wee one adds another brick to the tower.

and the other 30% will end up as landfill beside the empty macdonald wrappers, coke cans and sweetie wrappers.
When are the parents going to get the time to fill it in? And as reverandfunk says what about the parents who cant read and write?
nice in theory, but too easy to fake.

assuming you just tick boxes - people will tick the right ones

if you have to write, people will just write the right thing or copy someone else

anyone who cares enough to fill it in will care enough to ensure they are doing everything correctly, the sorts who aren't interested - the very people this is targetting - just wont bother...

a waste of time
Basically a load of old tosh and totally unworkable.

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