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BBC News:
Selfish adults 'damage childhood'

2 February 2009

The aggressive pursuit of personal success by adults is now the greatest threat to British children, a major independent report on childhood says.

It calls for a sea-change in social attitudes and policies to counter the damage done to children by society.

Family break-up, unprincipled advertising, too much competition in education and income inequality are mentioned as big contributing factors.

A panel of independent experts carried out the study over three years.

The report, called The Good Childhood Inquiry and commissioned by the Children's Society, concludes that children's lives in Britain have become "more difficult than in the past", adding that "more young people are anxious and troubled".

The inquiry's final report and recommendations, A Good Childhood, is written by Richard Layard and Judy Dunn and published by Penguin on 4th February 2009.

Listen to Lord Layard on the Today Programme (BBC Radio 4) on 2nd February 2009.

Related Publications
A Good Childhood: Searching for Values in a Competitive Age by Richard Layard. Details

Related Links
Richard Layard webpage
Wellbeing Programme webpage
The Children's Society - The Good Childhood Inquiry