CAN Parenting Vouchers - will they work?

So unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last few days, you will have heard all about Mr. Cameron & his plans to introduce parenting class vouchers, through the CAN Parent scheme.

Now I don’t know exactly where to start with this as there so many ideas running through my head!

I have to be honest though, the first thought that ran through my head was what a waste of money! It is estimated that the pilot scheme could cost £5 million when it launches in 3 different areas of the country – Middlesborough, Camden and north London. I think the reason for my initial reaction was what with the constant cuts to benefits and impending closures of Sure Start centre's, where is this money coming from? Surely, maintaining benefits and keeping the Sure Start centre's open would be a better use of resources? It just seems such a false economy to me, to stop one method of helping families to only start up a new scheme at more cost to the tax payer? I know the Sure Centre’s have been a bit hit & miss (my experience has only been positive & I found them a great resource when my boys were younger) but why have these amazing centre's with all the equipment, space and facilities to run these classes only to shut them at get outside organisations to run them? I just can’t quite get my head around it!

One of the outside organisations that will be running classes is the NCT. Now don’t get me wrong the NCT are an amazing resource & I have made many great friends through my contact with them, but let’s be realistic, the type of parents that need the help, in my humble opinion are not going to feel comfortable accessing classes through what is a predominately middle class establishment. I don’t think I am being snobby or controversial; I am just concerned that the families that need the help are well aware of the normal costs involved to join the NCT and even with the vouchers may feel intimidated about the other parents they may meet & that will just put them off.

This then takes me perfectly on to my next point & the more I am writing this the more I am tending to agree with Liz Fraser (you can read her full thoughts on the Daily Mail link below) who believes that this scheme is just a ‘sticking plaster’ for bigger societal problems. The families who really need this help are those that need support, jobs and confidence and classes which tell them what they are doing wrong and how to improve I don’t think will necessarily help. Going into a group setting to discuss what could be quite complex issues is not going to work for the majority, especially as the classes are voluntary. We all know it takes a brave step to acknowledge something is wrong and take the steps to fix it.

There are so many issues in our society today, the whole idea that helping parents with a few little classes will stop things like the riots happening, is again, in my humble opinion – bonkers! It is just throwing money at a problem, and we all know that never works. We need to step back and really look at what is going on within society and asking parents to pop into their local Boots and pick up some shiny vouchers I really do not think is not the solution!

The money going on this scheme which could run into hundreds of millions if Mr. Cameron gets his way and the scheme is rolled out nationwide I think could be much better spent, on things like flexible childcare to enable people to work & get back their self-respect and confidence, giving parents more help towards ever increasing childcare costs, youth programmes to help young people find work & give them the skills they so desperately need, the list goes on! All the stop & start and changing of policy is contributing to society’s issues as the left hand doesn’t know what the right is doing & just as one project is starting to make a difference it is stopped & a new one is created & all the hard work is undone.

I am not saying that anything positive won’t come from this scheme as there are always success stories, but I am yet to be convinced after reading many articles and watching news reports that this is the way forward!

So, what is your take on the whole thing? Would love to hear what you think!

The links below are to other articles/video clips that I have looked at before writing this blog post:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2143516/David-Camerons-100-parenting-class-Boots-vouchers-help-tackle-child-yobbery.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/9264712/Can-good-parenting-classes-ever-work.html

http://www.itv.com/news/story/2012-05-13/parenting-classes-vouchers-from-boots/

Summer Holiday Fun!

 The holidays are on their way, and we are all hopeful that all this rain is near an end and that sunshine is just around the next cloud.  It’s time to get out and play!  There are so many lovely day outs wherever you live from farm parks, to play barns to theme parks, but how about just spending some time in the garden or surrounding areas, instead of having to troop off in the car.  Here are some ideas to get you out and about!

• Hold an Olympics Sports Day.  You can run all sorts of events; an egg and spoon race, sack race, walking with a bean bag on their head, throwing the balls into a hoop, the list is endless.  Give out medals at the end for all participants (either the cheap ones you can buy at Tescos or some home-made ones made by you and your little ones with ribbons, shiny paper and pens.

• Do some gardening.  Buy some seeds, choose a patch in the garden, prepare the area, plant the seeds, put some plant markers next to them so you know what you’ve planted and water them.

• Go on a picnic.  Find a nice spot in the garden, pack up a lunch together, a blanket, a bat and ball and enjoy.  The great thing about a picnic at home is that you can pop back in doors for some ice lollies for pudding!

• Spend the day doing outdoor things.  Paint with water (when it dries you can repaint something new), make some leaf rubbing pictures with crayons, make mud pies and draw on paving slabs with chalk.

•  Build a Den.  Collect some sticks, old sheets and poles, and find a tree or just an area of the garden or patio with some tables and chairs to lay sheets over.  Depending on the age of your little ones will dictate how much you need to help.  Bring them out toasted marshmallows as a well-deserved treat once the den in built.

• Go on a treasure hunt – make a list of things to find such a leaves from specific trees (make sure you choose trees that are in your garden), a daisy, a dandelion etc.  Then send them off with their list and their crayon either in the garden or further afield with you trailing behind.  I usually finish the list with a chocolate coin and then plant a few along the way as we go.

• Go on a bug hunt.  Ask them to drawer a picture of any bugs they find and give them a name!

• Get out the sandpit.  Take off yoru shoes and socks, roll up your trousers and dig out the buckets.  Or if you’re feeling brave – let them bury your legs!

• Make a natural collage out of flowers, leaves and grass.  You can press them first under some heavy books and then glue them down to make pictures or cards.

• Play traditional games, hop-scotch, jacks, hula-hoop, skipping etc.

• Fly a kite.  If you have older children you could make the kite first. Google is full of sites telling you how.

• Get out the paddling pool.  Be sure to supervise younger children at all times.  (I know I’m ‘preaching to the converted’ but you I am a bit neurotic about these things!)

Summer and the holidays are a very special time for re-connecting to your children, instilling the values and behaviours that you deem important, and just simply enjoying the amazing little creatures that you have created.  So make memories and treasure every moment.  Enjoy!

Sally Hall is co-owner of Dorothy & Theodore (www.dorothyandtheodore.com).  For more ideas for the summer holidays (or to buy that sandpit!) check out www.dorothyandtheodore.com/blog.