'Current education is damaging'
Aug 17 2006 By The Journal
"Toxic Childhood looks like good, common sense and it is great to see some research backing up the views I really believe in."
So says Lynn Huggins-Cooper, a 41-year-old former primary school teacher. The writer of numerous educational and children's books, Lynn has deliberately "downshifted" to provide a better life for her family.
She and husband Kevin, 42, a council officer, have three children and live on a remote Farmstead in County Durham. Alex 20, is studying acting at Newcastle College; Bethany, 17, is doing A-levels; Eleanor, seven, is home-educated.
Lynn says: "My attitude to food has always been it is best to grow it yourself. Everyone can grow some of their own food even if it is just pots on a windowsill or in the yard.
"Providing natural and whole foods are undoubtably going to give your children the best start.
"Communication is the most important thing. I know I annoy many people with this, but if you make the decision to have a child there should be someone around to look after that child.
"It doesn't matter if it's the mother or the father, but the child has to learn they are the most important thing in the parents' life. Children need to be given space to grow and develop their own imagination.
"But as parents get more afraid of the outside world they develop ways of controlling their children's spare time.
"With Eleanor I really try and encourage her to use her imagination. She's obsessed with fairies and goblins at the moment, so we've built a fairy grotto and now we're working on a clearing where the fairies might hang out. I've got a lovely place to do that, but you can do it anywhere. The purpose of education should be to make people into happier all-round people and I don't believe that is happening. I believe that in many ways, education currently is detrimental to children's health.
"Year Six pupils are getting depressed and worried about their SATs exams. It doesn't matter how much you tell them it is you being tested, not them, and the results don't matter, they don't believe you and neither do their parents. But I think the most important thing for children is being loved and adults spending time with them. It's no coincidence society is split into families, as they are ideal environments for children to grow up in.
"The idea of a toxic childhood is a very real one, but it is certainly possible to avoid it. It does involve an investment in our children - not in terms of money, in terms of time and attention - to help them grow up into happy and healthy adults."
