Genuine Concern or Lazy Mums?

estebanrey

estebanrey

estebanrey

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Just watching "Inside Out" for the South and they are doing a piece on the starting school age of children. In the UK it is set at 5 and they are comparing us to Europe where it is 7 or 8.

Anyway there are a lot of bleating Mumsnet types saying how unfair it is because their ickle 5 year olds are still "babies" to them and how they "deserve" more years of play before going to school.

Now the childless, cynical male part of me thinks this is less about a genuine concern for their children's' educational well being and more about them wanting a couple more years without having to go back to work so they can carry on doing that "tough" stay-at-home mum "job" and claiming extra tax credits.

Anyway, do they have a point or am I bang on the money?
 
estebanrey said:
Just watching "Inside Out" for the South and they are doing a piece on the starting school age of children. In the UK it is set at 5 and they are comparing us to Europe where it is 7 or 8.

Anyway there are a lot of bleating Mumsnet types saying how unfair it is because their ickle 5 year olds are still "babies" to them and how they "deserve" more years of play before going to school.

Now the childless, cynical male part of me thinks this is less about a genuine concern for their children's' educational well being and more about them wanting a couple more years without having to go back to work so they can carry on doing that "tough" stay-at-home mum "job" and claiming extra tax credits.

Anyway, do they have a point or am I bang on the mommy?
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Yes, yes you are ;).

In seriousness...uhh these are your standard moaning...females that deserve the tiniest bit of attention.
 
Your generalisations suck. In fact almost everything you say is layered with them.

Anyway, people are individuals. Not some conglomerate Jeremy Kyle plc.
 
You would think they'd be happy to send the kids off to school at 5 years of age. They could watch Jeremy Kyle and play Candy Crush with no interruptions.
 
It's not about playing, it's about not getting forced into formal education too young. Children on the continent don't start learning at 7 or 8, they learn young too it's just in a more appropriate setting. Is science at that age best done in a classroom or pond dipping at the beach? I'd argue the latter. They also don't have the obsession with examinations at such a young age either.
 
Burnsy2023 said:
It's not about playing, it's about not getting forced into formal education too young. Children on the continent don't start learning at 7 or 8, they learn young too it's just in a more appropriate setting. Is science at that age best done in a classroom or pond dipping at the beach? I'd argue the latter. They also don't have the obsession with examinations at such a young age either.
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Are you a middle-aged mother? :eek:
 
Most women who really need to work will have gone back before that age.

Those who have spent years living on benefits won't change their ways.

The women who most likely were polled are in a position where they are affluent enough not to have to worry, most likely with a partner providing for the whole family. So in that sense I can see why they might take that view. Its once the kids are then older they have to make a decision whether to be a stay at home Mum, or go back to working again. I'm sure most love the Mum part, but could quickly become boring at home.
 
There is some good science about starting school a little later, its much much fairer on later developers and those who tend towards introversion.
 
I think we start academic studies too early, too. The little ones need to learn crucial social skills more than phonics, in my opinion, the latter coming naturally with curiosity and everyday learning. All children are different, though. Some of my daughter's class mates have multiple tutors already - at FOUR. I'd radically reform the entire education system anyway!
 
Starting formal education at 4/5 is pretty early imo.
Theres children in the same year of my daughter who have 51week age difference, now when you consider that's a quarter of there life its a pretty big gap when your so young.
 
Biohazard said:
Your generalisations suck. In fact almost everything you say is layered with them.

Anyway, people are individuals. Not some conglomerate Jeremy Kyle plc.
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This.

Wasn't long before the benefits brigade turned up was it.

Some people would rather spend time with their kids rather then shove them onto someone else so they can carry on climbing the career ladder.
 
estebanrey said:
Harder work than being a parent
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Having done both, I would say that Uni and a desk job are easier but not as fun.

I think 4/5 is too young but we would need a radical reform in childcare, employment and education to raise the school starting age.
 
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