Charity Registration No. 221124

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3. Dominant trends. Fewer children Since 1881 the proportion of children contributing to the UK�s overall population has decreased from approximately 40% to an estimated 15% in 2011.Dominant trends. Fewer children Since 1881 the proportion of children contributing to the UK�s overall population has decreased from approximately 40% to an estimated 15% in 2011.

4. The shape of families that children are being born into is changing. The marriage rate has fallen consistently year on year since the 1970s whilst the numbers of children in single parent households and reconstituted families (step families) is increasing. Both of these trends in turn have an impact on household income From 1972-2005 the number of dependent children in single parent families has increased. The greatest increase has been among families consisting of one mother and one child.The shape of families that children are being born into is changing. The marriage rate has fallen consistently year on year since the 1970s whilst the numbers of children in single parent households and reconstituted families (step families) is increasing. Both of these trends in turn have an impact on household income From 1972-2005 the number of dependent children in single parent families has increased. The greatest increase has been among families consisting of one mother and one child.

5. If we look at how families are distributed across the housing stock, we see that the number of households occupied by one adult is now about the same as the number that contain children. If we look at how families are distributed across the housing stock, we see that the number of households occupied by one adult is now about the same as the number that contain children.

6. Much of the media coverage generated by the publication of the report suggested that The Children�s Society was being critical of single parent and step families. Actually what the report points to is the fact that the emerging pattern of family form means that children are more likely to live in poorer households and be exposed to the disadvantages related to relative-poverty. Whereas 50 years ago the proportion of children was roughly constant across income groups, the 2001 census shows that the majority of children are now located in poorer households. In 2006, 19% of births were to households were no adult was employed. There is evidence to suggest that families in the lowest two income deciles are three-times as likely to suffer multiple disadvantage (access to schools of choice, low educational attainment, amenities including outdoor space to play, poor housing, transport etc).Much of the media coverage generated by the publication of the report suggested that The Children�s Society was being critical of single parent and step families. Actually what the report points to is the fact that the emerging pattern of family form means that children are more likely to live in poorer households and be exposed to the disadvantages related to relative-poverty. Whereas 50 years ago the proportion of children was roughly constant across income groups, the 2001 census shows that the majority of children are now located in poorer households. In 2006, 19% of births were to households were no adult was employed. There is evidence to suggest that families in the lowest two income deciles are three-times as likely to suffer multiple disadvantage (access to schools of choice, low educational attainment, amenities including outdoor space to play, poor housing, transport etc).

7. A third related trend is the the increasing diversity of the UK population � related because of the numbers of children born to families in ethnic communities that are more likely to suffer from economic disadvantage. Whereas the fertility rate for white indigenous families is 1.7 children, the average completed family size (number of children in a family) for minority ethnic groups is higher � for Pakistanis, for example, the average is just over three and for Bangladeshis nearly 4. The effect of this on the child population is that in 2007 25% of births in the UK were to parents from overseas.A third related trend is the the increasing diversity of the UK population � related because of the numbers of children born to families in ethnic communities that are more likely to suffer from economic disadvantage. Whereas the fertility rate for white indigenous families is 1.7 children, the average completed family size (number of children in a family) for minority ethnic groups is higher � for Pakistanis, for example, the average is just over three and for Bangladeshis nearly 4. The effect of this on the child population is that in 2007 25% of births in the UK were to parents from overseas.

8. Much of the media coverage generated by the publication of the report suggested that The Children�s Society was being critical of single parent and step families. Actually what the report points to is the fact that the emerging pattern of family form means that children are more likely to live in poorer households and be exposed to the disadvantages related to relative-poverty. Whereas 50 years ago the proportion of children was roughly constant across income groups, the 2001 census shows that the majority of children are now located in poorer households. In 2006, 19% of births were to households were no adult was employed. There is evidence to suggest that families in the lowest two income deciles are three-times as likely to suffer multiple disadvantage (access to schools of choice, low educational attainment, amenities including outdoor space to play, poor housing, transport etc).Much of the media coverage generated by the publication of the report suggested that The Children�s Society was being critical of single parent and step families. Actually what the report points to is the fact that the emerging pattern of family form means that children are more likely to live in poorer households and be exposed to the disadvantages related to relative-poverty. Whereas 50 years ago the proportion of children was roughly constant across income groups, the 2001 census shows that the majority of children are now located in poorer households. In 2006, 19% of births were to households were no adult was employed. There is evidence to suggest that families in the lowest two income deciles are three-times as likely to suffer multiple disadvantage (access to schools of choice, low educational attainment, amenities including outdoor space to play, poor housing, transport etc).

16. -Love: unless children are loved they will not feel good about themselves and will find it difficult to love others -Relationship with fathers: A third of 16-year-olds now live apart from their biological fathers. -Working parents: Adults were asked whether �these days more and more parents have to put their career first, even if this affects their family life� and nearly half agreed. -Childcare: If children are put into group childcare before the age of eighteen months this has a negligible effect on their cognitive development. -Conflict between parents: 70% of teenagers agreed that �parents getting on well is one of the most important factors to raising happy children� -Love: unless children are loved they will not feel good about themselves and will find it difficult to love others -Relationship with fathers: A third of 16-year-olds now live apart from their biological fathers. -Working parents: Adults were asked whether �these days more and more parents have to put their career first, even if this affects their family life� and nearly half agreed. -Childcare: If children are put into group childcare before the age of eighteen months this has a negligible effect on their cognitive development. -Conflict between parents: 70% of teenagers agreed that �parents getting on well is one of the most important factors to raising happy children�

18. -Freedom to play: Only 17% of adults today think children should go out unsupervised before their 11th birthday but 39% of adults went out unsupervised before they were 11. -Space to play:Only one in four children aged 11 to 16 have access to a youth club. -The walk to school:in 1971 80% of children aged 7-8 years went to school on their own, but by 1990 this dropped to less than 10% -Bullying: About 12% of children aged 10-14 say that they have been bullied more than once or twice in the previous 6 months. -Teenage sex: In 1953 most men and women had their first full sexual intercourse at the age of 20 and 21 respectively. By 1998 most men and women had it at the age of 17 and 16 respectively.-Freedom to play: Only 17% of adults today think children should go out unsupervised before their 11th birthday but 39% of adults went out unsupervised before they were 11. -Space to play:Only one in four children aged 11 to 16 have access to a youth club. -The walk to school:in 1971 80% of children aged 7-8 years went to school on their own, but by 1990 this dropped to less than 10% -Bullying: About 12% of children aged 10-14 say that they have been bullied more than once or twice in the previous 6 months. -Teenage sex: In 1953 most men and women had their first full sexual intercourse at the age of 20 and 21 respectively. By 1998 most men and women had it at the age of 17 and 16 respectively.

20. -Leisure time and money. Consumer society: Each year in Britain children under 16 spend some �3 billion of their own money. -TV and Internet: On average children aged 8-15 spend 17 hours a week watching TV -Advertising: Nine out of ten adults agreed with the statement saying �advertising to children at Christmas puts pressure on parents to spend more than they really can afford� -On-screen violence:When television first arrived to a remote Canadian town in 1973, the children in the town became more aggressive. -Alcohol and drugs:Among young people aged 16 to 19, no less than 14% are alcohol-dependent -Obesity: 83% of obese children aged 10-14 will remain obese into adulthood -Leisure time and money. Consumer society: Each year in Britain children under 16 spend some �3 billion of their own money. -TV and Internet: On average children aged 8-15 spend 17 hours a week watching TV -Advertising: Nine out of ten adults agreed with the statement saying �advertising to children at Christmas puts pressure on parents to spend more than they really can afford� -On-screen violence:When television first arrived to a remote Canadian town in 1973, the children in the town became more aggressive. -Alcohol and drugs:Among young people aged 16 to 19, no less than 14% are alcohol-dependent -Obesity: 83% of obese children aged 10-14 will remain obese into adulthood

22. -Religious beliefs:For centuries values have been drawn from religious belief and from secular sources -Individualism: Most adults think that young people today are more selfish than the previous generation and it has been found that selfish people are typically unhappier than unselfish people. -Values in education: About one hour a week is given to life skills. This could be more effective, however, with better training and better-trained teachers. -Society�s responsibility: The involvement in social institutions helping society has not declined in Britain, unlike in the United States.-Religious beliefs:For centuries values have been drawn from religious belief and from secular sources -Individualism: Most adults think that young people today are more selfish than the previous generation and it has been found that selfish people are typically unhappier than unselfish people. -Values in education: About one hour a week is given to life skills. This could be more effective, however, with better training and better-trained teachers. -Society�s responsibility: The involvement in social institutions helping society has not declined in Britain, unlike in the United States.

24. -Children like school: Two-thirds of 10-year-olds say that most of the time they like going to school. -SATS tests/ League tables:there are questions on whether external testing and league tables are vital for raising educational achievement in England, as they are not used in some other European countries and have been abolished in Wales and Northern Ireland -Unequal outcomes: By 2006 only 28% of children in the most deprived quarter of schools reached five or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C including English and maths Social and emotional development: Need to make PSHE teaching a statutory requirement. Values: Schools should act as values-based communities, promoting mutual respect between students, staff and parents, working to agreed standards of behaviour and aspiration.-Children like school: Two-thirds of 10-year-olds say that most of the time they like going to school. -SATS tests/ League tables:there are questions on whether external testing and league tables are vital for raising educational achievement in England, as they are not used in some other European countries and have been abolished in Wales and Northern Ireland -Unequal outcomes: By 2006 only 28% of children in the most deprived quarter of schools reached five or more GCSE passes at grades A* to C including English and maths Social and emotional development: Need to make PSHE teaching a statutory requirement. Values: Schools should act as values-based communities, promoting mutual respect between students, staff and parents, working to agreed standards of behaviour and aspiration.

26. -Occurrence: One in ten of all 5 to 16-year-olds have clinically significant mental health difficulties -Connection to other problems: Living apart from one�s father increases the risk of difficulties by over 40%. The proportion of children with behavioural difficulties is at least 50% higher in families with single parents or step-parents than in families where both parents are still together. -Society�s response: Children with conduct disorders cost �63,000 more than those without difficulties (mainly due to their greater criminal behaviour). -Inadequate services: Currently only a quarter of children with mental health difficulties get any specialist help.-Occurrence: One in ten of all 5 to 16-year-olds have clinically significant mental health difficulties -Connection to other problems: Living apart from one�s father increases the risk of difficulties by over 40%. The proportion of children with behavioural difficulties is at least 50% higher in families with single parents or step-parents than in families where both parents are still together. -Society�s response: Children with conduct disorders cost �63,000 more than those without difficulties (mainly due to their greater criminal behaviour). -Inadequate services: Currently only a quarter of children with mental health difficulties get any specialist help.

28. -Definition: A person is defined as poor if they have below 60% of the typical (median) level of income. In Britain 22% of our children are living in this type of poverty, compared with, for example, Sweden at 8% and Denmark at 10%. -Income, aspiration and social mobility: In 1999 the Labour Government committed itself to halving child poverty by 2010 and abolishing it by 2020. By 2006-7 the child poverty rate had only been reduced to 22%, down from 26% in 1998-9 -Working parents: Britain still has the largest proportion of European households in which no parent is working -Children in care: There are 60,000 children and young people in England and Wales who are in care -Children in custody: nearly half of the children in custody were previously in care-Definition: A person is defined as poor if they have below 60% of the typical (median) level of income. In Britain 22% of our children are living in this type of poverty, compared with, for example, Sweden at 8% and Denmark at 10%. -Income, aspiration and social mobility: In 1999 the Labour Government committed itself to halving child poverty by 2010 and abolishing it by 2020. By 2006-7 the child poverty rate had only been reduced to 22%, down from 26% in 1998-9 -Working parents: Britain still has the largest proportion of European households in which no parent is working -Children in care: There are 60,000 children and young people in England and Wales who are in care -Children in custody: nearly half of the children in custody were previously in care

31. �Sources of wonder� might be music, dance, drama or painting� anything that takes you out of yourself and makes you thankful for what you have, rather than focussing on what you have not. A good childhood is about more than healthy eating or keeping physically fit. �Sources of wonder� might be music, dance, drama or painting� anything that takes you out of yourself and makes you thankful for what you have, rather than focussing on what you have not. A good childhood is about more than healthy eating or keeping physically fit.