Report to the People
Parental Choice
School holidays certainly limit parental choice. Instead of packing the little darlings off to school every morning, parents are forced to seek alternative childcare arrangements. (And, as a grandparent I know only to well what this means.) Not only that. To prevent wails of boredom, extra money has to be found for trips to the Waterfront, the pictures and Happy Meals.
But such trials are nothing compared to some of the stresses of exercising parental choice.
The range of decisions today's parents are required to make on behalf of their child can be bewildering. And the pressure to make the right choice is intense.
Should your child go to nursery or playgroup? If so, when, where and for how long? What school would be best? What should you tell them about drugs?
In the past it was far easier. An extended family living nearby could offer advice on any important decision. Of course the only problem was that you had precious few to take. To people of my parents' generation, choosing a school or where to live would have been laughable.
But now, when our families are smaller and spread throughout every corner of the country (if not the world), we have more choice than ever.
Thankfully, though, help is at hand.
The National Grid for Learning has launched Parent Zone - a new website packed full of useful advice and information on the challenges facing parents, guardians and others responsible for school aged children.
When you're next online, whether at home, work, school, your community centre or library, you might want to take a couple of minutes to have a quick look around. The site offers guidance on not only beginning school, but on what and how your child will be taught. There is advice on health issues - from immunisation to drug and alcohol abuse. It also sets out what to do if your child is bullied; has a guide to child safety on the Internet; lists contact details for a wide range of organisations designed to help with the problems parents experience; and much, much more.
This is not, of course, a substitute for family and friends. And I'm afraid it will still be down to you to take the final decision on what course of action is best.
But at least it will be an informed decision.
ParentZone is available online at http://www.ngflscotland.gov.uk/parentzone/ and inquiries can be made to parentzone@scotland.gsi.gov.uk (tel 0131 244 7594).
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