Monic Joint, UK Family Bonding Advocate, Petitions Number 10 for Positive Parenting Plan

November 16, 2007 - Press Dispensary - With Ofsted research revealing that nearly half of all 10 to 15 year olds in England have tried alcohol, UK family bonding advocate Monic Joint is lobbying the Government to provide free information to help parents prepare for the pressures of family life.

The Ofsted survey, published on November 16, 2007, found that children as young as 10 are experimenting with drink and drugs, and highlighted children’s fears about bullying, exams and relationships. Monic Joint’s petition (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Parenting-Info) calls for a government sponsored manual and website to help educate every expectant family on positive parenting practices. This manual and website would enable access to much needed resources and would benefit all parents, especially those who may be especially vulnerable or at risk: those who are suffering financial hardship, teenage parents who feel uncomfortable mixing in mother toddler groups, those who are isolated due to post-natal depression or a traumatic birth, or those who come from dysfunctional, neglectful or abusive childhoods. Parents are now more than ever living far away from their extended family and they too can be struggling. A parenting manual or website that can be turned to at whatever hour of the day would help support all U.K. families, whatever their situation.

Monic Joint says: “ Parenting is not an exact science and babies don’t come with manuals . Whilst there is a profusion of pamphlets about pregnancy, guidance on parenting once a mother has given birth is all too often overlooked”.

TV shows parading truculent toddlers and out-of-control teens have become a regular fixture, with parents turning to self-styled childcare experts as a last resort. Monic Joint is calling instead for the Government to take the lead in helping Britain’s families have a happy, healthy and supported start to prevent problems later in life.

Monic Joint adds: “Rather than waiting for social services, schools and the police to pick up the pieces, proper parenting guidance would provide a safety net for vulnerable new mums and dads, and help build a culture of children turning to their families in times of need instead of drink and drugs.”

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Notes for editors
The survey, conducted by Ipsos Mori for Ofsted and the Department for Children, Schools and Families was carried out across 141 local authorities between April and June 2007.

Monic Joint is an entrepreneur, mother and former nanny turned family bonding advocate, and founder of parent and baby website Mummy Must Have (http://mummymusthave.co.uk). In addition to her recently published book ‘The Koala Carer Family Bonding’ Monic also writes for various pregnancy, parenting and baby magazines in the UK and Ireland, and has spoken about traumatic birth on GMTV, BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live.

For further information, please contact:
Ms Monic Joint, MummyMustHave.co.uk
Tel: 02380 271 109 / 0797 0727 077 / 078944 20461
Email:
Site: www.mummymusthave.co.uk