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Children should be seen and heard

The old mantra that children should be seen and not heard may be consigned to the history books following a recent survey by BBC Magazines

Over 2,500 adults were asked for their views on children's behaviour: the majority of respondents felt that social skills involving sharing, interaction and expressing views were more valuable than having good table manners and not answering back.

The BBC Magazines survey found that 57 per cent of respondents believed the most important 'good manner' for children is 'saying please and thank you'. This was followed by 'understanding the importance of sharing' with 38 per cent.

'Playing in a group as well as playing on your own' and 'being respectful toward parents' tied for third place in the list of the most important basic manners for children today.

Perhaps surprisingly, only one in four adults believe that 'having good table manners' is important to a child's development and just 15 per cent agree that 'not answering back' is a vital 'good manner' for a young child to have.

When asked for examples of the 'worst manners' exhibited by children, 'being rude' was the top response, with 44 per cent, followed by every parent's worst nightmare, 'misbehaving in public', chosen by 37 per cent of respondents. 'Bullying' and 'throwing a tantrum' were other top picks in the 'worst manners' category.

When asked 'what makes young children most happy', 'active physical play' was the most popular response, chosen by 66 per cent of respondents. This was followed by 'bonding with parents' and 'playing with friends' with 63 per cent and 57 per cent respectively.

The survey was commissioned by BBC Magazines to mark the launch of Waybuloo Magazine, the pre-school title based on the new CBeebies programme and the first magazine to help children learn about feelings, understand emotions and their impact on the world around them.

Stephanie Cooper, specialist education advisor says: 'Grown-ups clearly value social skills involving sharing, interaction and expressing views as important to a child's development.

'Waybuloo Magazine reflects this by focusing on all the social and emotional aspects of learning, offering parents something that is fun and practical, which they can use to encourage really positive behaviour with their young children.'

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