Standing up to Supernanny

There's little to disagree with in Jennie Bristow's central argument: parents are under pressure like never before with increasing amounts of often conflicting advice coming from all angles.

Bristow goes on to argue that parents should be allowed to get on with being parents with no interference. She seems to be against any form of parenting advice, from online forums such as Mumsnet to Sure Start, which she says is an "insidious and damaging" programme that should be scrapped. What's wrong with just letting parents get on with it? she asks. There's nothing wrong with children watching TV, or eating chocolate. She knows most children are "happy and healthy" because she sees them running around at school.

Well, yes. There's nothing wrong with eating chocolate sometimes. But if that is all the child is eating? There's nothing wrong with watching television. But if that is all the child is doing - and what they are watching is inappropriate? Bristow could have written a better book had she spent time with social workers and seen the devastating effect that bad parenting - and it does exist - can have.

This book is very readable and should be read by parenting and Sure Start workers because it is important to keep questioning what they are doing. But it did rile me in places, especially the way Bristow purports to speak for all parents. Not for me - I found parenting classes very useful and could have done with a bit more "interference" after the birth of my son, rather than just one visit from a health visitor.

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