However, a new angle on the subject makes Dr Maggie Mamen's highlyreadable book noteworthy. She raises awareness of an issue that hassignificance for both parents and professionals today. Throughover-indulgent child rearing, "symptoms" are presenting in children thatmimic genuine behavioural, emotional and psychiatric disorders.
She argues this can lead to an inaccurate perception of a child'sproblems by parents and a real danger of misdiagnoses byprofessionals.
Robert Burden, professor of applied educational psychology at ExeterUniversity, concurs with Dr Mamen that parents are quick to pounce onsuch diagnoses as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, depression,anxiety or even a learning difficulty when, in fact, the root ischild-centred parenting run amok.
Pampered Child Syndrome, according to Mamen, affects all socio-economicgroups. It affects any child whose parents are reluctant to exerciseauthority or impose boundaries for fear of damaging self-esteem, takingaway choice or making their child unhappy. She illustrates this withexamples from a range of family situations.
Mamen shows how children provided with a high level of service,protected from discomfort, embarrassment and unhappiness are deprived ofthe opportunity to manage disappointment, frustration and takeresponsibility for their actions. They fail to see their effect onothers or feel guilt or remorse. These children grow unhappy, anxiousand aggressive.
Refreshingly, she dares to say, whatever happened to "No" and "Because Isaid so"? With its sections on how to recognise, manage and avoid thesyndrome, the book is a practical resource for parents, teachers, healthand social care professionals.
- Reviewed by Sue Schraer MA (Education), who is a school governor andlecturer at Barnet College on access to primary teaching
The Pampered Child SyndromeBy Maggie MamenJessica Kingsley PublishersISBN 1-84310-4075152pp12.99
