The reason for this is parental attitudes. Parents need to be spending more quality time with their kids - not because it's a duty or something to be scheduled, but out of natural maternal/paternal instinct. The truth is that the majority of the population are so bogged down with work commitments (we work the longest hours in Europe) that we have forgotten how to simply care for and meet the emotional needs of our children. Kids need constant reminders that they are loved and cared for (don't know if it's the British reserve or what, but it's surprising the number of people who really do love their kids but forget to or don't know how to show it!) and this needs to be a tradition in which as much importance is placed as workplace traditions. Eating together, doing homework together, regular and deep conversations about their emotional lives, doing something SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CHILD which has no other gain for parents than spending time with their kids is absolutely crucial!

Sarah, Cheshire, England

The youth of today is bored. Everything has been handed to us on a plate, we ask for it we get it. We have no sense of want, motivation and achievement because there's no need. We want it, we get it. We achieve it, the media say "GCSEs are easy now". Every time we switch on the news were being looked down on, and it's tiring trying to fight it! Why do we do drugs? Maybe to escape the pressure from doing well, maybe because we're bored of drinking, or maybe because theres nothing better to do. We need passion and something to care about. If we hate something, we complain about it, not try and change it - that takes too much energy, and no one will take us seriously anyway, after all we're only teenagers. Despite my good intentions i get confused. I work hard in school, i understand politics, im passionate, but still, the drink and the drugs happen. It's not even peer pressure, it's just so acceptable, so why not. Society needs to open up and admit to its mistake and not be embarrassed.

emily, leeds,

I'm sorry to say that some of us are very critical about our children in the UK. Hand in hand with the £ value our kids are actually compared to the highest standard and are under pressure to catch - up therefore when they get to teenage, they rebel and do whatever they can & not listen to their parents and enjoy life for once. Stereotyping by their addresses. I think this is hugely unfair. My children are loved and i would hate to say that others kids are not. The only reason they develop their social values outside homelyness is because they usually are at nurseries and schools as soon as they are born. ( For the parents to cope with the social pressure - status wise, expensive clothes, wines, cars, house & etc).
If we carry on letting the schools and nurseries shape our future generation then i think that is how it looks. They are grown in groups, fed in groups ( sometimes it reminds me of the prison cafeteria) and each teacher can only do their best. They are only doing a job.?

Mel Fisher, Manchester, United Kingdom

I live and work in Spain and have seen the difference in how Spanish children are treated.
Spanish children are much loved. They accompany their parents to bars and restaurants without restriction.
On a Sunday after two oclock you can see families of maybe ten or twelve which includes grandparents, aunts, uncles and children all sitting down together. Families go on mass to the beach or to picnic areas and will spend all day together.
The last time I went to visit my family in the Uk my fourteen year old grandaughter was refused admission to a restaurant in a country hotel.
"Our client's come here because they don't want children running around everywhere." Said the manager when I asked for a good reason.
If British people can't socialise with their own and other people's children what hope is there that the government, which is made up of a cross section of these people, will value children and enjoy their company let alone provide the education that they need.

Patricia Dynes, Malaga, Spain

There are 4 of us in our house hold, me, I'm 38, my wife, k is 34 and our two sons J who is 6 and C who is 4. We have found where we organise ourselves and our lives to ensure we all meet up once a day around the meal table to find out what every one else has been up to, deal with bills that have come in, correspondance that needs attention, toys that need fixing (particularly the scalextric!) the overall stress level in the house falls. In our neighbourhood, everyone works hard for a living, children are off the streets mostly by sun down and crime levels are quite low. Grafitti might appear but these are dealt with swiftly by those responsible for keeping the town in reasonable shape. The Police respond quite quickly to should anything serious kick off and by and large in our close everyone looks out for everyone else. Quite old fashioned? We teach our little men to say, please, thankyou and to do as they are told. Children are precious, we only get one shot at it, make it count.

mark, worthing, West Sussex, England.

Children should be carred by their grandparents and other relatives, because they are the most suitable and reliable, therefore local councils should stop paying for seperate flats to pregnant women, but should only help in paying and moving into a bigger flat for the whole family (living with the future grand parents).
Also women under 25 should get no help at all in order to discourage furture generations from tenage pregnancies and from using the government as sugar daddy. Mentally healthy and happy children need educated parents with some life experience, qualifications and saved cash, just those should become parents who can prove first that they are capable of supporting themselves.

Emma, Preston,

Oh what a surprise the USA is close last! I thought we were the best at everything in our Neocon paradise ala Cheney-Rove, Inc.!

Spin, PA, USA,

I just thought I would take this opportunity to give Sarah a cheer! I completely agree and I am 13 so I kind of know what I am talking about as people my age are kind of to do with it. (surprise surprise) Just earlier today my dad, brother (18) and I were talking about how it is in a British child's nature to either completely act up, or if the authority is significant enough to just kind of lower themselves if you know what I mean. (by the way not being racist I am British myself)

Stewart Hird, Luton, England, UK

Once UK parents stop seeing their children as a burden and start sharing the beautiful things life has to offer and forget about looking cool and individualist, maybe then, children will feel loved and cherished.

UK parents NEED TO GROW UP FOR ONCE!!!

Silvia Cryan, Taunton, Somerset

I think surveys like these are pathetic. I agree with Catherine Homage from Cheltenham. There are only few films you can watch and there are too many hours in a day and too many days in a year. Why dont the local council set - up a local community sports centre, local library targeted for teen age learning where they can socialise after school hours with their mates.
It's sad to know that if teen agers dont grow -up to be couch potatoes, they are drug addicts,alcoholics or asbos? After all the council tax is rising every year - where are the local council spending the money - just emptying the rubbish?
Despatching local police is to sort anti -social behaviour is waste of money. Invest it in local halls for sports, events, parties,dance clubs & libraries for teen age actitvities after school!

Mel Fisher, Manchester,

When newspaper articles start with 'Oh my god, what do I do with my kids this holidays?' you know there's a problem. There's a problem with affordable childcare in the holidays - in France there are centres set up in schools, run by local authorities that working parents can send their kids to during the holidays. It costs around 25Eur per day including lunch.

There's a problem with attitude. Children are a burden, a nuisance and should be seen and not heard (preferably). Is it surprising that they act up, seeing as they are so unappreciated? Go into a restaurant with a child and there's a collective sharp intake of breath.

If kids are not considered as valuable members of society is it any wonder they are at war with society? Parents won't say 'no' and can't control them in a two-bed flat on the 26th floor of a crap block. No one wants them around, including their parents, so they make trouble.

Social attitudes need to change, as do parental ones. Do things with your kids, they won't bite!

Sarah Hague, Montpellier, France

I'm tired of hearing the government getting slated. The state of our nation is obvious, but complaining and blaming will get us nowhere - it merely deflects the focus from children. There comes a time when we, as a society of individuals, must take on the responsibility for the kids of the next generation. Stop disputing and start loving them in pratical ways - think about how we can bless today's kids. How about making friends with the kids in your neighbourhood? How about getting to know them as individuals, being interested in them, encouraging them them that they can be all that they're destined to be? How about getting some volunteers together and start a youth club where you live, a place that is safe where they can come and talk and have fun? YOU be that role model that they need. Just stop talking about it and DO something.

Cat Pienaar, Stockport,

i'm a teenager growing up in the uk today. im 15 and to be completely honest... it's a nightmare. speaking on behalf of the youth of today.. we feel neglected. what are we suposed to do? sit around and play with lego with our mates or go on the slide?

these are the facilities britain gives us today and they complain that we drink smoke and have sex all the time.. well what else are we ment to do? theres a massive pressure on us to grow up early as everyone thinks so little of us and are so intolerent of us. if you treated us all with some respect and stopped repressing us we would be way happier. there is also such a taboo about things that we're not ment to do...smoke drink sex. give us things to do, poole, football. just give us some freedom and responibility and maybe we can grow up into what you want us to be? there are so many constaints. believe me if you adults made things easier for us and let us make decisions and have a say in our lives we would behave!!

Catherine Homage, Cheltenham, England

As the UNICEF report says, education in the UK is not the problem at all. The curriculum and exam system are poor, but the schools and teachers are doing a better job (in the main) than in many other countries. I worked for 8 years in state schools in Japan, and believe me things are worse there!

Its out of school where the problem lies. The problem is simply that children don't have enough freedom, they cannot grow up properly. There is a child-intolerant culture in the UK. It's made worse by unaffordable family housing, poor planning (a lack of outdoor space to play in, not enough traffic calming), poorly-designed housing (over 50% of new houses fail to meet the government's own design guidelines) and underinvestment in pubilc faciliities such as swimming pools, leisure centres. Even if we can't change the intolerant nature of British culture, at least these urban planning and housing issues could be solved. I know I had a much better childhood in the 1970's than my own children are having now.

Richard Hollis, Stourbridge,

We have become a selfish society which undervalues children & parenting & overvalues the aquisition of money, status & material things.
The present benefits system does not value parenting, in fact parents are encouraged to return to work as soon as possible after childbirth. This results in instability in a child's formative years.
I believe a change in the benefits system to reward one parent to stay home until the youngest child is 4 or 5 would result in fewer "latch-key"kids & children feeling more valued.
We should also tax high earners, redistribute wealth, & not waste money on phoney wars or nuclear missiles.
Spend more money on broadening children's minds & making them feel more valued. Take the crazy exam pressure off them, particularly in primary schools. Encourage more leisure activities & sports.

Jane Pilgrim, Windermere, Cumbria

It is not just the present government that is to blame, it was the Conservative government that sold-off many of the schools playing fields for short term gain, thus depriving many kids of a way of working off some excess energy and learning about team work; a lack of suitable activities for youngsters is bound to cause problems, the blame for this must be shared by parents and government.
It strikes me that a wholly selfish attitude has developed, I, I, I - me, me, me - now, now, now, just help yourself, it is there for the taking, as advocated by Mrs Thatcher; there is a general lack of courtesy and consideration for others, people don't even see others around them.
I spend much time in Austria, here staff in shops always greet you politely and offer help; youngsters, even teenagers, say "hello"; when did you last get anything other than a grunt or load of abuse in Britain?
Respect for others must be enforced, teachers and parents must be empowered without threat of censure.

Simon Cubbage, Odiham,

Underinvestment in education in the 70-80s ? Two words: Margaret Thatcher.

Jude, london,

I have left the sinking ship. British society is totally bereft of any notion of duty. No one seems to have responsibilities, only rights. Handouts for all, housing for all, no one must fail. A country where conkers is banned, where the average male is scared to look at a child for fear of being branded a paedophile. A country where the risk of hospital acquired infection is almost incalculably high.

The UK treats its children worse than most countries in Europe, and treats its pensioners worse than any. Two thirds of people rely on State handouts for income. That leaves one third of the population to provide for the single mothers, teen thugs and the won´t works that infest Britain.

I am simply sickened by it.

Norman, Arboleas, Spain

I agree with the other Dutch commenter. Being together with the family is not seen as having a good time, it's seen as a burden.

One of the reason's why it may be seen as a burden is because many English children are impolite, loud and lack social skills, especiallly apparent in public places. It is not fun bringing your shouting child into a restaurant but hey, guess what, there is a solution. Start saying NO to the child.

Previous governments failed and this one is failing too. But the main responsibility lies with the parents. Not with the child, not with the school, not with the government.

Laura, Camberley,

maybe the European kids were good and told the unicef interviewers what they were told to by their mums and dads?

after all, the US and the UK kids gave us rock'n'roll, punk and hip hop - what have European kids ever done for us lately, apart from ski nicely?

so Anglo-Saxon kids like to drink, smoke and have sex, like pizzas, p diddy and Lemmy - shock horror - better that than Madeline.

please! must we assume that unicef's criteria of what is good and wholesome is universally agreed upon?

keithball, ruislip, uk

I agree whole heartedly with Mike in Spain. Well said!Someone with the guts and common sense to say what life is really like in Britain. I am just thankful I am not a teenager growing up in Britain today.

So what can be done? Well Instill a sense of Respect and consideration for others will do for starters! and i dont mean just from the kids. Some parents (not all i hope) dont respect others in authority and seem to show a lack of contempt and respect for teachers and the police and I think its disgraceful - what is this showing to our teenagers?

Dont blame the children - blame adults and our need to satisfy our own needs above anyone else. We the adults are to blame and cannot blame anyone but ourselves if our children mirror our ways and turn out just as selfish and inconsiderate as we are.

New labour......., dont get me started!

Debbie Austin, York, England

In many cases it is the parents who are a large part of the problem! If a child at 16 is not studying or doing a sport for the country then they should do National Service in the armed forces.

Caroline, London,

I believe a large part of the problem is that our society does not appear to value any child who does not aspire to go to university and take up a professional career. Far too many young people are stuck in an education system which is not fit for purpose as far as they are concerned. They have no need to stay in school after 16, nor would it benefit them, since post-16 education in this country is aimed exclusively at those who are going to university. So, they leave school at 16 feeling that they are complete failures - society, it seems to them, does not value them not any contribution they might make. No wonder that they become disaffected and disconnected from society.

Why do we not have an education system which values those who are not of an academic/professional persuasion? Why is there not a wealth of vocational training to which pride and accomplishment can be attached?

This has been the case for far too long and we are raising a lost generation because of it.

Chris, Cambridge,

My family has lived in Sweden for 2 of the last 4 years and I love the country. We moved back to UK partly because secondary schooling here is much better than in Sweden. In Sweden, as is commonly admitted, secondary education is in crisis and pupils are out of control. In one school (2,000 pupils) the cleaners went on strike, so disgusted they were by the behaviour of the pupils. The atmosphere in my children's (foundation) school here is immeasurably better.

What was the 'experts' view of secondary schools in Sweden? I would love to know.

Donald Pearson, Newport,

I live in Sweden and I think it is a bit more complicated than just saying mom(or dad) should be able to stay at home. In Sweden this is far more unusual than in the UK, thus both parents usually work, though with one parent often working part-time. When it comes to discipline and to give a little smack has been against the law for many decades, and strict discipline is without doubt far less OK in Sweden than in the UK. I think you have to be a bit more analytical about the thing than that. I´m not defending both parents working, I am definitely defending not to give your child a smack. I am merely saying, as living in the second best country for children that if you think these are solutions you might have to think twice. The nucleus family is a relatively new construction and is not the only (if one) answer to the problem. Conserning and responsible adults are one of the solutions, together with policies that don´t blame the children for their parents´ mistakes

Ola, Uppsala, Sweden

Blaming both parents working doesn't help. In Sweden and other countries scoring highly in all areas most of the children are brought up in families where both parents work...might be the problem is in attitude.

Danica, Oslo,

I do believe that these statistics dont always reflect the true picture, i believe some children may be spoiled and do not understand that there are hard times in life. So when them hard times come they get blown out of proportion. Whereas poorer nations i.e czech republic. The children are used to hard times and deal with it better. In regards to sex, drug abuse and so on. Look at the programs children are watching i.e Shameless. i Love the program, but i am able to distinguish between bad and good and react accordingly. At a young age, children will watch this and think its ok to behave in that manner. I Believe there is also a factor in the types of job and pay. Children now have to have an education/Qulification to get a job. Some children havent the mental capacity to do this and get very stressed at thought of not having enough money to have a "decent" life. My End Comment is, Dont Always Listen to Stats, they dont tell the full story!

Ian Clegg, Bolton, Lancs

I have never understood why people bother having children only to palm them out to nurseries or childminders. The argument that both parents have to work is just rubbish. Surely it is more important to be there for your child at all times, forget this "quality time" that is constantly preached at us, children need you to be there for them not only when very small but also before school and after school. We have brought up two children and ok we didn`t have holidays abroad and they didn`t have designer clothes and we didn`t have the latest model car to travel around in, but they did have Mom there when they needed her, not just for an hour of so called quality time. The result - two well adjusted happy people, one of whom is a mother herself who with her husband has made the decision for her to be a stay at home mom because she knows how good it was for me to be there for her, not like a lot of her friends who went home to a empty house and who envied my daughter greatly .

dee haywood, birmingham, UK

It is shocking that the 2, presumably, richest countries in the world are at the bottom of this list. Perhaps, working all hours under the sun is not the answer.
Also, a lot of children I know, from my children, eat their meals separated from the adult members of the family.
They also have all sorts of computers, gamestations, TVs and DS lites etc in their bedrooms. They never need come out to socially interact.
I say no more

C Banks, Andover, Hampshire, UK

but do children in those other countries have the right to be adopted by homosexual couples?

Cliff Pooley, Cheltenham,

Is it any wonder our children are unhappy and disaffected? We envy their youth and criticise their choices. We want them to act adult, yet treat them like children. They are unrepresented and ignored. If academically successful, we question the standards and collectively fail to praise. We suffocate their individualism, unless it conforms to our measures. Let’s hope they are more understanding of our needs in old age, than we are of them in their youth.

Tony Augusti, kingsteignton, devon

Virtually all adults are ignorant of basic human needs, or pay lip-service to, the UN Rights of the Child. Virtually all youngsters suffer neglect and abuse on a daily basis by adults and other children - they are unprotected, misguided and unprepared for a competitive, complex and fragmented society. All of us ought to be ashamed. Over eleven years ago, following Jamie Bulger's death, the report and proposals of the Commission on Children & Violence was ignored by Government. I fear that UNESCO's report will suffer the same result.

Ken Allcock, Malvern, England

I hope "Robert of Ipswich" is not coming to Australia where we registered the highest percentage of families where neither parent works and have amongst the highest adolescent sucide rates in the world. We not figure in the survey overall as all the relevant information was not available but, being a clone of "Society USA", results would most lilkely be on par!

B Thomas, Brisbane, Australia

If this report were an American conspiracy, it's likely they would have come out better than second worst.

Chris, Portland, OR, US

How can we blame the government for our own twisted priorites. We have no car, have never holidayed abroard, our kids don't go on £1000 school trips- we can't afford them. But our kids know they are loved
Early on when we had our children we decided Mum would not work, Mum is there when they return from school, Mum is there for school trips and school holidays. Ie. the kids are more important than material goods

Caz, Didcot, Oxon

We are indeed officially in The New World Order. This man-made system was validated by social Darwinism, whose racist, misogynist agenda ONLY supports the military industrial complex. Two milleniums in the making, this worldview is finally "coming home to roost". This philosophy forced upon most and quietly propped up by many, who under the illusion of superiority think themselves exempt, are having a rude awakening - it is now consuming the least "fittest" of this nation - the children. Remember, the war machine, by its deeds and experiements tells us "what need have you to care for the children if we will indeed be able to clone, genetically engineer and control them only in support of the military industrial complex - with your consent"-. As guilty bystanders it would behoove us to stop the pathalogical lies we daily tell to support this system and the liars in high places who are pushing this heinous agenda. Is this what we want? when do we say stop? "If not now, when?"

Maureen, London, UK

It appears to be all too easy to blame childrens 'unhappiness' on poverty. SOmething which we are clearly overlooking is the effect that the labour government has had on children, and not just children, but adults also during the years they have been in power.

Maggie Thatcher, and I was myself young when she was in power, managed to protect the people of the UK through ensuring we looked after ourselves, our families and our children, instead of looking after the world and its problems. That's not to say we shouldn't help those in need, but there needs to be a limitation set. Clearly our own are suffering more than most who are new-comers to our country.

Where is the fun in life when you have to be rich to go anywhere in the UK? When transport is so expensive, when housing and social security is unstable - how can people feel secure?

Justin, Bangkok, Thailand

Couldn't agree more with Mike spalding's comments. Political correctness and a total lack of basic structure and discipline in children's lives has caused the problems we see today. Children live an isolated life in their bedrooms doing whatever they want on the internet whenever they want and fail to gain social skills. Parents and teachers are unable to maintain any sense of discipline or structure. Most parents don't even know how to bring a child up in the modern world. Kids are unhappy becusae of this lack of structure and socialisation. Currently living in Australia where family means something!

Adrian , Sydney, Australia

Why must everyone blame a lack of funding?
It really is not, and never has been about a lack of money reaching children. It always has been about a serious lack of parenting. Children do not necessarily need all the material things we throw at them. Children need time with parents. We are too quick to throw them into child-care at a very young age whilst we all "pursue our careers". Our warped, overly-materialistic view means we shower our children with "stuff" instead of giving them what they really need, and I might point out - what most children had only a couple of generations ago - a normal, secure family life.
British family life has been deteriorating for a long time now, and we all know what happen when a society's family structures break down - ancient Rome anyone?!

Mark, Preston,

We live in a society where parenting skills are really being put to the test, often with negative results. There are many single mothers bringing up kids on their own and in many cases they are too young or lacking in life experience and knowledge to raise children adequately. In other cases, parents are often forced to both go out to work, often paying huge amounts for childcare, and after a stressful day at work probably do not approach the task of bringing up a child with much enthusiasm!
I believe that our society has progressed at the expense of core values.

Darren, London,

This is largely about relationships. How can children be expected to behave like adults when their parents are absent or themselves not acting as adults? The demise of the family tea table, the use of the microwave to prepare individual meals, the use of nurseries by middle class parents mortgaged to the hilt all contribute.
But the media are culpable, too, offering soap operas, dramas and films which feed on broken relationships as if this were the norm. It's about time some old-fashioned ideas like humility, forebearance, and charity were promoted; and the cults of materialism and individualism were laid to rest.
This damning report isn't so much about poverty as people - and the meltdown of society - since materially poorer nations appear higher in the table.
And why, was this news item tucked away on page 2, with more about new mobile 'phones and Robbie Williams and his addictions?

David, Rugby,

Ed from Bahrain, you seem to have overlooked the fact that the children who were 3 to 7 year olds when New Labour came to power, are now the 13 to 17 year olds.

Andrew, London,

I am not surprised at the results of the plight of children in the UK. It is as a direct result of the emasculation of parents, political correctness gone made, marginalization of fathers by the courts and an education system whre the teachers no longer have the power to control their students.

MP, Toronto, Canada

I think the point the study makes is very much valid, but, there are more happy teens out there than they realise. In some cases, the way a teenager feels can be the complete opposite to whay they really feel. Sometimes they may wish to appear like their friends so therefore imitate what they do.

Eilidh, Lanarkshire, Scotland

I'm sceptical about the report too, Mark Steele. But one thing is certain, the confusion of boundaries between state and parents (no smacking is a perfect example) has produced an ill-at-ease society, uncomfortable in its own skin (not that it could define what it looks like if asked). The state apparatus and the enormous dependent economy surrounding it must be rolled back - reduced NOT increased - and this iconoclastic report must be wake up call.
'Welfare state' is, I'm afraid, an oxymoron.

Tito, Cardiff, UK

And these "unhappy" children grow up to be...... "unhappy" adults.

Liberalism is slowly is sinking this country.

Emmigrate - anywhere - Now.

Alex Robbins, Southampton, Hants

I am not surprised by the findings and I suspect that even if some of the data goes back to 1999 and the current government has spent a lot of money on childrens' welfare this topic remains a difficult one in this country. Having had the chance to raise one one my children in Germany until school age and now raising a second one in England I can see big differences in the quality of care and the level up bringing of children. Here it costs a fortune because much of it is left to private providers who just see the profit. State provisions are -in comparison- poorly equipped, staffed and run. And parents are too often looking for easy solutions which has created a whole industry here that is just dealing with how to outsource parents' jobs. Just look at the birthday party industry. When have we stopped making birthday cakes ourselves instead of buying the rubbbish that is available from the supermarkets. We mistake paying for something with making an effort.

Puni, London,

Strange how old/unreconstructed Europe leads the way!

Look also at which countries are at the bottom. Time for the U.S.A and the U.K. to eat some humble pie. Bush/Blair are you listening?

Stuart Turner, Bristol,

I sense another attempt to tax me yet more using the favourite left-wing euphemism of more 'investment' in our future being needed.

John Tomlinson, Brentwood, UK

That's exactly the reason that, in about two months time, we will be out of the UK forever. The country stinks, everything gets covered up, the rich get richer, the poor get poorer all in the name of fairness.

Robert, Ipswich,

Our children will shape the future of this country. If the family or society cannot invest time and money in bringing up our own children, we will be increasing dependant on immigration to fill gaps in the skills needed by the workforce.

James Chan, London,

What children lack in Britain is the order of a disciplined upbringing. All the while they are allowed to adopt a Lord of the Flies approach, they will. Trouble is, many kids and young adults realise too late that throwing all the rules away is not good for society. And then they themselves become parents and haven't a clue what to do next.

We need to reassert discipline in this country. Make litigation illegal for any accident in school irrespective of cause; make any abuse accusations against teachers also illegal; trust teachers more; reintroduce the cane; reintroduce whole class teaching, good manners and respect whenever a teacher or prefect is present; have all 17-year-olds attend a 3-month "outward bound" citizenship training course. This will cost a lot, but the alternative is to watch while Britain becomes the pariah state of Europe.

Mike, Spalding, England

Imagine if we spent on our children's development what we spend on military hardware. We would have enough money for teachers; enough money to pay those mothers who want to stay at home with their children instead of leaving them with strangers; enough money to ensure every child ate plenty of fresh food and vegetables and had safe playgrounds and gardens to play in. Imagine.

Narguesse Stevens, Cambridge, UK

It's time to take the politics out of education and the health care system, all political parties are guilty of tinkering with both services according to political ideology rather than research based evidence and best practice. I have two teenage children and over the years have observed the standard of their education falling, the never ending pressure of homework and exams, the lack of youth provision for my children to meet with their friends in a social setting, their increasing reluntance and fear to meet with their friends in public spaces because of threat of violence from their peers, the huge difficulties they have experienced in obtaining Saturday jobs - essential for boosting their finances, self-esteem and work ethic, the growing prospect of increasing debt in their adulthood if they continue with their education. What future for our children in the UK - an ever increasing financial dependence on their parents until they are middle aged if we are lucky!

Ann, Richmond,

Why is there a tendency to blame everything on the government and expect it to have a fix for everything. While family poverty will always be a issue, you do not need lots of money to bring up well rounded children who are a credit to their families and their country. What you need is a strong family system that encourages hard work, discipline, education and similar "old fashioned" ideals. What you need is a society where the celebrities are positive role models for children, not the kinds who encourage the idea that you can be rich, successful but still essentially quite dumb. Its a mini social revolution we are talking about.

Rohit, Hertfordshire,

Stop blaming the government for everything. Parents these days are happy blaming everyone else but themselves. It's about time they started looking after their own kids.

Rob Jones, Birmingham, UK

Restore parental control not means tests and handouts and constant government interference, restore childhood,learn to play not just computer games but team participation and natural competition from a young age.Make education what it should be broad based competitive and interesting.Teach your children moral values with respect for both the family and others it would then be possible to have faith and respect in their own abilities.Britain does not need more forms of gambling this is money in the governments pocket not the family, as with youth alochol consumption ,teach your own children the facts of life which include sex as a loving relationship not just a form of escapism.Until governments stop interfering in the family and the up bringing of children in the UK low child esteem will continue as will parents inability to manage their family.Money is not the only answer.

Ann Craik, marmaris, Turkey

That's rich from an organisation that's fallen for American propaganda and wants to introduce male genital mutilation into Africa because of American studies purporting to show a small reduction in the chance of hiv transmission. How this affects children and babies, who are not at risk of HIV from sex is beyond me, all the (incomplete) studies were done on adult men who gave their informed consent. Why should UNICEF be about to attack children? It's disgraceful behaviour, and before commenting on "poverty" in developed countries they should look within their own organisation at what their own directors are encouraging. Male genital mutilation has been supposed to "cure" everything from paralysis to epilepsy and TB at some point; HIV is just the latest "disease du jour" the baby-cutters have latched onto, and the fact that they have fallen for American propaganda shows that the judgement of this organisation is, at the very least, entirely suspect.

Anne Hudson, Romford,

The reason British kids are unhappy is because of the astounding obsession in Britain (and increasingly in the US) with competitive examinations, rankings, and selection. The kids feel constantly judged and found wanting -- even those who come out relatively well in the near-pathological 'league tables' of performance consider themselves a failure if they don't get into Oxford or Cambridge. Labour, with its simple-minded focus on targets and measures has made life infinitely worse for children -- and indeed for their parents.

David, London, UK

You simply CANNOT blame Labour! The children born since they came to power are between zero and just 10, with an average age of around 5!!!

Ed, Bahrain,

The writing was on the wall on this one and has been for the past 15 years. Its no surprise that the US sits right next to the UK at 20 and 21 respectively for lack of concern for children and its all down to one thing, money. Unlike countries at the top of the survey who actually manage a balanced lifestyle rather than just preaching it as New Labour does, both the US & UK have a consumerism culture which requires both parents to work full time plus easy divorce and state handouts for single parents. Children in the UK fail to get discipline, love and attention but are fed the latest toys as a cheap substitute and this government actually promotes it. In response to this study, Labour Ministers came out with the same drivel 'it's an out of date survey' just like they did over the UK being 37th in the quality of life league table. No matter how this cake is cut, every aspect shows Britain with the highest teen drinking, drug taking, pregnancies and low esteem of 21 countries surveyed.

Mike, Denia, Spain

Most likely a large percentage of British children didn't understand the question!!!

11 yr olds were asked 'do you find your peers generally kind and helpful'???

I suspect this is not a British problem, but simply lost in translation - I wonder whether the Portugese word for 'peer' is perhaps a little more accessible for the average child pre-secondary school?....

Cath Bloggs, London,

Parents and society at large are indeed failing their children. On the one hand parents are forcing their younger children to grow up too quickly (dressing them as adults, forcing responsibilites for child care on to them, allowing them to watch adult t.v., teaching them how not to get pregnant instead of teaching them not to have sex before finding a committed partner, refusing to place sanctions on their behaviour etc etc). On the other hand society treats teenagers as children (forcing them out of public houses when they are not 18 (even when they can be married at 16) and on to street corners, making night clubs 'over 21's only' etc etc.) How can an adolescent gain the respect of adult society if he is not encouraged into social environments where he/she can acquire its respect? Children love routine and discipline. Adolescents crave to be treated like adults. It's not rocket science and the Government could go a long way by choosing policies which both reinforce the family unit and treat youn men and women as adults.

Liam, Bristol, UK

Any coincidence that the period for affecting our children's well being was under a Tory Government who championed the selfish society - and forced parents to care more about their own wealth than anothing else?

Jon Jones, London,

Sir,
It will be unfair to blame the government alone for the failings to our children. As an Asian temporarily residing in the UK, I did not feel that the people here love their children, just tolerating them. I felt this after being in the UK for a month. There is so much individualism amongst adults. Life is hard, and many are so self-obsessed to care for anyone else. The life of the local celebs are too floral for description! There are no models for the children in the UK to grow up with. Many parents are not good models. Politicians are themselves confused on what is right and wrong. People in the UK, especially in London, are trying to survive, and live each day to their own advantage. Selfishness, consumerism and lack of morals, are the basis on child negligence in this country. If UK is still serious of being great as a nation, relationships must be built between parents and their kids, amongst adults and kids. It is the R Factor that is lacking. It will take a generation to correct!

Andrew C, London, UK

If they are Drinking, Smoking and having sex they
obviously are not children.
Maybe thats part of the problem, how we perceive them.
and what is expected of them. Low expectations = Low
performance.. When I was 14 or 15 I was expected to
start to act like an adult and take on adult responsiblities
to a small degree. Maybe in our "Enlightened Modern State"
we have robbed them of that sense of trust, respect and
purpose that we older ones had.

Don Mac, Isle of Arran, Scotland

Too many of today's headlines focus on the 'poverty' measures, which the report itself admits are inadequate and need greater refinement. To declare that anyone brought up below the national average income is in 'relative poverty' is clearly nonsense in an affluent society. It even compounds the problems of low aspiration, envy and low self-esteem in children that can damage the quality of their lives.

Bill Aldridge, London,

Ah, yes, more "sex education" from the same bureaucrats who have done such a wonderful job in all other areas of British life. Are these people completely bonkers or is it their insidious plan to completely destroy Britain? Instead of fostering those things that made British people civilized (family togetherness, Magna Carta, Christian morality), now we have "sex education" as the basis for happiness. Utterly pathetic.

Julie Mckinley, Austin,

What a really terrible inditement of policies since the 1960s. Crime rates are the highest in Europe. Binge drinking is "in". Promiscuity is permanently promoted as "liberal". Illiteracy rates are the lowest since the 1830s.
Divorce rates express a priority to individual sentiment, and not to children. No authority to teachers in class leaves students at the mercy of rowdies. At the root is a moral void, an inability to define right from wrong. Such voids attract ideologues--expect them to be coming.

Jonathan Story, Fontainebleau, France

Children are simply mirror images of their parents. I rest my case

Frank Greaney, Formby Liverpool, United Kingdom

Very few factors in the UK education system are oriented towards the needs of the child, compared with the Scandinavian education system. Primary school children do not respond to exams and very early teaching of literacy and numeracy. At this age the emphasis should be put on what stimulates the childs maturing brain. If we focus on what the child need, they will grow to strong individuals, that will be able to make the right decisions for themselves. I believe that a system that works towards pushing the young children too hard in the academic direction, minimises their chances to grow into fully grown individuals.

C. Uth, richmond, uk

I can hardly believe it has taken a Unicef report for us to come to terms with this fact.
Britain may well be one of the richest nations in the report, but are we spending the money in the right way? and what about the distribution of wealth within the country?

russell, Basel, Switzerland

It just shows that being an open and liberal country as the Netherlands, which is so often objected to, is not so bad after all. People are just more relaxed, open and liberal about things like smoking, drinking, sex and general lifestyle, for example then in the UK. Education and talking openly about those subjects help children to understand and deal with it in a sensible way. The Brits have a tendency to be emotionally suppressed, while the Dutch for example are much more free. It is also a culture thing.

Jacobine Scott-Koekendorp, Edinburgh, Scotland,

Too many issues to comment on all of them. One thing I would like to mention though that has struck me since I started living in this country (I came from the Netherlands 17 years ago). When parents in this country talk about having a good time, it often means without the children. For quite a few parents 'no children' appears to be the main thing about a good time. In the Netherlands a good time usually meant doing something nice together with the children.

Tim Temmink, London,

Surely our children are unhappy because we actually live in quite an unhappy country.
Children just pick up the stresses and negativity from generally unhappy adults.
We may be 'wealthier' but we sure aint happier.

Jon B, London, UK

Mr Steele ..... read the report a little more carefully; it is clear that most of the damage was done in the Tory and Thatcher years. Spending since 1999 has started to reverse the trend, but it will take time to destroy what might become, if we are not careful, a self-perpetuating cycle with a generation of parents (again born in the Thatcher years) who do not know how to parent and little or nothing of what in our culture it is desirable to pass on as opposed to what is not.

Ed , Bahrain,

In answer to the question from Alex "why cant we learn from the countries that appear to be getting it right"? This country is unable to learn anything from mere"foreigners" we are after all "GREAT BRITAIN" and superior in all things hence our superb health service,transport system,education system,diet,etc.,RULE BRITTANIA--GOD BLESS AMERICA

jerym eedy, CAERPHILLY, MID GLAM

Jimmy York is spot on -- he should have Tony's job insteaad of Gordon !!

John Towner, coventry,

The problem, as the report itself highlights, is not one of poverty, it is rather too much of the wrong things. Britons spend more money on indoor toys (like game stations) and junk food than other nations. Therefore the kids are eating badly and not taking enough exercise. Then reports come out saying kids are fat, unhealthy and have low self-esteem. Do we really need to ask why?

Gavin, Geneva, Switzerland

i feel that family life in the uk has broken down perants needing to work all hours to pay for the high cost of living, perants dont have any time for there children. there seems to be no respect with children, in the area were i live the kids are drinking alcohol at 11, i think the perants should play a bigger roll in risponsibilty for these kids,

nicky, sutton in ashfield, notts

I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride to make it easier.

Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be.

David Howell, Hampton Wick, Surrey

There seems to be a tendency to strip children of their childhood, with what we expect from them such as exams at such young ages and expecting them to be on a higher level of what is expected of a normal child of that age. A seven year old is not thinking about their career after university and so they should not!
We also have this over politically correct governement where in which discipline of children is frowned upon. My mother was quite strict with me and i recieved the occasional smack becuase i now know that you cannot negotiate with a three year old!
This is not obviously the only example, but we are not allowing children to live their childhood without ploughing into them the concerns and effects of adulthood!

Jenny, London, UK

Selfish greedy parents eh?

All governments, right or left, espouse the idea of a nuclear family. But then they tax it out of existence. I --- and more importantly our children --- are very lucky that my wife does not have to work --- I earn about 60k per year. Even on that salary, we can't live like kings, but we are comfortable. But if my wife and I were earning 30k each we would net hundreds more pounds per month. Why is that?

Other people are forced into the position where both parents have to work full or nearly full time just to make ends meet. And then they get criticised for not spending enough time with their kids. It only happens because governments say one thing and --- with their taxation heavy budgets --- do the other.

TMR, Stratford, UK

Re Cancer article. Not enough too slow. Many people still dying prematurely, treatments still barbaric. Survival rates for some cancers eg Lung/Ovarian have barely risen in 40 years.
Stop kidding us and campaign for more funding from Governments to try and make real progress that makes a difference.

Margaret Walker, Glasgow, Scotland

I have worked with Scandinavian and Dutch companies for 20 years. I have lived in Denmark and my middle child of three was born there. You cannot believe the shock when Dutch/Scandinavians meet British teenagers for the first time.

Compared to their northern European peers, British teenagers look malnourished, they are verbally incoherent and their social skills close to zero. They are more pre-disposed towards crime and teenage pregnancy because they no longer have the family and community support to show them a better way.

We've had two generations of a burgeoning underclass. Don't blame the Tories. Of the last 45 years, the two main parties have enjoyed an equal tenure of leadership. With labour in power for the last 10 years. If 10 years and a massive rise in public spending isn't long enough to make a difference, how long and how much money does labour want?

David Burdon, Ashford, United Kingdom

These problems cannot and should not be resolved by governments. They must be resolved by the people (parents, grandparents, teachers, priests in some cases, etc.).
The government have just to let the people resolve them. Making laws that do not permit, nor encourage, the maintainance of discipline and responsibility among children is not the right way. Letting them waste their time in schools where they are expected to study few and their committement is never substancially rewarded, nor their bad behaviour ever seriously chastised, is not, definitely, the right way; and it doesn't matter so much if then you spend millions to built wonderful sport facilities around such pseudo-schools.

Marco, Venice, Italy

The real gatekeepers for access to all of the things that would remedy the situation in respect of the measures on which we are found to be wanting are parents. No government action can be more effective than parents taking responsibility for the well-being of their children. Indeed, government action will in many cases continue the erosion of parental responsibility. It isn't the value that politicians place on children that creates their sense of well-being and worth, it is the value that their parents place on them and the values they instil.

A Basu, Leeds, UK

"Not only do they drink the most, smoke more and have more sex than their peers..."
Can anybody else spot what's wrong with this sentence?
Since when was having sex an indicator of misery, or indeed a bad thing at all?

Ted Chippington, B'ham,

Taking away a boys right to "MANHOOD" is a crime this government is gulty of. Bring boys up as men and not some kind of half woman and half male.

James Colton, norwich, Norfolk

I am afraid we follow America rather than our more compassionate European countries!
We have to start emulate France and Germany. WE are Europeans not Americans.
Moore redistrubition by tax from high earners to poor families with children is the way forward.
Think of school classes of 20 to 25 not moore pupils for a teacher to control.
We are the best in the world in many ways but when it comes to our children the goverment do not take tough measures e.g tax people on good incomes and give the money to families with children.

Peter Darlington, Southampton,

This has been totally predictable. Boring old f***ts like me having been called dinasors, to right wing etc when we said that wooly minded liberalism, the anti smacking lobby, the human rights lobby, the two working parent families lobby, that has introduced a generation of children raised by child minders that move on to being latch key kids.
Then onto school to an environment were teachers cannot discipline for fear guilt ridden working parents will hound them. On the way home from school they are left alone by adults and the police because soft laws prevent you from becoming involved in case you end up being charged. An industry of child councillors. welfare workers etc has been created to deal with what should be a quite simple problem. Full employment that pays a good living wage, less tax and let them be children without pressure.

Europeans mainly rent housing they are not consummed with home ownership. Mothers raise families. Government and business are the cause.

Jimmy, York, England

With regards to this report, I am sceptical.

The leading advisors are all UK academics who's previous papers are all strongly bent towards the study of the impoverished nature of British society. (Page 50, UNICEF report)

As such I would dispute purported international nature of this study, and instead argue that it's agenda is biased against the UK.

Mark Temple, Woking, UK

Since this government came into power, it has done all it can to remove any influence parents have over their children. They have devalued marriage by removing every tax incentive thereby creating more one parent families thn any other western country. They have removed by law, every method of discipline that schools and parents may have had. Children must not be indulged or listened to, they must be told what the boundries are, what the rules are and therein lies their security. They are not adults and do not have the experience or emotional maturity to make decisions, that's what adults are for to guide and protect them and two and much better than one.

C M Steele, Worcester,

How can a socialist gov taken us down this path.
They are meant to be the party of the people.
What is the role of gov.
Does any one know ?

rodney bentham-wood, london,

Why single out the kids? Aren't we all miserable? What does this country have to offer its citizens? Certainly not hope, a bright future, a promise of a brave new dawn. Instead we can expect more taxes, more intrusion into our lives, more rules, lower standards, increased pressure on resources and infrastructure, higher taxes, and falling standards of living.

To paraphrase Shakespeare, "Hope no more, McBlair has murdered hope!"

Ellyssa, London,

This report - and the comments - make no distinction between children and teeneagers. In law a teenager may be a child but there is a big difference between a six-year-old and a sixteen-year-old. Any report that ignores this is meaningless.

Bradshaw's dates indicate he is strong supporter of Blair,

Roger Tilbury, Worthing, UK

I would be interested to know what else is done differently in countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Finland with regards to wellbeing, as they often seem to come top of tables of this sort, and I think we could learn valuable lessons as a nation. Is it to do with government, or is it attitude, does anyone know?

Alex, Cannington, Somerset

Once again instead of realising factual evidence, the British Government react with an excuse, just like children themselves, until the day arrives when Britain manages to push aside blame culture and responsibility and actually do something about the underlying problem, this trend will continue.

In yesterday's news we were treated to tales of inadequacy within the civil courts, has nobody realised that this inadequacy is duplicated when the civil courts act within Family matters.

Once all elements of negative Britain are coupled together our future looks exceedingly bleak, at least we have the consolation that the problem doesn't really exist.

Dale Herrits, Hereford, England

Who is this Prof Bradshaw ?

Why does he put the tired old line about sex education in Dutch schools out. Why does he not look at the statistics that exist in this country e.g., the proportion of children who go to religious schools vis-a-vis secular schools who make up the teenage pregnancy rate ? Or for that matter any of the other negative statistics. Conclusion, schools with a strong ethos based on a faith (regardless of type) produce happier children.

The morae of society has been lost in the drive for political correctness and the latest definition of 'equality'. And the ones who suffer are as always, the weaker members of our society.

Ed Murray, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

You can understand why the UK children feel they are the worse off.
The UK media tells them it everyday.Unfortunately a large proportion have been brought up in nurseries so both parents can work.In tems of consumer goods we must come top of the lists our children have mobile phones,ipods,dvd players and watch lots of low life reality TV programmes like BIG BROTHER. Children do not eat with there parents instead consume enormous amount of take away junk food then litter up the streets with the packaging.
I am sorry to say most of the problem is lack of responcibility of selfish greedy parents.It is not a lack of taxpayers money going into education,health and family benefit.On the drugs issue our senior politicians like Cameron seems to be cool for taking drugs at Eton and TV commentaters ,stars and DJs do not set much of an example to our young either.No we must all take our share of responcibility and not just blame the government.The finger points to a lack of correct parenting from a young age.

Bill Rees, Truro, Cornwall

This is a trend which stems from a Victorian mindset about the role of childhood. No child enjoys being a child; they see childhood as a journey to adulthood, as indeed it is.
Continental approaches to childhood, which allow the drinking of first little, and later more, wine with meals, include children in adult conversation, and allow flexible approaches to the parameters of a child's life in order to facilitate socially "improving" activities allow children to regard themselves with as people with dignity making real progress on the road to adulthood.
Britain, still operating on the Victorian principle that children are a cross between a burden to be minimised and a treasure to be protected and isolated, does not have this. Instead children are forced to seek dignity in the eyes of their peers, leading to cycles of anti-social behaviour, and experiment for the first time in the pleasures of adulthood with no adult guidance.

Tom Foster, London, UK

What do you expect! After years of this government devauling marriage and the family, the whole of our society is now reaping the benefit. Mr Blaire's team have succeeded distroying the fundemental core of any nation the 2 parent family, with its extended structures and support for the young.

B Walles, Liverpool,

Britain is a picture of neglect in many aspects, not only on child welfare.

It could and it should be far better.

Fabio C, London, UK

Mc Chavs, political correctness, no direction, no decisions, over worked or no work, money money money, cant get a house. Is it any wonder that our children feel worthless.

bruce, bournemouth, uk