The article written by Marie Woolf addresses the general idea that children that are brought up in homes that are seen as 'broken' for example, separated parents, absent parents etc tend to have more damaged brains leading to them then being incapable of being able to develop their brain and mental capabilities. The main point that is raised is that children from dysfunctional families are joining school at the age of 3-4 having the mental capability of a 1 year old. The tory leader (Duncan Smith) puts this down to strain the breakdown of the family puts on the child and the great distress it causes them. To some extent, I do agree with this argument that has been raised as the breakdown of a family can leave the family In great devastation and lead the child to under develop because without the two parents there for maximum support it is often common that the child does suffer. However, I think its a sweeping statement to make to put a stamp on the reason for children's mental ages decreasing being down to 'dysfunctional' families. As time is going on, technology is becoming huge parts of every child's life and children are no longer using their muscles as they used to, as they don't go outside, they instead sit on a device all day, not engaging their brains in any other form of activities. Children are becoming much more dependent on technology and much more lazy.
Its also important to note that family type is very different to family dysfunction. The way in which children are nurtured varies all across the world and this could have an impact on the way they then bring up their child and how their child develops mentally. Different cultures allow their children much more freedom than others which means from a young age they are used to having to fend for themselves naturally giving them better cognitive development. With the onset of the nanny state, this country is attempting to address the problem by introducing the 2 year provision and nursery vouchers for 3 year olds. Where this could be a great help for working families to afford good childcare, it appears to be aimed at families on benefits. It is not tackling the poor parenting from predominantly young families who have had very little or no education themselves. This is what Norman Glass tried to achieve with the introduction of sure start in 1997. With this in mind, this is what makes me believe that 'broken homes' isn't the most important factor and that as a whole, the most important factor to children's developing both physically and mentally is the technological side of things and how we are no longer thinking for ourselves anymore.
