Generation clueless

CHILDREN are starting school unable to talk properly, dress themselves or use the toilet (Mail). I blame this on the mobile phones stuck to mothers’ ears as they wheel pushchairs.

Cheap meals from burger bars eaten from a bag are to blame for a lack of table manners.

Unfortunately, parenting skills and cookery classes were long ago axed from the school curriculum.

I remember a teenager who came to my nursery school on day release. She picked up a doll, shoved it into a highchair and said: ‘Stay there, you b****y little nuisance.’

After I had taught her how to play with the children and read to them, l was able to recommend her for a childcare course.

Mrs M. J. BOUTELL, St Leonards-on-Sea, E. Sussex. PRE-SCHOOL children lack basic skills but I bet they can all play computer games.

PETER LILLIE, Tonbridge, Kent. NO WONDER pre-school children are falling behind. We live in a society where new mothers are bullied by

politicians into leaving their children with strangers and returning to work.

Years ago we raised our own children and taught them respect for others.

JEAN HARTLEY, colwyn Bay, n. Wales. NEW parents should have to attend classes to learn how to raise their children.

Perhaps volunteers could visit families in their own homes to help them with basic skills such as toilet training.

J. C. BYRNE, Harrow, Middx.