Kids bear the brunt

EVEN before they learn to speak children can tell right from wrong and have a sense of justice.

A fascinating study shows toddlers as young as 16 months expect those in charge to step in if somebody breaks the rules and are dismayed if they fail to act.

Researchers studying the nature of human morality used puppets to test their reactions. A nice teddy and a naughty teddy were given equal numbers of toys by a “leader bear”.

The naughty teddy then stole all the toys and the children’s reactions were monitored. If the leader bear did nothing the toddlers kept staring at the scene expectantly.

But if he returned the nice teddy’s toys they looked away, satisfied because he had done exactly what they expected.

Experts believe we evolved this notion of hierarchy because our ancestors had to work together to survive. So even as kids we expect those in authority to act on injustice, right wrongs and punish people responsible.

Those toddlers and their teddies kept coming to mind this week as a series of reports proved how our own leaders are taking from, and failing children.

More than four million British kids are living in poverty – an average of nine in a school class of 30 – because of austeritydriven cuts to welfare, low pay and high rents. Record numbers are facing school holiday hunger and relying on charity programmes.

Cuts to school funding means children from the poorest households are still doing worse in the classroom.

Disadvantaged five-year-olds arrive in class years behind richer peers and those doing GCSES are still trailing by 18 months.

And since it was introduced in 2017, ex-chancellor George Osborne’s two-child benefits cap has left 600,000 kids suffering as their family finances have been slashed.

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