Challenge of bad behaviour can be faced by listening to needs of children and families

What is happening to our children? Since the easing of Covid lockdowns, we have witnessed appalling behaviour from many of our young people. Not all by any means, but certainly a serious number.

The relationship between adults and teenagers has always been challenging. I remember being told off for playing my music too loud, shouting instead of talking, and generally doing things that seemed to annoy my parents.

When asked where I was going, my reply was usually short and uninformative: “Out!”

However, there were always local youth clubs and places where young people could socialise.

Recently, I’ve seen some frankly atrocious behaviour at the bus station in Union Square. The centre’s management have engaged extra security officers, as well as regular visits from police patrols.

Aggressive and disruptive conduct by teenagers and their complete disregard for other people is putting off many shoppers and visitors to the city centre.

Free bus travel, which was a good idea to help children access facilities in the city, appears to have been abused by some, in that it has attracted a core of undesirables displaying loutish behaviour.

I’ve seen teenagers vaping indoors and on buses, fighting among themselves, knocking over street furniture, shouting abuse at shoppers. And little is done to prevent it.

It seems ridiculous that a core of antisocial teenagers can be so disruptive to the rest of society. Why is it that the vast majority of young people are perfectly respectful to others, yet this minority, who lack any control, create havoc?

Such a lot of good, positive work is done in early-years and youth programmes which helps to develop children. Yet, the shocking behaviour faced by teachers in the classroom, who have no sanctions at their disposal, is rising.

Some educators face not only verbal abuse but physical violence while doing their jobs. You will find it difficult to encourage people to train for teaching if their workplace is potentially threatening.

The ingredients for a settled childhood include an adequate standard of living, a safe and warm home, nutritious food, the right clothes to wear, and an education system that develops kids to their full potential; all the things that the government and local councils should provide.

But what we have seen in recent years are continual cuts to those vital services our elected members should be providing.

The statements made before elections talked of raising the bar for every child. This mission has clearly failed.

Baby boxes and increased child payments are welcome, but that doesn’t get to the root of the problem.

We see a continued rise in poverty and poor mental health in young people, disabled children failing to get support they desperately require, young carers unsupported, centres of learning closed, swimming pools and leisure facilities shut down.

There is a complete failure to recognise that we need to fund those vital services, as well as practical facilities for young people.

When setting budgets, we should be investing in the needs of young people. We need to hear their voices, so the right help gets to the children and families who need it. Speak to any of them, and you will find the support they require is not available.

Prevarication and delay mean children’s rights have still not been enshrined in law in Scotland, despite a promise by the Scottish Government nearly two years ago.

The days of a TV watershed where programmes with harmful or distressing content were not shown until after 9pm, are long gone. This is not the world today.

Social media and internet viewing, with nearly 900 international TV stations, plus podcasts and more, are available to anyone with internet access.

The policing of that access is minimal and, even in family homes, parents are unaware of what their children may be seeing.

Regrettably, this is the scourge of social media; parents often wish they could still communicate with their children and be aware of what they are doing. The online world has a darker side and is addictive. Children now get bullied in their own homes, online.

Some of the content needs to be banned and withdrawn. So, for the sake of our children, people in power should stop talking about it and take positive action to criminalise harmful videos, images and more, so that they can be eradicated from the system.

In today’s world, where there are fewer manners, less respect, and a lack of tolerance towards other people, we should acknowledge that good, acceptable behaviour begins in the home, progresses at school, and is shared in our social lives and at work.

But our governments, at all levels, need to set the framework by listening and acting on the needs of children and their families.