Nanny Is Mother, Nanny Is Father

Nanny has decided to adopt a carrot and stick approach in her never ceasing battle to train our delinquent youth.

Nanny has decided to give teenagers smart cards, a neat way of tracking them, which will allow them to have discounts at cinemas and leisure centres in return for good behaviour.

Nanny's chum Beverley Hughes, the children's minister, said it was right to reward good behaviour while showing teenagers that they would lose out if they broke the law.

Children who do voluntary work will be able to earn extra credits for their cards, while those who get into trouble will have their cards deactivated and lose their credits.

Ooh Minister, that's very strict of you!

Why not just put the little toe rags in the stocks?

Hughes said:

"It is about celebrating when young people are doing well, as well as being able, through sanctions or not involving young people, to point to the fact that they have responsibilities as well as rights

and if they don't meet their responsibilities they jeopardise those rights."

Celebrating?

Surely it should be the norm for children to behave properly?

However, as with all of Nanny's schemes there is always a Nanny note of dissent.

Prof Al Aynsley-Green, the children's commissioner for England (what?), said:

"I am concerned that we recognise that the small minority who engage in anti-social behaviour are frequently those who come from the most disadvantaged backgrounds.

Withdrawing incentives such as opportunity cards must be the very last resort and should be used sparingly."

Poppy cock!

The lesson of consequences is vital if children are to develop and mature. Protecting them from consequences does them irreparable damage.

Anyhoo, these schemes are all well and good but Nanny is yet again trying to undermine the role of parents.

Children should be trained in the fine arts of good behaviour by their parents, not by the faceless bureaucracy of the Nanny state.