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Keeping you up to date on the progress of the Named Person scheme and the NO2NP campaign.
WHEN DID CYCLING BY AGE 4 BECOME A GOVERNMENT TARGET?
Posted 9 years ago
Kids aged four will be asked if they can ride a bike under the Government’s latest attempts to measure ‘wellbeing’.
Officials will use this question as a way to monitor if parents are bringing up their children in line with the Government’s ‘wellbeing indicators’. Named Persons must ensure that parents are meeting the state’s GIRFEC (Getting It Right For Every Child) targets.
But whatever you may think about cycling, why is it the business of the Government to enquire whether your four-year-old can ride a bike?
While many children may enjoy riding their bike, others will prefer swimming or football.
A NO2NP spokesman commented: “What if the child is a great swimmer but can’t ride a bike? Parenting approaches are as unique as a fingerprint, and they have to be, because every child is different.”
He said: “This kind of rigid, indicator-based assessment of parenting is typical of the Named Person scheme’s tickbox approach.”
Anne-Marie O’Leary of parenting website Netmums said: “Children do things when they are ready and there is no right age to be able to ride a bike.”
In defence, Cycling Scotland’s Keith Irving said: “Cycling is an essential life skill that all children should have the opportunity to learn and enjoy at school as well as at home.”
