TONY Blair's hard-line approach to tackling unruly teenagers has created a damaging "blame culture" which stops families seeking help, a Government-funded report has warned.
Compulsory parenting classes and the threat of fines for failing to keep children under control have provoked resentment by making parents feel they are being judged.
The study said parents of teenagers needed help and advice - not public criticism - to prevent their children dropping out of school or becoming involved in drugs or criminal gangs.
Despite a range of Government initiatives, support for parents of teenage children is still "very sparse", according to the report, which was posted on the Department for Education and Skills website.
The warnings followed widespread concern over the rise of gang violence and the murder of three teenagers in London last month.
The 248-page report, Supporting Parents of Teenagers, said: "Parents are sometimes too embarrassed to seek help because they feel they should know how to parent by this stage of their child's life.
"Many parents of teenagers are reluctant to seek advice for fear of being judged or stigmatised.
"Some service providers felt that this was reinforced by some Government policies which were creating a culture of blame that discouraged parents from seeking help.
"Parents with teenagers are more likely to benefit from gentle support that improves their confidence, rather than policies that highlight their inadequacies.
"As one parent respondent remarked, 'I feel like they are blaming me all of the time and quite frankly, I've had enough of that'."
Ministers have introduced increasingly tough measures to get parents to take responsibility for their children's actions.
Respect agenda
The Prime Minister launched his high-profile "respect agenda" after the 2005 general election. He has championed the use of anti-social behaviour orders to tackle yobs and parenting classes for irresponsible parents.
Education Secretary Alan Johnson has warned parents of bullies that they face fines of £1,000 if they fail to curb their children's actions and parents of truanting children also face fines.
The study for the DfES was conducted by the London-based Policy Research Bureau.
The project involved a review of existing research and in-depth interviews with parents of teenagers and staff of support agencies offering parenting classes, therapy, and information.
The report said: "Support services for parents of teenagers are still very sparse.
"In particular, parents of teenagers from black and minority ethnic groups and parents of teenagers with learning problems such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) are not well-served."
It went on: "In many instances, parents had unsuccessfully sought support for preventative reasons and had subsequently needed more intensive support when problems with their teenagers' behaviour became serious."
But this intensive support was rarely available.
"Parents are often only referred for help when their teenager becomes involved in criminal or sub-criminal activities," the study said.
Statutory support groups are often "under-resourced" and the system is overloaded with "extremely severe cases", it said.
Under recent plans, ministers moved to impose compulsory parenting orders on parents even before their children are excluded from school for bad behaviour.
Under such orders, parents can be required to attend parenting classes or face prosecution.
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Who would you blame if a shepherd let his sheep run amok? The shepherd of course,The same goes for our children.If parents kept control of their children from a early age and instilled common sense and other social skills we wouldnt be in the mess we are.If parents are so helpful to their children why is it that when the children do wrongs the parents always say (not my child) its always somebody elses problems? PASS THE BUCK is easier than sort your childs problems out?
my partner has two teenage children. one of them has run amok to the point that he has physically hurt her, damaged her property and stolen from her. not once has she claimed its 'somebody elses problem', ace riley. and not once has she asked for help from anyone other than myself and her family. between us we have sorted out his behaviour and he is now a pleasant, well behaved young man. why did she not ask the government for help? because the government will likely slap her with a hefty fine if he doesn't attend school, give him an asbo and bring in the social workers to assess her capabilities as a parent. the end result? a confused teenager more alienated than he was to begin with. this story rings true for thousands of parents up and down the country. read the story before you post your ill-informed garbage in future, ace. and for heavens sake try to see things from someone elses perspective other than your own.
Parents who are trying their hardest & willing to cooperate deserve all the help & support they can get.
Sometimes it is beyond their control given the state of society in general today, but as long as they're willing they should be commended.
But the parents who refuse to take any responsibility or interest in their kids should be penalised. Fining low income families does not work, neither does threatening them with criminal proceedings. I propose community rehabilitaion in the form of community work carried out alongside their children, the same kind of deal young offenders get, but with the parents forced to join in. Parents need to see their kids as young people with a future. The kids need to see they CAN have a future outside of the crime ridden, dole dependant role they see as their future.
The behaviour of children is ALWAYS the responsibility of their parents. No excuses such as upbring, social conditions are acceptable. Adults who cannot (or will not control their breed) should be chemically prevented from having children at all.
Parents don't want to be blamed, Boo Hoo. You must be joking!! As parents YOU are supposed to instill the correct values in your kids when they are toddlers. A license is needed to own a dog but some of the most unqualified people insist on having kids. The acorn does not fall far from the tree. Look at the kids and you will see a reflection of the parents.Good or bad!!