Working women 'damaging children'

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More mothers of babies under 12 months old now work than do not and their children are being looked after in childcare rather than by their parents, the report notes.

These two major changes in society have altered the face of childhood and family life in Britain, according to A Good Childhood, produced for The Children's Society.

The report states that "compared with a century ago two changes stand out. First most women now work outside the home and have careers as well as being mothers.

"In Britain 70% of mothers of 9-12 month old babies now do some paid work. This compares with only 25% 25 years ago - a massive change in our way of life. Their children are cared for by someone other than their parents.

"The second change is the rise in family break-up. Women's new economic independence contributes to this rise: it has made women much less dependant on their male partners as has the advent of the welfare state.

"As a result of family break-up a third of our 16-year-olds now live apart from their biological father."

And the outlook for children whose parents do split up is bleak, according to the report.

"From over 90 studies we know that an average of 50% more children with separated parents have problems than those whose parents have not separated. This is true of a wide range of outcomes."

In addition, following a break-up children and at least one parent - often the mother - find themselves in poverty, it claims, although it recognises not all problems facing modern children are caused purely by the family environment.