Article by Caroline Lucas for Barnardo’s ‘Children in trouble’ campaign

When young people behave in a way which has negative consequences for themselves or for others, it can often be symptomatic of a breakdown in their personal relationships, a crisis of self worth, or a loss of perspective on a situation. Some of the minority of children who commit crime (and it is a minority) have grown up in poverty, in households of few resources and low expectations. Some have themselves been victims of adult brutality or dysfunctional parenting, or suffer a lack of loving authority figures who can set clear and fair boundaries for how to behave.

To compound these difficult personal circumstances, we live in a violent culture. While there has always been violence in human life, technological advances mean our society is now saturated by images of it. Video games, horror movies, pornography all abound on the television and internet. Such images foster a sense of unreality and a feeling of detachment from other people, which can confuse children and adults alike when it comes to real relationships. And while most adults may have a more advanced capacity to process and disregard such imagery at will, children often need greater guidance.

There is also a particular aspect of 21st century youth culture that subscribes to a narrow and extremely volatile definition of masculinity - one founded on material wealth, misguided notions of power, protection of ‘territory’ and blatant misogyny. Its driving force is fear, and indeed, many young people talk about fear as a pervasive aspect of daily life.

While there is certainly a point at which children do need to take responsibility for themselves and their actions, adults must intervene to help them to do this. Children need guidance to enable them to make a successful transition into adulthood in a complex, demanding, ever changing world. Respect works both ways - adults cannot show indifference to, or even contempt of, their children, then demand respect in return.

Given the revolting tabloid attitudes to our youth, it is unsurprising that the ‘feral youth’ tag has stuck. Our children’s personalities are not created in a vacuum - they are the result of upbringing, of personal relationships and of their experiences in our society. So, what values are we teaching children through the mediums of our consumer society?

The idea that ‘buying stuff is good’ is peddled to our children ruthlessly. The constant expansion of the economy relies on us believing we can never have enough material possessions. As adults, we pass on to our children the idea that our purchases define us, give us status and make us fulfilled individuals. Our individualistic culture obsessed by wealth creation is the culprit behind the problems of greed, status anxiety, personal dissatisfaction, as well as social and environmental deterioration.

We need to demonstrate through our own actions that identity is not dependent on material status.  It serves both our own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the planet to challenge our deeply unsustainable economic system, which not only harms the natural world, but damages valuable human relationships.

Caroline Lucas is the Green MEP for the South East                                                                                                                                                      

For more information on the Barnardo’s campaign, please visit  https://twitter.com/barnardos. You can also view a Barnardo’s video at http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4a6EbfgzQfc.