But many fear that if they take a strict line, their children will rebel, she said. Parents do not want to risk a confrontation and so they let them do almost anything, believing that they are sensible and they will know what is right and wrong. Mrs Warrington told the conference that when she told parents they should not let their 13 and 14 year olds go to pubs and clubs and should not allow sleepovers during the week because it has a detrimental effect on school work, she thought the advice was unnecessary. The media has not helped the situation, she added. Television soap operas portray teenagers whose main topics of conversation are alcohol, drugs and sex.
Magazines encourage girls in their early teens to believe they are already young adults.
Mrs Warrington admitted that parents have a very difficult job, but warned against over-protection as it can hinder a child's development.