Where we are and where we will be

Where we are and where we will be
The idea of Edinburgh is a combination of place, soul and symbolic leadership of a nation

Sunday 3 February 2008

"Time with weans'... you canny buy that"

The Tory plan for nurses at home for all now babies has merit. Yup, I said it; a Tory plan that has merit. But its not merit for the detail , but the principle of invest in the earliest years at home, so that we can reap benefits as a nation in the later years.

The answer however, is something much more radical than the 6 days of support the Tory’s are suggesting, welcome a recognition of the potential of state influence as it is. The really radical investment would be in extending both maternity and paternity leave. Other countries are much more generous and I would argue for both parents being given up to a years leave which would be taken in sections, concurrently or consecutively until the child is two.

Those that argue that the economy wouldn’t cope miss the point. Happy parents who have had the space and time to bond well with their kids make happier employees. The key years in development are the first two and the more time parents have with their kids over that period the better the bond and so the child's development. Better balanced kids make better citizens and so we all benefit. It is an investment in the long term for all of us.

2 comments:

sage said...

Ok, remember, I'm cynical on many things... Would domestic violence rise if both parents were home for a solid year? When my daughter was small, we would have probably killed each other... But then, we both spent lots of quality time with here. Hope you are well.

Ewan said...

Sage

Good to hear from you.

The "danger" you refer to is why my idea would allow you to be at home for seperate times for 6 month blocks.. in theory at elast

Ewan

Surgery Times

1st Wed @ Piershill Library, 30 Piershill Terrace.
2nd Wed @ Craigentinny Community Centre, Loaning Rd.
3rd Wed @ Duddingston Primary School, Duddingston Rd.

All 7:15pm -7:45pm

and the last Sat. Lochend YWCA, 198 Restalrig Road South
12noon -1pm


(no appointment needed, all during school terms)
Printed and Published by Ewan Aitken on behalf of the Edinburgh Labour Party, 78 Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9NH