You don't have to be a parent to realise that we now have an entire generation of kids who are perfectly capable of sending naked pictures to each other, but can't cope with the slightest bit of criticism.

This, obviously, is the fault of those parents who seem to project their own insecurities onto their brats and, as a result, we're raising more pampered, emotionally incontinent nerdlings than ever before.

The news that kids in Britain are now unhappier than ever before should come as no surprise because the Brits, like ourselves, are obsessed with protecting children's feelings in a way that simply doesn't happen in Europe.

Nobody is suggesting that kids are only good for being sent up chimneys (although their tiny fingers are perfect for getting those hard-to-reach bits of soot) but I was rather amused by one English parenting 'expert', Sue Atkins, who appeared on the news to suggest that parents should: "Fill their child's bucket of self-esteem to the brim" to protect them against the scourge of being miserable.

Being miserable, of course is part of growing up, but when you fill a child's bucket of self-esteem (what language do these people speak?) to the brim, all you're doing is ensuring that they will be utterly incapable of accepting any rejection without having a nervous breakdown.

Here's some advice for free, and I'm not even an expert - your kid ain't that special, and neither are you.

It's what you do, not who you are that makes you special, and by raising weaklings you're only breeding mediocrity.

(I'm available for children's parties, by the way. Usual terms and conditions apply)

Indo Review