Happy new year! While the country has enjoyed the new year and summer break, we've been monitoring family issues. Here's a summary of the key ones. (please excuse the length of this update - we're making up for the last month!!)
 
In this issue....
1. Priority 2010 - Protect Children From Sexualisation and Abuse
2. Latest Smacking Research Shows Benefits
3. Time Out Targeted as Next Taboo of Parenting
4. Marriage is what matters most to family stability
5. Victims dad applauds three strikes law change
6. Crown to appeal decision that carer parents should be paid
7. Porn less immoral than piracy - survey 
8. Watching TV for hours could shorten your life - study
9. Grieving mother blames cancer vaccine
10. Suicide link to a lack of sleep
11. Scandalous show pulled from Christmas stage
12. New Research: Why Never Spanking Might Be Worse for Kids Than Spanking Them

1. Priority 2010 - Protect Children From Sexualisation and Abuse

Family First Media Release 31 December 2009
Family First NZ has released its annual list of the top family issues to be tackled, and heading the list for 2010 is the protection of children from ‘corporate pedophilia’ and reducing the ‘raunch culture’ which is harming the self-esteem, body image and academic performance of young people – especially young girls. “The recent marketing of sexualised shirts by Cotton On Kids to be worn by babies, the provocative Little Losers line targeted at young teenagers by clothing store Jay Jays, sexually charged billboard advertising in public places, and graphic sexual music videos, dolls, and tween magazines and websites which encourage young people to look older and act older are examples of marketers crossing the line of what is acceptable and appropriate for our communities and for the protection of our children,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
Also in the list is 
* establish a Royal Commission of Enquiry into the real causes of child abuse,
* a number of measures to recognise and respect the role of parents, including parental notification laws and amending the antismacking law to give parents certainty under the law.
* urgent establishment of an independent CYF Complaints Authority,
* and amending the prostitution law to protect communities and families from street prostitution and residential brothels.
“The current government is attempting to stay clear of anything that might suggest social engineering,” says Mr McCoskrie. “But there are a number of social issues which this government must tackle if they wish to be respected by parents trying to raise children in an increasingly difficult culture which undermines their efforts.”READ MORE
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

2. Latest Smacking Research Shows Benefits!
Family First Media Release 4 January 2010
Family First NZ is welcoming the latest research showing that light and reasonable smacking is beneficial to children in their development, and despite claims by government funded groups, kids aren’t damaged by its occasional use. “Previous research has not been able to compare children who have been smacking with those who have never been smacked, because children who’ve never been smacked were hard to find as most kids received physical discipline at least once in their life,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “But due to the pervading antismacking ideology, this has changed.” “Yet this study found that young children smacked by their parents may grow up to be happier and more successful than those who have never been smacked. Children smacked up to the age of six were likely as teenagers to perform better at school and were more likely to carry out volunteer work and to want to go to university than their peers who had never been physically disciplined. Only those children who continued to be smacked into adolescence showed clear behavioural problems.” READ MORE
TV3 News Coverage http://www.3news.co.nz/Smacking-may-be-beneficial---study/tabid/370/articleID/136025/Default.aspx
Family First Comment: Watch the coverage and note the classic attack by the ex-Children's Commsissioner - not on the research, but on the researcher. When academics and government appointees can't dispute the message, they just attack the messenger! (See additional reading below item #12)
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

3. Time Out Targeted as Next Taboo of Parenting
Media Release 17 January 2010
Family First NZ says that ‘time out’ is now being labeled as harmful to children based on flawed ideology and without any research to back up the claims, as was the case with the smacking debate. “Last week, an Australian parenting expert labeled time out as shameful and humiliating, joining other so-called parenting experts who claim that time out creates hurt, anger and defiance in a child ultimately harming them. They also claim that nervous habits can result, and that children should not be told they are naughty,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. “Once again, these unsubstantiated and ideologically flawed claims and latest fads in parenting by academics simply undermine the confidence of parents to raise their children in a positive and common sense way. Where does it stop? Will it soon be unacceptable to withdraw privileges or ‘ground’ a child – perhaps it will soon be even unacceptable to frown at a child who is misbehaving!” READ MORE
Naughty corners are a bad idea for kids, according to Melbourne expert
Herald Sun January 11, 2010 READ MORE
School no place for supernanny techniques
Christchurch Press 4 April 09 READ MORE
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

4. Marriage is what matters most to family stability
Mail Online (UK) 21st January 2010
Marriage is more important than all other factors in family stability, according to new research which demolishes (UK's) Labour's central argument against tax breaks for wedded couples. Harry Benson, of the Bristol Community Family Trust, said: 'Based on data of 15,000 new mothers, marriage is the single biggest predictor, above and beyond the effects of income, education, age, ethnic group, benefit receipt and birth order. Only 3% of unmarried couples stay together until their child is 16. READ MORE
READ THE FULL RESEARCH
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

5. Victims dad applauds three strikes law change
Bay of Plenty Times 20 January 2010
A Tauranga man whose daughter was murdered five years ago has welcomed the government's three-strike policy annouced yesterday. Brian Brown whose daughter Natasha Hayden was strangled to death by Michael Curren at McLaren Falls in January 2005, said the policy was a step in the right direction and "a little bit of victory" for victims of serious crime. ...While the policy has been blasted by critics including the Maori party and Corrections lobby groups, Family First NZ has welcomed it. National Director Bob McCoskrie said the policy would help ensure the safety of families from repeat violent offenders. “The best and most obvious way to protect women, children, and the elderly from repeat violent offenders is to incapacitate them. The purpose of this law will be to warn ‘career criminals’ to find a new job or else they will become ‘career inmates’. They are effectively being given two chances to stop their violent behaviour. Some would argue this is still one too many.” READ MORE
Family First Media Release Three Strikes Law will protect families READ MORE
Family First Comment: Although the law has been substantially watered down by National, it is still a step in the right direction. READ our summary on this issue including our Submission. It deals with a number of inaccurate claims made by the anti-prison lobby who fail to acknowledge that society is the victim when we fail to tackle this issue strongly. The Three Strikes law will also reinforce the "Its Not OK" message by taking victimisations seriously. A slap on the wrist for violence undermines our efforts to reduce tolerance for violence and the career choice of repeat violent offenders. Supporters of this bill do not want ‘revenge’ – they simply wish to be able to live unmolested and not in the fear of violent criminals. This is called ‘justice.’ This law is a welcome step to protect families and to encourage offenders to change their ways urgently.
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

6. Crown opposes decision that carer parents be paid
NZ Herald Jan 22, 2010
Solicitor General David Collins, QC, has said the Crown will appeal the landmark Human Rights Review Tribunal decision, delivered earlier this month, that found in favour of the families who look after their severely disabled adult children after the Ministry of Health said they were not eligible for caregivers' payments. Mr Collins said the decision to appeal was "in the public interest" because of the potential fiscal impact of the finding and its flow-on effect to other policy. The tribunal said the parents were discriminated against by the ministry because "they are not allowed to be paid for the services they provide to their child (or children) while anyone else providing the very same care to their child (or children) is able to be paid." READ MORE 
Family First Comment: This is a classic case of 'nanny state'. If the state is providing the care - they're funded, but not the parents. Similarly, if the state care for pre-schoolers - they're funded, but not stay-home mums or dads. And of course, state funded organisations determine how parents should and should not raise their kids, but not parents themselves!! Sound familiar? Unfortunately a change of government has yet to prove that this approach will change.
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz 

7. Porn less immoral than piracy - survey
NZPA 12/01/2010
Three times as many New Zealanders think it is morally acceptable for a single person to view pornography on the internet than to download copyrighted video, according to a new poll. The survey also indicates gender differences in what is morally acceptable behaviour, with women being overall less approving of viewing pornography, using dating services, downloading copyrighted material and flirting with others on the internet. READ MORE
Child porn victims getting younger - Internal Affairs
NZ Herald Tuesday Jan 5, 2010
Children as young as a few months old are being targeted by New Zealand's child pornography offenders, as they continue to seek even younger victims. READ MORE
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

8. Watching TV for hours shortens life - study
Reuters 12/01/2010
Couch potatoes, beware. Sitting in front of the television for hours daily could shorten your life, according to an Australian study. READ MORE
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

9. Grieving mother blames cancer vaccine
NZ Herald Jan 9, 2010
Rhonda Renata is in no doubt about what caused the death of her daughter Jasmine. The 18-year-old died last September 22 at her family home in Upper Hutt, apparently in her sleep. It was six months since she had received the last of the three injections of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil. READ MORE
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

10. Suicide link to a lack of sleep
Herald Sun January 04, 2010
Going to bed early is key to getting enough sleep and helping adolescents feel on top of the world, a study reports. A lack of sleep among youngsters may trigger depression and suicidal thoughts, according to the study by the Columbia University Medical Centre in New York. READ MORE
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

11. Scandalous show pulled from Christmas stage
Northern Advocate 20th December 2009
A play depicting Santa raping  a reindeer has been pulled from a Whangarei stage for fear of shocking seasonal sensibilities... Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said he was "struggling to find the link between rape and Santa - it's tenuous". At Christmas it's a dark issue to be raising and you walk a fine line by bringing humour to the serious issue of rape. There's a danger you trivialise the issue." Mr McCoskrie said portraying sexual violence in a humorous way minimised its effect. The play needs to be reviewed by the chief censor so a warning can be put on for families." READ MORE
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

12. ADDITIONAL READING
New Research: Why Never Smacking Might Be Worse for Kids Than Smacking Them
Newsweek Blog December 30, 2009 By Po Bronson
In NurtureShock, we described some extensive cross-ethnic and international research on spanking by Drs. Jennifer Lansford and Ken Dodge. Their data suggested that if a culture views spanking as the normal consequence for bad behavior, kids aren’t damaged by its occasional use. To explain this shocker, the scholars suggested that in cultures or communities where spanking is common, parents are less agitated when administering spankings. Spanking almost never—when combined with losing your temper—can be worse than spanking frequently.* But what about the third option: not spanking them at all? Unfortunately, there’s been little study of this, because children who’ve never been spanked aren’t easy to find. Most kids receive physical discipline at least once in their life. But times are changing, and parents today have numerous alternatives to spanking. The result is that kids are spanked less often overall, and kids who’ve never been spanked are becoming a bigger slice of the pie in long-term population studies.

One of those new population studies underway is called Portraits of American Life. It involves interviews of 2,600 people and their adolescent children every three years for the next 20 years. Dr. Marjorie Gunnoe is working with the first wave of data on the teens. It turns out that almost a quarter of these teens report they were never spanked. So this is a perfect opportunity to answer a very simple question: are kids who’ve never been spanked any better off, long term? Gunnoe’s summary is blunt: “I didn’t find that in my data.” ...What she discovered was another shocker: those who’d been spanked just when they were young—ages 2 to 6—were doing a little better as teenagers than those who’d never been spanked. On almost every measure. ..Gunnoe doesn’t know what she’ll find, but my thoughts jump immediately to the work of Dr. Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan, whom we wrote about in NurtureShock. Schoppe-Sullivan found that children of progressive dads were acting out more in school. This was likely because the fathers were inconsistent disciplinarians; they were emotionally uncertain about when and how to punish, and thus they were reinventing the wheel every time they had to reprimand their child. And there was more conflict in their marriage over how best to parent, and how to divide parenting responsibilities.
READ MORE   READ MORE 2
Pro-Spanking Studies May Have Global Effect
Newsmax.com 07 Jan 2010  By: Theodore Kettle
Two recent analyses – one psychological, the other legal – may debunk lenient modern parenting the way the Climategate e-mail scandal has short circuited global warming alarmism. READ MORE
Got a comment on this issue? Email feedback@familyfirst.org.nz

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