Rachel Smalley: What's in a 'good childhood report'?

The 'good childhood report' looks at the well-being of children in 15 countries across four continents.

In the UK, they've released what they call the 'good childhood report'.

It's a research document that looks at the well-being of children in 15 countries across four continents.

New Zealand children weren't included in this report, but it does raise some issues which I think could apply to children here - including the pressure that is placed on some children to perform.

The National Union of Teachers in the UK says the school curriculum is too narrow and some schools have developed what it says is an "exam factory" culture. A sort of one-size-fits-all approach to academic development. The union of teachers says it's led to some children experiencing serious levels of stress-related anxiety at a young age.

I have a six-year-old, he's been at school for around 18 months now, and it's not until you re-enter the education system as a parent that you realise how much trust you place in your school, in the system, in your child's teacher and in the curriculum.

The issue, I think, is balance. You want your child to develop the ability to think and to problem-solve, to engage in the arts and sport as well, but also in activities which enrich their lives, or give them perspective.

At the moment, Finn's biggest concern is how quickly he can eat his lunch so he can get into the playground to play dinosaurs. It's the big issues with Finn right now.

But when I talk to parents of some of the older primary school children, they talk about the crush that's coming. The exams, the tears, the pressure. Who applies that pressure? Is it parents? Is it the school? Is it the curriculum? Is our curriculum too narrow? Are we too focused on academic achievement? I don't know what the answers are to those questions, but I may have a better idea in a couple of years.

But I am worried about the so-called 'crush' that's coming. I don't remember feeling under pressure at primary school. The only time I think I felt stressed was on school sports day. Lining up to race. That was about the only time I can remember feeling nervous or uptight.

I'm not sure what's changed since then, but there does seem to have been quite a shift - and, as the good childhood report has found in the uk - I wonder whether we are demanding too much from our children, too young.