Non-typical work schedules of parents, and parenting by proxy have a negative effect on children, a recently-published research study Experiencing Childhood in Malta, conducted by Discern has shown.

Researchers Fr Joe Inguanez and Rebecca Gatt conclude that for mothers to be able to move into the labour market in a way that can be truly balanced with childcare responsibilities, parents, especially women, have to be provided with the necessary support.

"Planning and drafting policies is important but implementing sensible decisions is more vital," they insist.

Inguanez and Gatt say that parents' and children's lifestyles should ideally complement each other, particularly in those cases where both parents are engaged in employment.

"The study revealed that currently it is children who are completely adapting to their parents' way of life", they say, adding that this situation is creating a number of problems for children.

"A functional adjustment should not signify that parents can cease from their obligations towards their offspring," they say.

As part of the study, the researchers held group discussions with groups of students aged between eight and 10 from State and Church schools. Interviews were also held with selected professionals who work with children of various age groups and in different socio-geographical areas.

In addition, 150 questionnaires were distributed to students aged between 13 and 15 at three schools. The respondents were anonymous and the response rate was 40 per cent.

Commenting on the completed survey questionnaires, Inguanez and Gatt say the children were very blunt in their responses where they asserted that parents' love and care are unique and so unexchangeable.

Children interviewed for the study identified striking the work-life balance as one of parents' leading difficulties.

The report states that according to experts, the forces at play are causing excessive stress on parents, with the result that they have less energy, time and space for their children in their life.

The study quotes a psychologist in the Student Support service as saying that the demands that schools put on the parents do not necessarily tally with what society, employers or governments expect. "So parents are torn between two forces."

The study found that a substantial number of young children return to 'empty' homes after school. They were very bored, staying with other relatives or even alone for a couple of hours on a daily basis.

Ironically, however, even when children found parents at home, they still spent most of their time on their own without communicating with them. They mainly spent their time doing their homework, playing computer games, chatting on the internet and/or watching television.

The study found that younger children consider "quality time" with their parents as a "chief concern". The children said that "sadly" they could only enjoy their parents during weekends and public holidays, and this, in their opinion, "is not enough".

In contrast, older children reported that they generally enjoyed a "positive relationship" with their parents and that the time spent with them during weekday evenings and at times during weekends "is sufficient".

One of the social workers interviewed for the study said "there is a general perception that everybody is fit to become a parent. On the contrary, I believe many are incompetent because they did not receive basic training. The government should provide more training... we owe this responsibility to our children."

Inguanez and Gatt also refer to claims made by experts regarding the "careless attitude a number of parents adopt towards their children".

They add that "children's well-being is completely obstructed by this irresponsible approach. The researchers agree that the instensification of courses aimed at enhancing parental skills is recommended.

On the other hand, the researchers say parents should not overdo it, as this could cause undue stress on their children. Parents ought to ensure their children's life is not excessively demanding to the extent of being harmful, the researchers caution.

"Parents shouldn't render their kids' childhood progress solely as a goal-oriented course", but instead should seek to provide them with "a stable life characterised by learning, coaching and joy", they say.

The research also recommends changes to the education system: "...new ways of teaching can be sought to make schooling more pleasant and rewarding for students" and more weight must be devoted to "life-skills coaching" within schools.

The report says experts also recommend the reduction of the number of children in classrooms so as to reduce the possibility of behavioural problems. They also suggest that if teachers are made fully conscious of difficulties each of their students might have, they would be in a better position to deal with the students.

Inguanez and Gatt reveal that the majority of children taking part in the survey passed negative comments towards the education system. Some older participants offered some "very negative comments", such as that teachers and homework had "ruined their lives", that the school "routine was boring", and that excessive rules were "suffocating".

Revealingly, the researchers add that respondents who said they enjoyed school specified that they mostly enjoyed "break-times, PE lessons and extra-curricular activities".

The study was commissioned by the Children's Foundation of the Malta Financial Services Authority. In the study's foreword, Foundation chairman Sonia Camilleri, a former Commissioner for Children, says that the study "has reinforced the need of focusing on the effect that the media, different family situations, the lack of household resources and unprecedented pressures have on the lives of children today".

Ms Camilleri said that unfortunately, research on children in Malta is scarce, adding that while the study contributes towards filling the void in this area "the research calls for further research".

Experiencing Childhood in Malta is on sale for €10 from Discern, 5, Lion Street, Floriana, FRN 1514. Tel: 2124 1924, e-mail discern@maltadiocese.org, www.discern-malta.org.