That's telling her!

Jalima it turned at the first blue link!!

Lillie that question should really be posted on the Philosophy thread I think

And why does there always have to he someone to blame?

Oh, has it changed into a homelessness thread now?

Sorry, threads do tend to do that.

Jalima I think we've all agreed on the social media element of it.

But Lillie she thought it was the Queen to blame at first!

This is not about homelessness per se, it is about the appropriateness of exploiting your child on social media.

Not erroneous at all to blame the government.
11% rise in homeless families living in temporary accommodation over the last year. Who else is to blame but the government?

Indeed she did Anya, and it may well have troubled her, but to align her thinking with blaming the government is not at all likely at that age. And erroneous.

As I suggested before, if your child/grandchild asked about homelessness having walked past people sleeping in a doorway, would you say don't worry your head about it yet, it's not on the curriculum for another two years?

The girl asked who was in charge and thought it was the Queen. She was told it was Theresa May. She didn't know who it was.

speye.wordpress.com/2016/10/07/the-benefit-cap-the-proverbial-hitting-the-fan-even-before-it-begins/

Lots more homeless going to be on the streets near you soon.

She saw homeless people - for herself.

I agree*Jalima*, the girl has been exploited by her parents as she had no choice as to whether she was put on youtube or plastered across the papers. I doubt whether she has any conception of social media at 5 years old.
Homelessness as a topic is not actually "taught" or discussed in school until age 8 and in a most sensitive way, as it often involves discussion about the breakdown of the family unit too, (not necessarily the fault of the government). POGs you make an accurate evaluation. At the age of 5 children are learning about homelessness from stories about lost or runaway animals. People are very naive if they think this little girl has not been coached in her presentation.
The sad thing here is that the message has taken on far less importance than its delivery.

Gosh Penstemmen what a fun childhood your kids must have had.

Quite a lot of five year olds could do a discussion like this. They do have a concept of fair and unfair and are capable of explaining it.

Little girls are often quite "bossy" as well. Forget the finger wagging she is only five. Lots of small children do it.
Did any of you see the TV series "secret life of" (children from 3 to six I think.) Many of them were well able to discuss issues.

My daughter was a "barrack room lawyer" at about two. "I can't do that because****"

I really admired that little lass.

The child is being brought up to believe that the best way to be heard is to shout, wag your finger and show total disrespect.

Probably a politician of the future but she's not going to be the most popular kid in school.

Jalima I think most of us are in agreement about posting it on social media.

That just leaves us with the question of homelessness though.

Of course this child is not aware of the complexities - no-one would expect that of her. But sometimes children cut to the chase and make us think, and that is no bad thing. Hence the phrase "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings..."

djen I am not sure that the discussion should concentrate on homelessness, although that was what the child's rant was about. The topic of the discussion is irrelevant, at least as far as I am concerned, in this case - and I do not mean that homelessness should not be a topic of discussion and concerning us all.

Rather, it is that a 5 year old is being exploited on social media by her mother for whatever reason. Perhaps this is how this family live their lives, but in a week when we hear of yet another young boy committing suicide because of dreadful online bullying, I think this mother is totally misguided to expose her five year old daughter to the potential hazards of social media. The child herself would have had no clue about the extent of her 'lecture' - strange that mother was there ready to film!

I totally agree with you DJ which is why I was trying to point out what it was this child saw that day. I was shocked myself. Yes, sadly you see the odd homeless person but not this many, in such a small area, still in sleeping bags in doorways in a main shopping area. POGS might consider this the norm in towns, but I've never seen it so bad.

I'm also agreeing with Penstemmon that some may not have 'met enough 5 & 6 year olds' ... there are certainly those who can express themselves forcefully. Her language was that of a child and her delightful naivety that something could be done about it quite easily.

' What's not to like ' is the fact if the supposition the child is deemed as being accutely aware of what she was saying and intelligent enough to know who Theresa May is the child is seeing the world with a monochromed view and a belief the government is to blame for everything. If she is a smart child have the parents informed her of the reasons why we have ' street sleepers' and the complexities for example? It would appear the child is doing exactly what kids do, copy what they hear and pick up at home maybe. I don't know which but I do know her parents have been happy to make public the clip so they must be aware the public will make a decision as to how they view it.

It is the fact she is attacking the government that appeals, to some adults to others it is an uncomfortable video to see a child being tantamount to being used for a political point to be made, some may see it as a cute and funny clip .

We will all see it differently but I simply think if adults want to raise the issue of 'rough sleepers' then start yet another thread on the subject we don't need to use the child to do so and I admit I am annoyed with myself for perhaps doing so.

I honestly don't know what the OP was hoping for but it has brought up many issues and at the end of the day I remain uncomfortable using a child so will now bow out of the thread.

There are no simple solutions for complex problems. I think the reason so many people are impressed with this child's expression of her viewpoint which, as pen says, would probably have been the same against any prime minister, is because they have simplistic views too.

Some (many even) politicians do try to help disadvantaged people all their professional political lives but because everything in human society is very complex it's not easy to make lasting and effective change quickly. Even so, although there are still many problems, in actual fact things are improving in general terms for human beings all over the globe. Bad stuff is being reduced as we speak. See ourworldindata.org for info.

I'm all for encouraging kids to think. I've done it all my life with good results. Cute exposure on social media? Hmm. Not so sure about that.

You have not met enough 5 & 6 year olds! Yes some can really think independently. My kids grew up going on demos and rallys and we always explained why we were doing things and what it was about. I doubt I would have chosen to share a clip of them but they could have argued a simple case for anti- war, equality etc.

Perhaps the reason so many people are politically disengaged and /or feel 'unheard' is because we do not teach our children how to express their opinions loudly and clearly,how to appreciate that not all that comes out of the media is true (nb Media Studies!).

I also think that if a Labour PM had been in power the little girl would have railed against them too..it was not 'party political' it was fury at the powerful for not helping the weakest.

That's true Luckygirl.

The child's reaction to homelessness could well have been spontaneous and concerned. I find it difficult to believe that her performance was however. Could a 6 year old do that in one take?