Screaming kids: the good old days?

Published: 17th March, 2011

• THANK you for reporting my library talk (They would put William on Ritalin today, March 10).  

As you know, the audience and I compared the behaviour of children today to the Just William stories of Richmal Crompton. My apologies for not giving proper attention to screaming. No doubt I need to learn more. I was brought up on the William stories, when a child screaming to get its own way was frowned on.

These days screaming seems to be in demand. When a child screams at the supermarket check-out or in the children’s library, either standing up or traditionally lying down and kicking, why does the mother or father do nothing? Is the screaming  needed to draw attention to an impressive child?  Or is a parent afraid to tell off a child in public for fear of getting arrested?
KEN ELLIS
Finchley Road, NW3