Childhoods have got worse in Britain, survey reveals

Charity says children's futures blighted by Covid, mental health issues and financial hardship

Childhoods have got worse in the UK, with the majority of adults believing children's futures have been blighted by the Covid pandemic, declining levels of mental health and financial hardship, a survey has found.

More than half of parents and nearly two-thirds of grandparents believe life is more difficult and stressful now than when they were children, citing money issues, house prices, the climate crisis and emotional anxiety linked to school and social media, according to the charity Action for Children.