High profile cases of bad parenting have prompted a Sussex MP to call on all mums and dads to pledge to be "five-star" parents.

The horrified reactions to the kidnap of a nine-year old girl by her own mother and the appalling treatment of Baby P in London show most people know bad parenting when they see it. But what exactly makes a really good mum or dad? A Sussex MP believes he has the answer.

West Worthing MP Peter Bottomley has invented a star rating system – a basic guide to good parenting – to help parents assess whether they are giving their child the best start in life.

“It’s not about how you can be a perfect parent but it provides five things parents need to do, with a star for each one.”

To award themselves their first star parents must get their children up on time, get them properly dressed, feed them and get them to school on time.

The second star requires both parents to be on “good terms”

with each other, whether they are living together or separated.

The third goes to those who know what their child is doing and care about it, the fourth to those who give “appropriate responsibilities” to their child and the fifth to parents who organise at least one regular activity after school each week.

Mr Bottomley pointed out: “None require money, and none require you to be healthy. You don’t require a degree – just do the things that work.”

The point of the star system is to help parents give their child a chance in life, make sure they have an enjoyable childhood and set them up for adulthood.

He added: “No one expects everyone to be perfect, but you can make it less likely people will be in serious trouble with the law. It’s about doing things better, not condemning people.”

Mr Bottomley said cases such as the recent conviction of Karen Matthews for the kidnap of her own daughter raise important questions about the treatment of children.

This is against a backdrop of growing concerns about the failure of some parents to prevent their children from repeatedly missing school and eating themselves into obesity.

In April, The Argus reported dozens of parents are being dragged before the courts every month because their children play truant. In the first three months of the year, 59 prosecutions were brought in East Sussex and 14 in West Sussex in an attempt to hold parents to account for their children’s actions.

East Sussex County Council sends warning letters to parents who take their children out of school during term-time without permission.

Recently, The Argus revealed that 23% of children starting school in East Sussex are regarded as overweight or obese.

The percentage for ten and 11- year-olds was 30%.

Mr Bottomley, a Conservative MP, refused to criticise the state of modern parenting. He said: “I admire parents in many circumstances who do well and I would like more to do the same.”

Mr Bottomley said it was normal for parents to be unprepared for their new responsibilities.

The important factor was whether new parents had a network of friends and family who could offer support and advice.

He said: “Lots of people get a good upbringing, with other siblings, aunts, uncles and a range of people showing how to raise a family and how to bring up children, but others don’t.

“Some people get brought up in adverse circumstances and don’t have role models, or a support system for when things go wrong.”

It is in this context that Mr Bottomley believes his five-star system could give helpful guidance to parents who are keen to do the best for their child.

The MP said he did not ask nor expect his particular five criteria to be adopted on a widespread basis, but instead hoped they would spark a debate about the basic conditions for treating children well.

He said: “People may discuss these ideas, and will have their own list. I simply put it in for discussion.

If they are discussed people will care and there may be more interest, and people respond to interest.”

Mr Bottomley, who has been an MP since 1975, introduced the first Parliamentary debate on family policy in 1978.

But rather than seeking to legislate for good parenting, Mr Bottomley said his plan was centred on the community.

“It’s about sharing the caring of our children,” he said.

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