Tons of interesting young people stories in the press over the last few days. Here are a selection, as ever, click on the headline for link to the source of the story.

The Trouble With Childhood

From: The Scotsman

MORE than 100 academics, teachers, psychologists, children's authors and other experts yesterday called for a major public debate on child-rearing in the 21st century. The escalating incidence of childhood depression is caused, they suggested, by a lack of understanding, by both politicians and public, of the realities and subtleties of child development

Calls to Teach First Aid in Buchan Schools

From: The Buchan Observer

Young people in Buchan should learn first aid at school according to a campaign launched on World First Aid Day by the British Red Cross.

New research by Ipsos MORI found 96% of Scots believe that young people should learn basic first aid skills at school.

Youth Matters: Children & Young Peoples Plans ignore youth.

From: Young People Now

Local authorities are not paying enough attention to youth work when drawing up their children and young people's plans, a report suggests.

The interim report, by the National Foundation for Educational Research, investigates how children and young people's plans contribute to the outcomes in Every Child Matters.

Heads Back Calls for School Drug Tests

From: the Scotsman

SCHOOLCHILDREN should be subject to random drug tests under government-approved pilot schemes, Scotland's leading expert on substance misuse said yesterday.

Young Men Prefer Steroids to Workouts

From: The Telegraph

Young men are increasingly turning to anabolic steroids as a short cut to the perfect body, a charity claimed yesterday. A nationwide survey by Drugscope found that the performance-enhancing substances had crossed over from athletes and body builders to the mainstream as men wanted to look good on the beach or the dancefloor without putting in too much effort.

Schools welcome 'parents as partners'

From: the Scottish Executive e-mail Daily Digest

The new Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act, passed in May 2006, is now in force, aiming to give parents a stronger voice and get more parents more involved in their child's education and school life

Do young get hooked on mobiles?

From: The Herald

THE WAY young people use mobile phones has direct similarities with the behaviour of addicted gamblers, according to research.