A new report has put Britain at the bottom of the developed world in its ability to bring up children successfully.
The Unicef study showed the UK as the worst after considering factors such as child poverty, bullying, ambition, teenage drinking, sex and support from families and peers.
Out of 21 advanced economies, Britain was bottom in the family and friendships, and drink, sex and drugs categories.
It also came seventeenth on education, eighteenth on poverty and inequality, and twentieth on happiness.
Children's commissioner for England Professor Sir Al Aynsley Green claimed the findings showed a "crisis at the heart of our society".
"It is time to stop demonising children and young people for what goes wrong and start supporting them to make positive choices," he said.
"To bring an end to the confusing messages we give to young people about their role, responsibility and position in society and ensure that every child feels valued and has their rights respected."
Shadow chancellor George Osborne said the findings reflected badly on the chancellor Gordon Brown as he prepares to become prime minister.
"This report tells the truth about Brown's Britain," the Conservative said. "After 10 years of his welfare and education policies, our children today have the lowest wellbeing in the developed world."
But a government spokesman claimed the report relied upon out-of-date data and "does not reflect more recent improvements in the UK such as the continuing fall in the teenage pregnancy rate or in the proportion of children living in workless households".
"Hopefully it leads to a wider conversation about what more we can do to eradicate poverty," welfare reform minister Jim Murphy said.
