 News
16th October 2006
Calling a child 'naughty' can be traumatic
Parents should not tell their children they are naughty because it damages
their confidence.
The controversial claims came from Annette Mountford, chief
executive of the parenting organisation, Family Links, who also added
that a child's self-esteem is hurt if they are called naughty.
She suggests that parents only say the behaviour, and not
the child, is naughty.
However, the suggestion has angered other family groups
who say that parents should be able to discipline their children without
worrying about being politically correct.
Speaking on BBC Radio Four's Today programme, Ms Mountford
also said that using the phrase 'naughty step' should not be encouraged.
The former health visitor said, ""I would argue that
using the word naughty is the problem.
"It's fine to be firm and consistent but you call that a
naughty step and the child actually calls himself or herself naughty.
That's really bad for them.
"Children have behaviour that is unacceptable and undesirable
but I think if you use the word naughty it puts the parents and child
in a really different frame set, in a much more antagonistic set.
"Parents should say: 'What you have done is very naughty,
I don't like the way you behaved' but not that 'you are naughty'. "
She added that children do not quickly forget being shouted
at, and this affects their self-esteem and confidence.
However, Hugh McKinney, of the National Family Campaign,
called the suggestion 'political claptrap' and said, "Parents bring
up their children in a wide variety of ways but to allow children to indulge
in naughty behaviour and not control it causes confusion, not only to
the children but also to other family members as well.
"It's about time that state-funded organisations like
Family Links stop telling us what to do with our lives."
Where to next?
|
