von-Scharnhorst
17-10-2006, 01:23 PM
Parents should not call their youngsters 'naughty' because it damages their self-confidence, a childcare expert controversially claimed.
Annette Mountford, chief executive of the parenting organisation, Family Links, said that children's self-esteem is run down by such branding, even if they are behaving badly.
Parents must not shout at their youngsters and should only call their behaviour naughty, rather than saying they are naughty themselves.
They should also stop referring to the "naughty step" - a disciplining technique from TV's Supernanny - in case their child thinks the word refers to them.
She said misusing the word can affect the "mental health" of both the child and the subsequently guilt-ridden parent. But other family groups yesterday condemned the demands from the head of the charity, which receives funding from the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health.
They argued that families need to be able to discipline their children without being subjected to politically correct "clap trap".
Mrs Mountford spoke out after a National Family and Parenting Institute survey found that more than eight out of ten parents who watch TV programmes like Supernanny have found a technique such as the 'naughty step' helpful.
She told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "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."
Despite quizzing, Mrs Mountford, who previously worked as a health visitor for 13 years, insisted that children are not naughty in themselves.
"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," she said.
Parents should say: "What you have done is very naughty, I don't like the way you behaved" but not that 'you are naughty'.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=410738&in_page_id=1770&in_page_id=1770
No wonder, not just U.K, but in the whole Western world, school dicipline is falling apart.
Bring back the cane.
I also know now why the army are finding it hard to recruit suitable people. What use is a "soldier" that has never been even called "naughty" in his life? LET allone been shouted at.
I can see it now, a whole dock full of Regimental Sergeant majors, accused of raising their voice at the nannied recruits.
All the Taliban have to do is shout "Naughty boy, go home" and the British army all go running to Mummy to complain. "That nasty man shouted at me".
Annette Mountford, chief executive of the parenting organisation, Family Links, said that children's self-esteem is run down by such branding, even if they are behaving badly.
Parents must not shout at their youngsters and should only call their behaviour naughty, rather than saying they are naughty themselves.
They should also stop referring to the "naughty step" - a disciplining technique from TV's Supernanny - in case their child thinks the word refers to them.
She said misusing the word can affect the "mental health" of both the child and the subsequently guilt-ridden parent. But other family groups yesterday condemned the demands from the head of the charity, which receives funding from the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health.
They argued that families need to be able to discipline their children without being subjected to politically correct "clap trap".
Mrs Mountford spoke out after a National Family and Parenting Institute survey found that more than eight out of ten parents who watch TV programmes like Supernanny have found a technique such as the 'naughty step' helpful.
She told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: "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."
Despite quizzing, Mrs Mountford, who previously worked as a health visitor for 13 years, insisted that children are not naughty in themselves.
"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," she said.
Parents should say: "What you have done is very naughty, I don't like the way you behaved" but not that 'you are naughty'.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=410738&in_page_id=1770&in_page_id=1770
No wonder, not just U.K, but in the whole Western world, school dicipline is falling apart.
Bring back the cane.
I also know now why the army are finding it hard to recruit suitable people. What use is a "soldier" that has never been even called "naughty" in his life? LET allone been shouted at.
I can see it now, a whole dock full of Regimental Sergeant majors, accused of raising their voice at the nannied recruits.
All the Taliban have to do is shout "Naughty boy, go home" and the British army all go running to Mummy to complain. "That nasty man shouted at me".