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October 18, 2006

The Word "Naughty" Is Child Abuse

It has been revealed by Annette Mountford, chief executive of the government-funded parenting organization Family Links, that children must not be called "naughty," because it damages their self-esteem.

Shouting at the little darlings is also forbidden, as is referring to the Supernanny's "naughty step," as it may lead misbehaving children to think that they themselves are naughty, when in actuality they are only acting out in response to the historical oppression of the chronologically challenged, or something along those lines.

Using the word "naughty" affects the mental health not only of the child, but also of the parent, who will suffer guilt for having inflicted such abuse.

Ms. Mountford announced on the BBC:

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.

But Hugh McKinney of the National Family Campaign is on a different page:

Commonsense surely dictates that this politically correct claptrap doesn't work and it's about time that state-funded organisations like Family Links stop telling us what to do with our lives.

What a naughty thing to say.

On a tip from V the K.

Posted by Van Helsing at October 18, 2006 7:08 AM