Do NOT make your children kiss their granny!
The latest nutty PC warning from busybody NHS chiefs
‘Pink is not just for girls’ ‘Patronising and dangerous’
IT is a tradition that is loved and loathed in equal measure by grannies and children.
But now health chiefs have advised parents against forcing youngsters to kiss their grans, saying they could say goodbye with a ‘high five’ instead.
The guidance has been issued by Scotland’s biggest health board, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), which says children should be taught to say no to unwanted hugs and kisses.
It advises parents: ‘You will already be teaching your child protective messages every day – road safety, for example. You can use the same, everyday approach to teach your child their body belongs to them.
‘From age three to four years old (is) the natural stage for them to also learn rules about touching. At this age children still like to sit on your knee and to have cuddles on a daily basis. You can use this everyday experience to teach them that being touched is their own choice, not another’s.’ Youngsters should also be brought up using the ‘proper words’ for private parts, the NHS advice says.
But last night family rights campaigners said it was not up to the state to interfere with how mothers and fathers bring up their children.
The guidance sets out the case of a parent who would get ‘annoyed and embarand rassed’ when her son refused to give his grandmother a kiss and cuddle when she was going home.
Now, the child simply gives her a ‘high five’ because his mother did not want to force him to kiss and cuddle anyone, it says.
The guidance goes on to warn against ‘gender stereotyping’ the under-fives. Boys, its says, should be allowed to dress up as nurses, butterflies fairies, while girls should be encouraged to dress up as firefighters and pirates.
It adds: ‘Often people compliment girls on what they look like and boys on what they are doing... tell a girl she’s great because of what she does and not because of how she looks. Try “I like your skipping”, not “I like your hair”. Pink is not just for girls, boys can dress up as fairies and push prams.’
The advice also warns against using slang words for private parts, saying this could be ‘confusing’.
Instead, the correct anatomical terms should be used because these are taught in schools and even nurseries.
The guidance appears on NHSGGC’s Sandyford sexual health website, which has updated its parenting section with tips on growing up, puberty and relationships.
But Norman Wells of parents’ rights group the Family Education Trust said: ‘It isn’t the business of government agencies to interfere with how parents choose to bring up their children. Parents are well able to decide for themselves what language they use when referring to private body parts and how their children should greet other family members.
‘Behind this attempt to standardise parenting practice and impose uniformity of language is a creeping totalitarianism, which is not only deeply patronising, but highly dangerous.’
Jill Wilson of the Sandyford sexual health service said: ‘We have consulted parents on their role in educating children about growing up, puberty, sexual health and relationships.
‘Parents have told us they are keen to back up the learning that children get in school, but many feel unsure about what to talk about, when, and what language to use. So we built a website to provide this information and support parents in this area.’
Scottish Tory public health spokesman Miles Briggs said it was wrong to ‘dictate’ to families. He added: ‘I think the NHS board has overstepped the mark. Parents should be able to judge these things for themselves.’