‘Creepy’ cartoons teach tots to trust snoopers
CARTOONS for nursery pupils that help pave the way for the SNP’s Named Person scheme have been branded ‘unbelievably patronising and creepy’.
Featuring a cast of animated animals, they advise children that to solve personal problems, which are often blamed on the characters’ families, they should talk to an adult who is not a relative.
One storyline features a nervous snail who is presented with a range of grownups to talk to, including a nurse and police officer – but not a parent.
Another cartoon is about a dragonfly who is always lethargic because her grandmother gives her too many homemade cakes. The bug is encouraged to teach her relative – shown as too ignorant to know better – how to make a vegetarian lentil stew instead.
Children are encouraged to rate how closely each tale relates to their lives.
The cartoons were launched by MSP Mark McDonald 4 hours before he resigned as childcare minister over allegations of inappropriate behaviour. He has been suspended by the SNP.
Last night Simon Calvert, of No To Named Persons (NO2NP), which took court action against the state snooper scheme, said: ‘They’re not just bad art, they’re terrible social policy... I thought I’d seen it all, but this takes the biscuit.
‘Training children to cite civil service buzzwords to grade their parents is unbelievably patronising and creepy.’
Mr Calvert added: ‘When will civil servants learn that families want support when they ask for it, not state-sponsored indoctrination of their kids?’
The cartoons are part of a kit that ‘aims to improve awareness and understanding of wellbeing among pre-five children’. The materials have been produced by education officials in North Lanarkshire and, following a pilot, are being rolled out across the country.
The Scottish Government said: ‘Named Person will ensure the needs of children and young people are placed at the centre by ensuring services work together in their best interests.’