Don’t call children boys and girls, nurseries are told in new gender edict
But critics say ‘authoritarian’ approach will upset toddlers
Are we sitting comfortably, girls and boys – ahem, nonbinary young people – then I’ll begin...
NURSERY staff have been told not to call children boys and girls in a bid to stop pre-school age gender stereotyping.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said the advice is needed to combat the harm it causes – and that ‘attitudes and language are part of a sliding scale that can result in physical violence and murder’.
But critics said the ‘authoritarian’ approach would upset children.
Piers Shepherd of the Family Education Trust said: ‘The majority of young children, like the vast majority of people everywhere, accept their biological sex as a given.
‘The approach taken by the guidance will undoubtedly create confusion and distress for many of the children subjected to it.
‘The guidance also patronises parents when it suggests that health and education professionals need to teach them how to talk to their children about gender. Parts of this guidance have a very authoritarian tone, such as correcting or challenging parents if they use the wrong terms.
‘Talking about a sliding scale of violence ending in murder is a very extreme thing to say. There seems to be a thoughtpolicing attitude around what they’re trying to do. I suspect it will be introduced more widely.’
The guidelines have been issued by the health board for nurseries wishing to achieve ‘gender-friendly’ status following a pilot project. The year-long process includes training staff in which colour to paint walls, how to talk to children and how to avoid ‘unintentional segregation’.
The advice says: ‘We will explore how attitudes and language are part of a sliding scale that can result in physical violence and murder. This is to challenge the idea sexist or gendered language or jokes are harmless.
‘You will also come across many children, parents or carers, visitors to the nursery and others who will do or say things that do not fit with the gender-friendly ethos.
‘A visitor might appear shocked or surprised to see boys playing with dolls, a child might exclude another child from a game on the basis of their gender, or a grandparent might remark that a little girl is ‘not very ladylike’ as she has mud on her dress. Part of the training is about preparing for and being ready to challenge these attitudes.
‘A throwaway comment may seem harmless but its impact can be huge and can influence a child for the rest of its life.’
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said three nurseries had so far achieved ‘gender-friendly’ status.
A spokesman said: ‘At no point are staff asked to stop referring to children as boys or girls.
‘The flexible approach of the programme means nurseries are free to decide how they wish to take it forward.
‘We have not been made aware of any staff members, parents or children expressing a concern with any of the changes.
‘The scheme works respectfully alongside parents, carers and grandparents by building on the important role they play in children’s lives and on the strong relationships early learning and childcare staff have with them.’
But Chris McGovern of the Campaign for Real Education said: ‘We need to be seriously worried about this. This is highly confusing to children. We are loading our children with the angst and anxiety of adults. The people who produced this need to understand that this is cruel and confusing.’