Partnering with Emma’s Diary has helped me reach so many prospective parents, newborn mums and toddler handlers – I love hearing your feedback and support, thank you! Working with this platform is one of my proudest writing achievements and I love having the opportunity to tackle controversial subjects. Today I’m sharing something controversial: we don’t use the word “naughty”, and here’s why. Thank you Emma’s Diary for giving me this platform to share my innermost thoughts.
Buckle up for a post that’s going to divide so many.
I’m known for getting people talking and this one might just push a few people over the edge.
We don’t, and have never, used the word “naughty” in our house.
If you don’t already know, I am a mummy to a wonderful two-year-old boy named Jack.
Motherhood was all I wanted growing up but the reality is a lot different from the dream. I absolutely love motherhood, but I don’t love every second of it. Some days are brilliant and full of laughter, other days I’m dragging my heels to bedtime and getting into bed as soon as he’s down.
That’s the reality and I’m not ashamed to admit it.
We are as conventional a family as you can get, mummy, daddy & 1 child. I’d say we’re pretty normal. But we don’t use the word naughty – EVER.
Here’s why we don’t use the word naughty…
Naughty is not a word in our repertoire. It’s a conscious choice and it’s just not a label we like to give to our small child.
I don’t like the idea that if he does something that isn’t right, he’s labelled as a naughty boy. When he is simply acting like a two-year-old, we can’t just throw the word naughty at him.
Especially when there are other methods or words to use.
I believe that if we use words like naughty, we would be telling Jack that is exactly that. He would start to believe that he is naughty. His little self-esteem would take that on as a kind of brand and he would believe that of himself.
In a similar vein, I wouldn’t needlessly shout at him or call him names.
Testing Behaviour
I understand that there is a time and place for raised voices, and I have had to put that into effect, even just this week.
My lovely, wild toddler ran too far in front of me and, even with warning, ran into the road.
Thankfully, we live on a quiet road and there were no cars around, but I felt the need to raise my voice to get him to stop. The use of this showed him that his behaviour was not acceptable and he was in danger.
I didn’t berate him or call him naughty; I simply told him to stop (firmly), got him back onto the path in my arms and told him that it was dangerous. At two, his understanding is still fairly limited but because I very rarely raise my voice, it did the trick.
I could have easily said something like: “That’s so naughty” or “You naughty boy” but it was not needed.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE
Do you use the word naughty?
Do you agree with my choices?
LoveRosiee
xxx
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People Also Ask…
Is it bad to use the word “naughty”?
It is much worse if this happens in a nursery scenario, because as soon as you label a child as naughty, their peers start to see them as one-dimensionally bad, which affects how they are treated, which in turn affects their future behaviour. Call a child naughty, and all you’re doing is creating a naughty child.
Is “naughty” a negative word?
Overall, while the term “naughty” can have different connotations depending on the context and cultural norms, it tends to have a negative connotation in many situations, particularly when used to describe behaviour that is seen as inappropriate or transgressive.
Should you call a toddler naughty?
Parents should say: “What you have done is very naughty, I don’t like the way you behaved” but not that ‘you are naughty’. “It’s a very different message and very bad for a child’s self confidence and self esteem,” she said. This can reinforce negative feelings and lead to more bad behaviour.
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