Parents called out a nursery school after advising them to stop calling their daughter two specific words.
Parents in the United Kingdom were left outraged after Bright Horizons, one of the largest nursery school providers in the country with hundreds of nurseries and preschools being operated in Britain, sent out a handbook to parents imploring them not to call their daughters by the words "pretty" or "princess."
The school handbook, currently described by the British media as a "woke" handbook, further stated that parents should avoid gendered language and even stop praising their kids for good behavior.
"Bright Horizons is dictating to parents their own political views on how to raise their children. They obviously have very left-wing views in terms of gender politics and think they are entitled to tell parents how to address their daughters and what to teach them about their bodies," a parent with a child at Bright Horizons said, as reported by Express.
Parents instructed to 'reflect'
The nursery school provider even instructed parents to "reflect" on how they are raising their female children as it is easy for a parent to just fall into a "pattern of praising a girl's appearance," like calling them "pretty" or labeling their behavior as "good" or commending them when they do something great.
The New York Post was able to gather some of the instructions and advice listed by Bright Horizon to their students' parents:
- Eliminate gender-based references to the children, such as "princess" or "tomboy," or use phrases like "Young ladies don't behave that way."
- Avoid using "gendered terms" like calling an opinionated daughter "bossy."
- Be aware of the gender stereotypes the kids and the family consumes from the media.
- Fill the family's home with books, toys, and decor not conforming to specific gender roles.
- In line with number four, purchase books about female construction workers and urge the girls to engage in activities that involve math and science.
Allow children to be children
Sir John Hayes, former Tory Education Minister, spoke with Daily Mail about the parents' concern and described Bright Horizons' advice as "daft." He further emphasized that the nursery school provider would "darken the horizons of little girls" who would not hear their parents call them pretty or be allowed to dress up as their favorite princesses.
These girls, according to Hayes, will be robbed of the "simple joy" that girls have been experiencing in their childhood for generations. He continued by saying that the world needs to "treasure the innocence" of these children instead of preaching to them what they can and cannot do and allowing them to be the children they are.
Fox News Digital got a comment from Bright Horizons, and they explained that they respect how every parent has a personal choice on how they would want to raise their children. They want their students' parents to be aware that in case they are looking for ideas on how to empower their daughters to "grow into strong, confident leaders, free from potentially harmful gender stereotypes," the school is willing to offer advice that highlights the girls' attributes other than the physical appearance.
Bright Horizons started as a childcare provider for working parents in the United States in 1986. It has since expanded, with over 700 centers in the US and Canada and over 300 in the UK.
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