An NHS guidebook for soon-to-be parents has removed the word ‘dad’ following a complaint claiming it “was not inclusive of people in same-sex relationships”.
The Ready Steady Baby book, a free guide handed out to expectant parents for the past 14-years, has written out ‘dad’ and replaced it with the gender-neutral phrase ‘partner’ in response to the complaint.
The 220-page guidebook offers advice on pregnancy, labour, birth and parenting tips up until the baby’s first year. The NHS hands out more than 700,000 copies each year.
The politically correct move has angered family campaigners, who believe the removal of ‘dad’ undermines traditional family set-ups.
Norman Wells from the Family Education Trust, said in a statement: “This is all part of an agenda to present as natural a type of family that cannot be created by natural means.
“The NHS should not be squandering tax payers’ money to advance the cause of a minority interest group.
“No matter how much effort is made to present positive images of families headed by same-sex couples, the fact remains it takes a man and a woman to create a child.”
Ann-Marie McKimm, Founder of Yano.co.uk, told HuffPost Lifestyle: “I totally agree that this is a waste of taxpayers money. When the guide needs re-printing then that is the time to use more non-specific references to parents and up-date it if necessary.
"But by dropping dad they could also be insulting two men that are becoming parents to a surrogates baby and will both be 'dads'. This is political correctness gone crazy. Good old common sense needs to come into play here.”
However, NHS health Scotland, which is behind the booklet, defends the revision, saying in a statement, reports the Telegraph: "It is standard practice to review publications on a yearly basis, if not more often.
"At the time this complaint was received the Ready Steady Baby text had just been through its annual review, changes made and the new edition was printed in December 2011.
"The review process identified the need to use language that was more inclusive, particularly in relation to same sex partnerships.”
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How To Be A Positive Parent
Tips on how to instill good behaviour in your child from an early age by using the 'positive discipline' approach, as advocated by the <a href="http://www.nspcc.org.uk/help-and-advice/for-parents-and-carers/positive-parenting/encouraging-better-behaviour/encouraging-better-behaviour_wda72886.html#positive_parenting_and_positive_discipline" target="_hplink"><strong>National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty for Children</strong></a> (<strong>NSPCC</strong>).
Show The Love
You can never spoil your child by showing them too much love. Boost their self-esteem by making them feel cherished, safe and special.
Have Clear Rules
Have clear simple rules and limits. Your child needs to know what the boundaries are, what is and is not acceptable. Keep it simple to avoid confusion and concentrate on behaviour that really matters.
Praise Good Behaviour
Praise good behaviour that you want to encourage and chances are, your child will repeat this as they know there's a reward at the end of it.
Ignore Bad Behaviour
If you ignore behaviour you don't like, it is less likely to be repeated by your child. Make it clear that you're open to communication when they are behaving, but not when they are being naughty or disruptive.
Avoid Direct Criticism
Rather than telling your child off for being bad, identify what they have done wrong and criticise the behaviour instead. Direct criticism can cause your child to go into their shell and become shy and withdrawn.
Show The Signs
Be as demonstrative as possible. Sweep her off her feet and praise her to when she's been a good girl. She'll remember how happy it makes her feel and make her want to be good again.
Step In
If it looks as though your child's behaviour is starting to deteriorate, step in before things go wrong. Redirect them to another activity to avoid conflict.
Acknowledge your child's feelings by saying, 'I know you are cross" but make it clear that it doesn't go beyond that point.
Let Go of Control
Children need to learn about dealing with choices and decision-making. Don't impose your decisions on them all the time, let them have their say on little things and gradually increase this as they get older.
Never Be Threatening
Never use threats or physical behaviour, as this will only make the situation worse. Negotiate solutions when there is a disagreement and remember to communicate to help dissolve the problem. This way, your child will end up understanding what went wrong and why you are upset with them.
Set A Good Example
It's vital for parents to be positive role models for their child and practice what they preach. Actions speak louder than words. Let your child see that rules apply to everyone in the family, not just him or her.
An NHS guidebook for soon-to-be parents has removed the word ‘dad’ following a complaint claiming it “was not inclusive of people in same-sex relationships”.
The Ready Steady Baby book, a f...
An NHS guidebook for soon-to-be parents has removed the word ‘dad’ following a complaint claiming it “was not inclusive of people in same-sex relationships”.
The Ready Steady Baby book, a f...
Following calls that it should do more to improve social mobility in the medical profession, the Government has hired medical whizz kid Doogie Howser, M.D....
Pandering PC nonsense.
The NHS should be concentrating on their job of curing the sick , leaving the single-issue politicking to others., instead of encouraging what they themselves describe as high-risk sexual activity.
aeneas9: Pandering PC nonsense. The NHS should be concentrating on their
I believe there is something more going on here than was mentioned in the article or is being discussed in the comment section. The reason given by NHS for removing the word 'dad' from this booklet doesn't add up. If they didn't want to offend same-sex couples, they would have removed the word 'mother' as well because there are of course man-and-man same-sex couples. In my eyes this is not just an attack on family (though it is that), it is also and more directly an attack on fathers and fatherhood itself. The most commonly read book re: child care in the UK no longer includes the word 'father' but it does include the words 'parent' and 'mother'. In my opinion it is one small step at a time with the State and I do believe that sooner or later we will take it for granted that a father is a luxury, a burden, or a word devoid of meaning - any one of these three.
David_Casson: I believe there is something more going on here than
Yes, of course, the entire lexicon of human endeavor should be re-written to appease those with a highly tweaked sense of insult. Nothing like social reform and tolerance to spark the ire of people who are starved for attention. Promote change, promote tolerance, but don't put your dog in every fight.
tendril: Yes, of course, the entire lexicon of human endeavor should
How ridiculous! The mother is only able to become a mother with the help of sperm from the father. Mother and father have nothing to do with marriage or partnership but the egg cannot work without the sperm and vice versa. In fact the father is defined just by the production of the sperm. The mother is defined by the production of the egg but also by giving birth so 1 child can have two natural mothers but only ever one natural father. The NHS is being ridiculous. Its like the turning of our Christmas celebration into a holiday to save upsetting the non-christians in our country ....... damn stupid!
terriminx2: How ridiculous! The mother is only able to become a
Just how many made a complaint.They must be in the minority because they are the ones who complain just for the sake of it. The NHS is struggling and they kow-tow to these people who need to get a life.
narny: Just how many made a complaint.They must be in the
I read that some elementary schools no longer have children make Father's day cards in order not to offend those who live with single mothers. This sounds like more of the same. If we are going to remove "dad" we should remove "mother" as well, as this might offend same sex male pardners. Maybe we should rewrite the dictionary definition of "Dad" and "Father" to read: "Not wanted or needed in today's society". Really sad.
thatdogguy: I read that some elementary schools no longer have children
Why are people becominf sooo sensitive? You cant open your mouth these days without offending someone. I wish i was born a hundred years ago before all this madness started.
xladyhawkex: Why are people becominf sooo sensitive? You cant open your
More cost to the taxpayer because of a PC crusading complaint - There must be some sad lives around if that's all they have to worry about - Suppose we have the following changes to look forward to when the word man becomes the target - personhole, personicure, personpower, and will Fathers day become 'partners day'
Cumbriabigyin: More cost to the taxpayer because of a PC crusading
Yet another way of erasing men as fathers. Why can't we have dad/partner on leaflet? How can the idea of 'dad' be offensive? Surely, instead, it's a case of 'offense through exclusion'? More pressing is the need to address the current invisibility of fathers-as-parents in pregnancy, childbirth and maternity leave. Surely it's a case of doing this, and including same-sex couples at the same time, rather than 'writing out' fathers yet again?
hiatus: Yet another way of erasing men as fathers. Why can't
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The Huffington Post UK | By Kyrsty Hazell Posted: 28/05/2012 12:45 BST Updated: 28/05/2012 18:00 BST