ABC Pride book from Dorling Kindersley, for young children

I think schools have it absolutely right.

I'm a teaching assistant with education in SEN and emotional support.

Education is all about equipping children with the life skills they need as adults.

This includes socially and emotionally.

My job is everything, I absolutely love children, the holidays have only just started and I'm missing it already.

It makes me so sad how some adults don't see children as intelligent, feeling, perceptive, open minded individuals worthy of respect

It really isn't a big deal!

My DGS said to me the other day, 'Most people with penises are man Gaga.'

I said to him, 'Are you a man?'

Reply, 'I'm a boy silly!'

Argh! Men

It would never be my place to suggest anything to a child, only to validate and be understanding of the feelings they have.

For example, a primary age child who was traumatised by the puberty lesson and did not want their body to develop along the lines of their given gender.

What would you say to that child?

Totally agree with the upper case letters tho. Not suitable for learning the alphabet or their phonics.

GagaJo

Totally agree with the upper case letters tho. Not suitable for learning the alphabet or their phonics.

Yes I agree too with that one..

Phonics is hard enough due to the English language being thoroughly daft when it comes to spelling

Exactly. Proving that the authors and publishers of this book really didn’t consider the educational value of it, or whether or not the book is age appropriate.
I am a Teacher of Reading, btw

Maybe you could write to them and collaborate on a better version Fanny

No thank you VS.
It wouldn’t be something that I’m interested in.
I’m more SEN and EAL focused

Fanny what do you think about Makaton signs and symbols with EAL?

I use Makaton without thinking and it seems beneficial

VioletSky

It would never be my place to suggest anything to a child, only to validate and be understanding of the feelings they have.

For example, a primary age child who was traumatised by the puberty lesson and did not want their body to develop along the lines of their given gender.

What would you say to that child?

What would you say to them VS?

Rather than give the view of someone not in education (me) it would be more useful to hear how you would deal with that.

No, I’m not a fan at all.
It’s inappropriate to conflate SEN and EAL
Your EAL students need to be immersed in the language that you want them to learn.
Would you use Makaton with toddler? No (probably!)
Use visual prompts, but not Makaton
That’s just my opinion btw, please feel free not to argue with me!

VS For example, a primary age child who was traumatised by the puberty lesson and did not want their body to develop along the lines of their given gender.
Now I’ve been in that situation -quite a lot of Y5 and Y6 are well developed and are not happy about it. So far, none of those who have talked to me wish they were not girls, but they are not happy with they way their bodies are developing according to the sex they were born.

I’m evidently managing well enough to be the ‘go to’ person of choice to talk about it, but what do you say to children in that situation?
Do you suggest they bind their chests, or take drugs to slow down their puberty, explaining the potential effects this might have?

Not so easy when they are in the environment makaton is used and the school promotes all students to learn basic signs... I'll talk to SEN department about it instead, thanks

FarNorth my answer came before the question

VioletSky

Not so easy when they are in the environment makaton is used and the school promotes all students to learn basic signs... I'll talk to SEN department about it instead, thanks

If your SEN department are responsible for EAL students, then this is totally wrong.

Sorry VS, I may have misunderstood.
Your whole school learns Makaton?
Do you work in a Special Needs school?

Fanny the child is SEN

Don't worry

It's off topic anyway

VioletSky you are saying that this is your answer?

It would never be my place to suggest anything to a child, only to validate and be understanding of the feelings they have.

If so, what sort of things would you actually say or do?

It would never be my place to suggest anything to a child, only to validate and be understanding of the feelings they have.
VS
If so, what sort of things would you actually say or do?

I'd listen, tell them it's OK to feel the way they do, comfort them...

Then I'd refer on their concerns

FannyCornforth

Sorry VS, I may have misunderstood.
Your whole school learns Makaton?
Do you work in a Special Needs school?

My GCs learned Makaton in their nursery. It was standard and used by all the staff when communicating with any child. There was no pressure on the child to use it and my GCs actually behaved in entirely different ways, my GD used it extensively and my GS didn't. The benefits of using Makaton for developing speech and vocabulary in young children are well known. www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/brain-injury-information/latest/the-benefits-of-makaton-for-children-with-disabilities?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2_OWBhDqARIsAAUNTTEA6s4C8bJEYpmQy516SdZNdLFF3glgw8bb0jVOY9AaAP8KRS-4MjsaAkJjEALw_wcB

VioletSky

I'd listen, tell them it's OK to feel the way they do, comfort them...

Then I'd refer on their concerns

Refer on their concerns to where? Would you tel them you are referring on their concerns?
If they asked what would happen when you refer on their concerns, what would you tell them will happen?

As far as the book goes it is simply a book. It will just add to the knowledge and information already available in book form. It won't change children and it may help one or two to cope. This thread reminds me of the uproar about Clause 28. Teachers fought against that. There will be trans teachers just as there are gay teachers. There will be trans people in the lives of some children making information available just eliminates the mystery and difference and helps them understand differences.