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What does 'naughty' mean to your LO?

5 replies

BroccoliSpears · 27/02/2008 22:39

So, dd was throwing books down the stairs. As far as she was concerned it was a fabulous new game she'd invented and she was enjoying herself immensely. Cue stern mummy voice and removal of books whilst explaining that we did not throw books down the stairs in this house.

She raced off to the bookshelf to find some more books to chuck, squeaking with giggly excitement.

It was only as I was explaining that mummy was not laughing, it was not funny and throwing books down the stairs when mummy had said "no" was 'naughty' that I realised what naughty meant to her:

Naughty in all her books and songs is associated with a cheeky little monkey (usually) who's being 'naughty' but it's all funny and everyone is enjoying the joke. To her, naughty is not a negative thing, more impish and funny.

I can't decide whether to abandon the concept or find a new word!

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motherhurdicure · 27/02/2008 22:56

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Horsiemummy · 01/03/2008 00:10

my ds has learn the word "vandal" - he is 15 months . his grandad says it to him when he is throwing toys or bashing the tv etc. but now, when he knows he is about to do something i wont like, this broad grin appears and he says "vandal".

boys eh!

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twinklingfairy · 01/03/2008 00:30

My 17mo DD thinks 'ouch' is funny and the action is to be repeated with her saying ouch for me, with a grin on her face.
Not good.
Not often admittedly.
She also does the same with 'no' that your DS does with 'vandal'.
I have decided to attempt a look (my mum did it so well scary, even now) It has worked once or twice but is VV hard to maintain when they are grinning away

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S1ur · 01/03/2008 00:39

Perhaps oddly but I dislikwe the word naughty.

possibly I think because it is hard to pin down. I go with descriptive when I can, so thoughtless, dangerous, unfair, unkind, rude etc. you can explain those easily.

Also naughty is easy to pin to a child instead pf behaviour, and it makes me wince a bit. I think I'm probably wrong really. But there ya go!

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BroccoliSpears · 01/03/2008 22:28

No, it's a good point Slur. I think that descriptive words are probably more useful to the child.

'Naughty' is a bit arbitrary and vague.