AIBU for the teacher not to use the word Numpty

[Susanne9176]

My son who is 6 used the word numpty and I asked him where he had heard this. He said his class teacher is using this word to describe the children when they've done something a bit silly and has called.h and other children that. Am I over reacting or is that just not ok, she is basically calling them stupid and encouraging the kids to name call

I'm just imagining a remake of Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels where they hiss in each other's faces and call their nemeses numpties, dingbats and silly noodles before stabbing them through the heart and throwing them off a factory roof

Probably still wouldn't make it a PG, though....

The term is affectionate - but I suspect you know that.

We use goose. Don't be a goose! Oh you goose etc. Or wally. Numpty is fine.

What do you associate with the word numpty op?

6 year olds don't need negative comments for being 'a bit silly'

Making a little joke about it is better than being formal and telling a child to concentrate /pay closer attention to their actions. Very mild teasing is signs that you and the child are close and it's affectionate.

Or are you suggesting that adults shouldn't comment at all when 6yo kids are being silly. When you're in charge of 30 kids I'm sure it helps if kids pay attention to little details so you can get the tasks done efficiently.

People make silly mistakes and it's good if you can laugh and own said mistakes rather than have people politely pretend that they didn't happen.

It's also about context.

Secondary teacher too: sometimes my kids do silly things, as does everyone. I call myself a noodle or doughnut when I make mistakes under my visualiser or on the board. I say the same if the kids do thing like stick sheets in upside down.

But it's fine affectionately in tone, with a smile. It doesn't matter, you made a silly mistake.

If it's said sneeringly, or with malice it different. Words are important but with terms like this it's all about context.

My classes know I will laugh at myself and we gave, I hope, a relaxed atmosphere where mistakes are ok. I hope too that my not being perfect all the time reassures them it ok to make mistakes and to just persist.

Yabu and a numpty for thinking this is an issue

When ds was six he wrote "Mrs X is my favourite teacher because she calls me names like silly sausage".
I remember at a similar age my cousin loved his teacher who used to say "I'll pull your arm off and hit you with the soggy end."

Both of them were able to know it was meant affectionately and they adored it.

Yabu, numpty is pretty mild.

Making a little joke about it is better than being formal and telling a child to concentrate /pay closer attention to their actions. Very mild teasing is signs that you and the child are close and it's affectionate.
This.
Having a good relationship with students and being able to use humour is an important part of teaching.

In my experience the people who get uptight about some friendly humour are also the people who get uptight about their child being "told off" when given a reminder about expectations or following instructions.

Snowflake syndrome again

DC love banter If it is said with a smile it won't do any harm
Sign off his Christmas card from your little numpty.

What word is gentler than numpty but describes a child who's done something silly and minor?

One I haven’t seen mentioned here is “dafty”. That’s what we’ve taken to calling our 3 year-old when he does silly things. About in the same level as numpty or wally I’d have thought?

I never liked it to be honest. Silly sausage I don't mind that sounds funny, might do it's job of making an upset child crack a smile.

Numpty doesn't sound cute or funny to me. Sounds like another way of saying twit, pillock, idiot, muppet, prat, div.

I HATE muppet that's even worse.

I use silly moo, silly sausage, and silly billy. Not a lot though I just don't think I'm a fan of name calling, affectionate or not!

Scottish here too and me and everyone else I know say Numpty, Eejit, Muppet, Tube and Feel all the time.

None of them are offensive to us, more terms of endearment.

I don't say this, but even "Ye daft c**t" is not really a massive insult here.

I can’t understand why people think any of these words, used in the context of the OP, are endearing.

The OP tells of a teacher who uses them in a negative way. Whatever the word, that’s not endearment, it’s a criticism.

I use the word Banana. Though wouldn't think twice about numpty. However I think eejit is a bit too close to being an insult.

Years ago my son's friend was called a "Nincompoop" by their teacher. We still laugh about it now.

It's a mild term and as an adult I wouldn't find it offensive. However I have been doing a behaviour course on children's behaviour and we covered the topic of labelling children. Words that we deem harmless, such as "naughty",etc, can have an impact on children.
As an example, my DH often used to call our DD a numpty when she did something silly. But I had to tell him to stop when she said she couldn't do certain things because she was "just a numpty". So I don't think it's great that a teacher would use any kind of labelling word.

Oh it's fine. It just means silly. The teacher's being playful. They're not robots!

Zukie - I don't say this, but even "Ye daft ct" is not really a massive insult here.

Love this.

Zukie - I don't say this, but even "Ye daft ct" is not really a massive insult here.

Whereas, ”awright, (ya) cunt/bawbag” denotes great affection.

@snowybaubles

We don't use any put downs in our house. No one is a numpty/eejit etc. If they do something daft or incorrect they get support and love not a put down

How do you 'support and love' someone who's just knocked a drink over having just been told to be careful?
Or just done exactly the opposite of what you've told them?

Wouldn't have a problem with my infant/junior age dc being called a numpty

Wouldn't have a problem with my secondary school child being called an eejit if it was said in a jokey manner and not screamed aggressively at them 🤷🏻‍♀️