To think these are appalling lyrics in junior school Xmas play?

[greenwoodpecker101]

At my child’s school. For older age prImary school children. And the kids are singing a song with the chorus ‘Counting down the calories to Christmas’, with lines like ‘I’m watching the dial on the scale’ ‘I’m resisting temptation’,

They are getting young kids, particularly young girls on the cusp of puberty, to sing a song extolling the virtues of obsessive attention to food and weight, restricting eating and losing weight, presumably so you can binge eat over Xmas. Or maybe it’s just trying to instill a general fear of tasty food. I dunno.

This isn’t a genuine AIBU as I don’t think I am. Healthy attitudes to food are important. People with healthy relationships to food don’t need to panic and restrict food before Xmas.

I don’t think kids should be taught this is normal or good behaviour around food by being made to sing a cheery song about it. Especially not girls.

I’d be furious, totally inappropriate and the exact opposite of what we should be instilling in our kids. Personally I’d complain to the Head

its inappropriate and I would be making representation to the school and the board of governors. its just fat shaming really and nasty. not appropriate in a school setting and certainly not in a christmas play. one comment maybe but not a song that goes on and on

Awful! And I'm not a "food is food" person.

That’s massively inappropriate. I’d want serious words with their safeguarding lead re policy on being alerted to eating disorders. I’ve had to report 2 children recently because they’re not eating in school. That’s a terrible idea for a song.

I was genuinely shocked. When our kids were six there was a mum whose daughter was restricting her food saying she was fat. Other mums were saying that their SIX year old daughters had also made negative comments about themselves having fat tummies and whatever. SIX years old! Schools should be combating this stuff not encouraging it!

Not ok. I would suggest an email or letter to outline why you were appalled.

Worrying that several staff members must have been involved and didn't object.

Hopefully you'll get a heartfelt apology and assurance that everyone involved has been spoken to about why this was a problem.

That's ridiculous and obviously pushing an agenda that has nothing to do with Christmas. I'd be furious.

I would go apeshit at them. I have a very unhealthy relationship with food and am morbidly obese, I know the start of it was when our home economics teachers set up a slimming club at school which I went to. I was 11 and not even overweight and my body was obviously changing at that age anyway.That was back in the 80s and it makes me angry now about how irresponsible they were, it's the same kind of thing for you, those teachers should be ashamed of themselves.

Grim. Send it to the Daily Mail?

Wow. I can't imagine the mindset of the person who thought that'd be ok!

Terrible decision by the school. I’d say something to the head because if they truly think that’s ok, who knows what sort of attitude they take on similar things throughout the year.

I've just googled and the whole play is a bit weird. I was hoping that the song would be in a more positive context with some expansion on enjoying Christmas but no. It's an entire fat-shaming scene for small childre. WT actual F!?

That is awful!

This is so sad.

My DS in year 5 and they're all so focused on weight already, with the message that 'being fat is the worst thing you can be' already ingrained.

I'm overweight and my son gets comments about it. I dread to think what the little girl in his class who is chubby goes through.

A song like that is insidious in young minds.

Given the additional context I think it is less concerning.
it’s a little Britain style sketch where the children are playing middle aged women. It’s not about kids trying to lose weight.

That makes it WORSE for me! Totally, totally inappropriate - we shouldn't be modelling that this is how grown ups talk and behave.

Regardless of whether this is intended as comedic, it is downright appalling. Not something that should be bandied around in a primary school, let alone something the kids are acting out and singing. Fk me I'd be furious if that were my school.

Terrifying. Anorexia hasn't gone away as a problem.

WT actually F, the attached skit makes it worse and worse

A surefire way of contributing to an eating disorder. I'd probably go to the paper with this and shame the fk out of them.

That's horrific for primary school. Awful.

That is bad, very bad.

Awful YANBU

Good Lord. Who on Earth thought this was appropriate?

Agree with others - entirely inappropriate. I would contact the school.