In Great Britain, schools have introduced a new guideline prompting children no longer call their parents “mom” and “dad.” This initiative, spearheaded by headteachers in Brighton, aims to embrace all forms of family structures, including non-traditional ones such as families with two moms, two dads, non-binary parents, or guardian-based households. The preferred terminology in these schools is now “grownups.”
For four schools, this change in language has become a source of confusion and difficulty. Though the intent is to foster inclusivity and respect for diverse family setups, it has admittedly created challenges for children accustomed to the traditional terms, “mom” and “dad.”
St Luke’s Primary School has updated its school website to reflect this linguistic adjustment. It states, “We have an Equalities Language Code for staff. To value all families, we never refer to ‘mums and dads’ and instead talk about ‘grownups’.”
Elm Grove Primary School supports a similar viewpoint in their Equalities Statement to better represent varied family dynamics.
Brighton’s educational policies have shifted to exclude the terms “mom” and “dad,” emphasizing language that accommodates different family structures, as noted on their website updates.
Saltdean Primary has taken further steps by adapting its Equality and Diversity Policy to use “parents/carers” instead of “mum” and “dad”. They encourage children to discuss and acknowledge the diverse nature of families upon entering school.
However, not all parents have viewed these changes positively. One parent expressed disruption and confusion, noting the unnecessary complexity introduced for children who are simply accustomed to the terms “mum” and “dad.” This sentiment reflects a broader concern that in striving for inclusivity, the fundamental familial roles of “mum” and “dad” are being overlooked.
Another parent echoed similar frustrations, calling the initiative excessive and questioning the end limits of such educational policies.
Regardless of the criticisms, the schools stand by their decision, advocating the term “grownups” which can inclusively cover all forms of caregivers, not just biological parents.
