An early childhood centre has clashed with a parent over teaching LGBTQ+ topics.
According to Daily Telegraph, an anonymous parent claimed a staff member at Roseville Kids Care, Sydney, contacted police after the parent complained about ‘gender ideology’ being taught at the centre.
The issue the parent allegedly had was children as young as five learning ‘radical gender theory’. Children were learning about terms such as: non – binary, pansexual, lesbian and asexual. Children also coloured in Pride flags.
The parent said:
I visited it and was shocked that there was a giant out-size ‘pride’ flag. It was the biggest flag in the room, far bigger than the Australian flag. When I went in there was an entire wall describing different sexualities giving definitions of things like ‘pansexual’ and ‘lesbian’.
A number of photos taken by other parents show pride flags that were coloured by the children.
Should educators teach children about LGBTQ+ topics?
The actions from Roseville Kids Care has received support and criticism
Sydney psychologist, Clare Rowe said that LGBTQ+ concepts were too adult for young children to grasp.
…they simply do not have the mental faculties to process layered, complex information.
Rowe put the onus of teaching about gender and sexuality on the parents.
Director of Foundations of Western Civilisation Program for Institute of Public Affairs, Dr. Bella d’Abrera has condemned the centre.
Parents should be extremely concerned that they are entrusting their very young children to an after care centre which is indoctrinating them with radical gender theory.
However, Roseville Kids Care does have some supporters. CEO of the Network of Community Activities, Pauline Kane argued:
It’s about raising children with inclusive attitudes.
Kane claimed primary – aged children often raised questions about topics such as transgenderism. Those questions should be answered.
Is five too young to learn about LGBTQ+ topics?
I can see both sides. Yes, young children need to be protected from adult concepts they can’t grasp. Ideally, parents and caregivers should be able to approach topics like gender and sexuality in a way that’s age appropriate.
I don’t agree with young children getting involved in Pride culture. I didn’t like what some children have allegedly been exposed to in Pride parades this year.
While I don’t totally disagree with it, I don’t see why young children have to know what the Pride flags are. I’m happy with five- year – olds to know that; sometimes two women love each other like mummy and daddy do. Same with men, etc.
Likewise, when a child is being raised by same – sex or gender non – conforming parents, then bring it up. Children should be able to know that families are different.
Children should be able to explore their identity, including gender. Before anyone hits the roof, many children have a concept of their gender from a very young age.
So I’m in the middle. Little children don’t need to be exposed to Pride culture. However, it’s not a bad thing to teach children that it’s OK to express their gender the way they see fit. And some men love men and some women love women. Pride? That can wait until they’re older.
What do you think? Should young children learn about Pride and LGBTQ identities? Let me know your thoughts below.