A few days after my daughter started kindergarten, she came home with a rather surprising addition to her vocabulary. While playing with her younger two-year-old sibling, she suddenly turned and said, “Zip your mouth!” I was taken aback, as this is not a phrase we have ever used in our household. Curious, I gently asked her where she had learned it, and she innocently replied, “From Teacher N.”
As parents, we understand that children are like sponges at this age – they absorb everything they hear and often repeat it without understanding the full weight of their words. This is why I feel it’s essential for kindergarten teachers, who play such an influential role in shaping young minds, to be mindful of the language they use.
Words matter, especially in a classroom setting, where children look up to their teachers as role models.
Phrases like “zip your mouth” may seem harmless or even playful to some, but to me, they feel unnecessarily harsh.
A softer alternative, such as “Be quiet, please,” or “Hush now,” would convey the same message while fostering a more positive and respectful tone. Language shapes how children interact with others, and it’s important to model kindness and respect, even when setting boundaries.
Some might see this as a trivial matter, but it struck a chord with me. As parents, we work hard to instil certain values in our children, including how we communicate. When those efforts are inadvertently undermined, even in small ways, it can be unsettling.
Kindy mum
