Stop Shaming Kids – Help Spread the Word – #StopShamingKids

There’s a very important petition online that I hope you’ll sign and help promote. It’s part of the Stop Shaming Kids (#StopShamingKids) campaign and is asking Facebook and other social media sites to make policies that prevent public shaming of children.

Please Sign the Stop Shaming Kids Petition

Here’s what the Stop Shaming Kids petition says:

“Child maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation resulting in harm to the child’s health, survival, development, or dignity. Clearly, publicly shaming a minor is an abuse of power and a form of child maltreatment. To protect the basic human rights of children, we ask that Facebook and other social media sites establish parameters which prohibit public shaming of minors via photo/video and allow users to flag “suspected child maltreatment,” and/or “bullying of a minor.” Please help us make Facebook and other social media sites safe for our children.”

Respect for Children

It really saddens me to hear of examples of public shaming. As a Montessorian, I embrace the principle of always showing respect for the child.

“Children Are” Montessori Word Art Freebie

In Montessori education, we try to avoid embarrassing the child, even for incorrect answers. Instead, we choose to demonstrate a lesson again at a later time.

That includes manners. Rather than drawing attention to an incorrect or omitted etiquette technique, we simply observe the child’s response and repeat the lesson at a later time (along with giving lots of opportunities to practice the technique at home or in the classroom). See “How to Teach Your Child Manners Using Montessori Principles” and my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to Teach Grace and Courtesy.

Use Kindness in Discipline and in All Life

Montessori Kindness Word Art Feebie

It only makes sense that we should treat our children as we’d want to be treated. In addition to being a Montessorian, I’m a strong advocate of gentle discipline and kindness in general. Gentle discipline does work. I used gentle discipline with my own children, who are now adults. See “Teaching Kids to Be Kind” and “Why I Still Recommend Parent Effectiveness Training (40 Years Later)” for more resources along with more about my experiences with gentle discipline.

Help Spread the Word to Stop Shaming Kids

Please join the campaign to stop shaming kids on social media.

You’re welcome to use any of the images in this post. StopShamingKids.com has images for you to share. Please link to StopShamingKids.com whenever you use their images. If you use the image from the top of this post or any of my other images, please link to the post they’re from. Thanks!

I have lots of quotes and word-art inspiration at the Bits of Positivity Facebook page and on Pinterest!

May be linked to Thoughtful Spot, The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions, A Little Bird Told Me Linky Party.

Background photo at top of page by Christopher Meder.