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A dressed-up curriculum

By Peter Dixon, educational consultant and children's writer Zak is three-and-three-quarters, Dinky-Jay is just five, and they are making their way to the sand tray. They will be disappointed when they arrive because the lid has been nailed down by the health and safety brigade. Dinky-Jay and Zak don't know that yet. Progress is slow. Dinky-Jay's new silver lacquered Petite Femme Zero Boutique boots are wobbly and the nursery floor is uneven. Zak's vision is obscured by an explosion of gelled hair spiking from his brow - but don't they look great!

Dinky-Jay's new silver lacquered Petite Femme Zero Boutique boots are wobbly and the nursery floor is uneven. Zak's vision is obscured by an explosion of gelled hair spiking from his brow - but don't they look great!

'No harm children looking good and taking an interest in themselves. Nothing wrong with being smart - eh?'

Dinky-Jay isn't saying much because she has stuffed her shredded comfort blanket into her mouth and Zak has a penchant for his blue dummy.

Seen it? Been there? Children dressed as pop stars. Dad and his lad and big sister clones. This isn't an image of childhood that I enjoy, but is it any worse than the pseudo-secondary school curriculum imposed upon primary school and now babyhood itself? I don't think it is.

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