Should nursery rhymes come with a trigger warning?
We can understand how we need to be cautious of what we expose our kids to, but do we have to dig deeper into nursery rhymes like Hickory Dickory Dock?
Listening to and singing nursery rhymes is a key part of growing up. New mothers and fathers are told to sing to their babies while they are still in the womb, as it helps their growing babies remember their voices.
But little did we realise that the nursery rhymes we were singing would come with warning labels.
A recent video shared on Instagram by the morning show hosts on GB News made a shocking announcement about the 200-year-old nursery rhyme, Hickory Dickory Dock.
Dawn Neesom, a journalist in the UK, shared how a theatre production of Hickory Dickory Dock, which is showing in London, has placed a trigger warning on the nursery rhyme.
According to the broadcaster, the theatre producers felt they needed to include the trigger warning because some young children might be frightened at the idea of the cat chasing after the mouse. Meanwhile, the nursery rhyme makes no mention of a cat.
Watch the video from Instagram below.
Interestingly enough, the Reader's Digest shared eight children's nursery rhymes that are considered racist in 2024. While it’s important to build your library with excellent children’s books, it’s equally important to protect your child’s developing mind from racist narratives," they said.
Check out the version of the nursery rhyme that includes cats below, courtesy of YouTube.
Tune in to the 'Workzone with Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp', weekdays from 09:00 - 12:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.
Image Courtesy of iStock