#1
To gain more insight into this topic, we got in touch with Dr. Samantha Rodman Whiten, aka Dr. Psych Mom, parenting coach Sue Atkins, host of Navigating the Digital Jungle, and Jim Mckenzie of Everything for Dads.
They were kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and discuss some of the harmful parenting trends they've seen online.
"Over-praising and over-validating kids is a parenting trend that I find questionable," Dr. Rodman Whiten shared. "This is an era of hyperfocus on kids and obsessing over their feelings, and this is often to the detriment of the kids, who can't learn how to identify their emotions and self-soothe without parental involvement."
#2
I'm surprised this hasn't been mentioned more.
Kids of all ages need to feel your love. It makes them feel secure, safe, and good. If you deprive your kid of physical affection, they will seek it elsewhere… and you will not like it.
I am not exaggerating: I can not remember a single time either of my parents has hugged me or kissed me or touched me in a non-hurtful way. Not even when I was in elementary school.
I am now a high school student and sometimes I want someone to give me a reassuring touch, or feel safe in their arms; not romantically, but from an adult. I know this because I was starved from it as a child.
Love your children. Show them through actions.
"One concerning trend is the increasing reliance on screens to occupy children," Sue added. "While technology can be a useful tool, too much screen time—especially for young kids—can interfere with sleep, language development, and real-world interactions."
"Research shows that children learn best through conversation and play, yet many are spending more time swiping than speaking," she continued. "I recently covered this on my Navigating the Digital Jungle podcast, where we discussed how screen time is replacing vital opportunities for parent-child bonding."
#3
Sue says another worrying trend is the way “gentle parenting” is sometimes misunderstood as avoiding discipline altogether. "Children thrive on clear boundaries, and being kind and respectful as a parent doesn’t mean saying yes to everything," she explained.
As for whether or not these trends will stick around, Sue noted, "Some trends will pass, but the bigger issues—like how we help our children manage technology and develop emotional resilience—are here to stay, which is why I talk about them so often on the podcast."
#4
"Let’s dive into the parenting circus, shall we? 'Gentle parenting' is great in theory—until it morphs into 'zero consequences parenting,'" Jim added. "I’m all for emotional intelligence, but if a toddler is launching spaghetti at the ceiling, maybe we don’t need a 15-minute symposium on his feelings. Maybe we just take the spaghetti and save the deep discussion for when they’re older—like when they’re trying to convince you that a forehead tattoo of a dinosaur is a great life choice."
#5
Stop using antibacterial everything and not letting your kids play in the dirt or touch anything.
Kids need to adapt to the germs in the world they live in.
They need to get sick, and get well WITHOUT antibiotics, and build up a resistant immune system.
The world is not sterile.
"Then there’s the obsession with 'screen-free' everything," the father continued. "I get it—too much screen time isn’t ideal. But let’s not act like our ancestors weren’t plopping kids down in front of the village fire while they got things done. Screens aren’t the enemy—lack of discipline and balance is. It’s up to parents to teach kids how to use technology responsibly without sacrificing their mental and physical health. Otherwise, you’ll blink, and they’ll be 18, living on energy drinks, and scrolling TikTok until 3 AM."
"Will these trends stick around? Some version of them, sure," Jim says. "Parenting swings like a giant pendulum—what’s demonized today will probably be 'groundbreaking' in 20 years."
#6
#7
Scary how many people can believe a lie and assume it to be true.
We also asked the experts why there are so many parenting trends emerging all the time.
"New trends pop up because people want to do better than their own parents, and fix any deficits that they saw in their own upbringings," Dr. Rodman Whiten shared. "For example, if you were left alone too much as a kid, you may swing to the other extreme and never give your child a minute of alone time. The intentions are good, but parenting in 180 degree opposition to how you were parented will be dysfunctional as well."
#8
It's normal for kids to screw up, and it's embarrassing enough to be caught by your parents for doing something you're less than proud of without them broadcasting it to a bunch of other people. This can have devastating effects on a child's self esteem by engraining in them the idea that they are a "bad child." The child will internalize feelings of worthlessness and shame, especially knowing that others know about everything they've done wrong (and often don't hear about the things they've done right).
Please, respect your child enough to have an open and honest (and private) discussion with them when they mess up. This allows from them to learn from the experience and try to do better in the future.
"Trends come and go because every generation faces new challenges," Sue noted. "Social media has made this even more intense, with TikTok and Instagram full of bite-sized parenting advice—some of it great, some of it misleading."
"That said, parents don’t need to keep changing their approach to stay 'up to date,'" the expert added. "The fundamentals—love, security, boundaries, and connection—don’t go out of style. I always encourage parents to focus on what works for their family rather than feeling pressured to follow every new trend."
#9
The trends raising our youngest have certainly changed in the 18 years since my oldest was a baby. I didn’t even have a cell phone then! We used VCR tapes, cassettes of Barney were in the tape deck in the van, Wii only meant 'we'….
The dangerous trend I have observed in more recent years is not being there. Oh as a mom of many I am “there”, but sometimes not really THERE. So my number one suggestion is be there- in the moment- with your child. Put your phone down- look into their beautiful eyes and listen to them. Here’s why… you will blink and your little one will be an adult.
I feel like this last little blessing has taught me sooo much about the passing of time.
Not to waste it on my phone- reading about the lives of others while the ones around me need me, want to talk to me and really would love for their mommy (or daddy) to just look them in the eyes when they ask even a simple question.
With our seventh I feel like he has been an eye opener for us. Thankfully we still have young ones and I am a mom who is still learning.
Jim also pointed out that parenting is like fashion. "Every generation looks back and cringes at what came before," he shared. "'Wait, you let your kids roam the neighborhood unsupervised? Were you TRYING to get them kidnapped?' Meanwhile, our parents were like, 'Come back when the streetlights turn on.'”
"And let’s be real—social media has turned parenting into a competitive sport," he added. "Someone on Instagram figures out a 'revolutionary' way to get their toddler to eat vegetables, and suddenly, we’re all supposed to be spiraling cucumbers into rose shapes."
#10
"Convenience" parenting - not paying attention to the child's needs because it interferes with the parents desires. Most little ones crying in stores are bored, hungry or need a nap. Shop at a different time or leave them with a sitter! Taking kids to inappropriate movies, allowing them to watch graphic scenes on television. Taking children to sporting or other entertainment events on school nights and keeping them out way past their bed time. Kids get a lot of blame for what are poor and selfish parenting decisions.
"Also, social media has created this illusion that there’s a quick fix for everything," Jim continued. "Parenting isn’t a hack—it’s an 18-year (minimum) full-time job with no days off. After 30 years of parenting, I can tell you: it takes sustained, everyday effort to raise good humans."
"Do parents need to reinvent the wheel constantly? No. But should they be open to learning and adapting? Absolutely," the father noted. "Parenting is both a science and an art. The basics—love, discipline, boundaries, and keeping them alive while somehow functioning on five hours of sleep—haven’t changed. But staying open to actual research (not just TikTok trends) can make life easier for both parents and kids."
#11
Obedience is NOT a virtue. If you raise obedient children you are raising obedient adults. You want to raise someone who asks questions. You want to raise someone who sees the world differently. You want to raise someone who knows you have good reasons and are willing to explain them. You do NOT want to raise someone who does it "Because I said so!"
Someday that kid will have a boss/friend/partner who tells them to do something bad. Do you want them to have the "Because he said to" mindset or pause and think?
#12
The parenting experts also shared some wise words for any parents out there who aren't sure which advice they should trust.
"Look at the source – Is the advice coming from child development experts, or just going viral? Think long-term – Will this trend help your child grow into a confident, independent person?" Sue asks. "Trust your instincts – If something doesn’t sit right with you, there’s probably a good reason. [And] stay informed – I cover these kinds of topics on my podcast, helping parents cut through the noise and focus on what really matters."
#13
"Overall, the best approach is to be moderate and assume that if you are parenting out of anxiety, your judgement may be compromised," Dr. Rodman Whiten noted. "Kids are resilient, but they need calm and confident parents."
"Any parenting trend that requires so much energy and focus that it takes up all of your time and makes you tired and anxious is not a healthy one. Kids need to see happy, calm parents," she continued. "So a parenting trend that makes you feel as though you need to be monitoring your behavior or your kids' behavior 24/7 is one to steer away from!"
#14
2. Not teaching critical thinking skills.
3. Being too germophobic. See "hygiene hypothesis".
4. Raising your kids just like you were raised because it "worked", or conversely, doing everything the opposite because it didn't. Take the good and reject the bad.
5. Parents fighting too many of the kid's battles for them, like arguing with teachers over grades, doing the kids homework or school projects for them, navigating the child's social relationships etc... It is tough, but there is a fine line between helping a child and taking over.
Jim has broken his tips down into a few simple steps. "Step one: If advice makes you feel like a terrible parent for doing something completely normal (like using a stroller, babywearing, or giving your kid a timeout), take a deep breath and move on," he shared. "Step two: Consider the source. If it’s coming from a random influencer whose only credential is 'mom of three,' maybe double-check with, you know, actual experts."
"Step three: Look at your kid. Seriously. Not every method works for every child," he continued. "Parenting isn’t one-size-fits-all, and no internet trend should override common sense. Try new techniques with an open mind, but if something clearly isn’t working, don’t be afraid to scrap it."
#15
Secure attachment is really important to me, and hitting damages that. Studies also show that hitting doesn’t lead to better behavioural outcomes. We teach our kids that violence is wrong, and we’re not allowed to hit adults, so I really feel like it shouldn’t be okay to hit kids either.
Also, I feel like if I hit my daughter, I’m telling her that it’s okay for someone to hit her. Not something I want her to internalize for when she’s an adult.
It’s still unfortunately very much normalized in our society though.
Another trend imho is figuratively wrapping one’s kid up in bubble wrap: if they’re only starting to make decisions when they’re adults and don’t have you there to fall back on in the same way, they might make terrible decisions. Overprotection can really backfire.
Of course, there’s the other side of the spectrum where people don’t even know where their kids are half the time, so a little balance is needed!
"At the end of the day, good parenting isn’t about trends—it’s about raising a decent human who feels loved, respected, and secure," Jim added. "And who occasionally eats a vegetable without a 45-minute negotiation."
If you'd like to hear even more advice from Jim, be sure to visit Everything for Dads or Relationships Rebuilt!
#16
Finally, Sue says, "Parenting isn’t about following every new trend—it’s about knowing your child and making thoughtful choices. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the advice out there, join me on Navigating the Digital Jungle, where I break these issues down with real-life examples, expert insights, and practical solutions."
#17
The thing that really snapped me out of that rut was the fact that my daughters have lost 3 of their friends, this year alone, to suicide. The chief complaint among those three, before they left? They felt neglected by their parents. Just unwanted baggage. I never want my children to feel that. It is unavoidable that a parent will make their child feel that way, simply by denying them something they really, really think they need. But, that's not the same thing... and they realize that. But, when parents dismiss their children with a nod, a "mm hmm", and a wave of the hand, how else are they to feel? So, I made it a point to be attentive. It can be difficult, especially when the conversion consists of 12 1/2 minutes of "My Little Pony" fan fiction... but it's important to her. Because of that, I give her that ear to show that she's important to me.
#18
About 80 percent of parents I see at the park are on cell phones, kindleand such as there kids play and at times seek to draw their parents attention.
#19
They miss that crazy Auntie who yes, may give them more sugar than you like, but also speaks French and Spanish to your child and shows them the delight in experiencing another culture. They won't get to know 80 year old Gladys who lives at the end of the block,who while they help her prune her roses tells them stories of another time from her childhood in Brooklyn. They miss the flavor of actually living and breathing in their world. They miss their village.
And we as parents miss OUR village. We miss the Mom we can commiserate with over another sleepless night, who also has on a stained shirt and is wearing a Dora the Explorer sticker on her knee because that is high as her toddler could get it. We miss the sage wisdom from our elders who raised healthy, happy, successful children who slept on non-organic sheets, drank from the garden hose and were allowed to chase the ice cream truck around the corner without fear that they would not come back.
The world is a curious place and we are meant to experience it. Sometimes that means not being able to control everything, but it seems to me, that in that release of control, sometimes, sometimes, we have our most rich and memorable experiences yet. Don't you think our children, and we, deserve that? A colorful, tiresome, flavorful, go until your legs cramp and you lay in the grass looking at the clouds without worrying about what pesticide may seep through your clothes experience. I know I do.
#20
(The alternative to the Tiger Mom Approach is not indulgence and lack of discipline. Giving your child love and joy can easily be combined with authority and teaching them to make an effort.)