Gentle parenting style emphasizes validating the child’s feelings rather than forcing them to behave
Gentle parenting has been rising in popularity, particularly among Gen Z and Millennial parents. This permissive parenting style has also led to debates about children’s behavior and entitlement.
Just a quick search on TikTok, mostly used by Gen Z and millennials, will reveal that the hashtag—#gentleparenting—alone has over 5 billion views.
What is gentle parenting?
It is a parenting style that emphasizes validating the child’s feelings rather than forcing them to behave a certain way. Proponents advocate this style teaches children to manage their frustrations.
Critics argue that shielding children from the discomfort that comes from obeying rules fosters entitlement.
A recent poll of 1,500 US voters found that
- A majority of them aged 43 and older believe that children’s behavior has worsened compared to previous generations.
- 71% of Boomers and Gen Xs attributed it to parents being too gentle.
- Over a third of Gen Zs exhibited gentled parenting attitudes toward their children’s behavior.
- Millennials also showed some leniency in their parenting but less than Gen Zs.
Several respondents frowned upon parents allowing children to run around in restaurants, watch videos without headphones in public, or kick seats on public transport.
Overall, gentle parenting signals the departure from previous generations’ authoritarian approach. But the debate on it underscores the broader societal consequences parents who practice it have to face.