A lot, and I mean a lot, of hand-wringing in recent years about whether there is a decline in parenting due to “the screens.” There is absolutely a decline in parenting, and “the screens” are part of it, but so are 10,000 other things, including Snowplow Parenting, parents wanting to re-do their youth, grandparents wanting to re-do their own parenting, and more. Except for the screens part, none of it is really that new. We just like to get agitated about various things because I guess it’s fun? I don’t know. I lost track.
This video will sum up some memes, themes, and reactions to millennial parenting decently:
In said video, you learn about “The Still Face Effect.” Phrased very simply, a baby needs his parents (specifically his or her mother) to be responsive from about ages zero to two. At two, they can begin to self-regulate. Watch how the baby loses their mind and tries to squirm out of their high chair when their mom doesn’t react to them:
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