Trending in Parenting

It might sound odd, but just like with any other domain in our lives, there are trends in even the most instinctive of notions – parenting. While 2016 may have proven to be a rather exciting year so far, halfway through we realised there were some phenomena we just HAD to address.

Due to the rise of more dual-income households, greater access to technology and shifts in parental roles, family dynamics are changing, hence resulting in fundamental shifts in parents’ approaches to raising children.

Here is the latest in the world of parenting:

Were you raised by “helicopter parents”?

Have you ever heard of this term? Neither did we, until we have reached the conclusion that this type of parenting was no longer common. A method whereby parents micromanage every aspect of their children’s lives, this type of parenting is now being replaced with a style that is much more relaxed, with less focus on scheduling and more on independence.

Board games and bored games

Parenting experts are constantly making discoveries on the importance of sensory play. It has been found that activities which engaged kids’ senses helped in early childhood development. However, despite an increased focus on sensory play, it seems like parents are also going back to basics and using traditional board games to interact with their children.

Would your child swap the iPad for Snakes and Ladders?

Non-toxic toys and products

A favourite among parenting application fans, Pinterest has found that parents are growing increasingly concerned with toxic ingredient levels in their children’s mainstream products. The search is on for the safest, most natural ones.

Gender-Neutral furnishings  

Long gone are the days of baby girl’s pink, ribbon-filled crib, as parents are now opting for increasingly gender-neutral designs and colours. Traditional approaches to interior design are fading amid a more modern, polished look which makes use of neutral hues including beige and grey. Could this be a shift towards a less stereotypical parenting style?

Enlightened parenting  

Avoiding micromanaging is not synonymous with neglect. Another way parents are dismissing stereotypes is through enlightened parenting, a more “aware” form of parenting which is in favour of concepts such as the elimination of gender specifications on toys and clothes and the introduction of special needs characters on popular shows.

Great (nanny) expectations

Calling your neighbour’s daughter to babysit this Friday? This might not be the best idea, especially considering how parents are raising the bar for babysitters and nannies. Recent studies have shown an increase in job ads for nannies with college degrees and CPR-certified caregivers.

Parents are also hiring more than one caregiver to take care of their children, which comes as no surprise given the rise of unconventional work schedules. This also means a downsize in parenting roles; it is becoming more common for parents to ask relatives and caregivers to help out with previously parent-only tasks including car pooling and house cleaning.

Hybrid baby names

“Evily, would you come here please?” Do not be surprised, this is actually a hybrid between the names Emily and Ava. Parents are increasingly mixing and matching names for entirely new results which will ensure your child is the one and only in their class.

There is also the Lorelei Gilmore Effect, where girls are being named after their mothers, and not only sons after their fathers as has always been common. While this may be the opposite of hybrid baby-naming, it seems like the mummies got a bit jealous and figured: why not?

However, fathers have a trend of their own: “old-man” names for younger boys, although we are not sure naming a child Warren is always daddy’s idea.

IT for babies

Children are learning how to code! Previously believed to be too complex for anyone who is not interested in an IT-driven career, coding now is topping parents’ lists for useful skills which could help their children in the future.

In addition to helping them think more logically, coding has been shown to help children survive the demands of a tech-driven world.

Cartoon-Inspired Parenting

Would you say your parenting is more Elsa than Ella? Parents are using role models from cartoon hits including Inside Out and Frozen to teach their children about independence, expressing their emotions and developing healthy relationships with their siblings.