TikTok Mom Teaches Consent To Toddler And The Grandparents Are Not On Board
An Australian mom has sparked a large debate online about the proper way to educate children on consent and body autonomy. Some people have criticized her "woke" approach for being too complex for her toddler to fully understand.
TikTok user @brittanybaxter_x shared her frustration with her daughter's grandparents not respecting the boundaries they have set and the video quickly gained attention online.
She Had To Turn The Comments Section Off On Her Video
In her original TikTok video on the subject, Brittany says she believes it should be normalized for children not to have to hug and kiss adults if they don't want to.
A lot of users were so offended by the idea that Brittany had to disable her comments section to stop the horrible insults being sent to her.
This Mom Has Been Teaching Her Daughter About Consent Since Day 1
Teaching your child about something as complex as consent is a challenge in itself.
Brittany decided to tackle the topic early with her daughter, but she's having a harder time teaching it to her daughter's grandparents.
What To Do When Grandparents Don't Respect The Boundaries You Have Set
In the original video, Brittany reveals she has been struggling with adults in her daughter's life who can't understand the idea of asking a child for consent to a simple hug.
She says people from her parents' generation have a hard time wrapping their heads around a two-year-old being able to communicate their feelings so clearly.
She Believes Her Daughter Is Entitled To Her Personal Space And Choosing When To Say No
Brittany reinforces that her daughter (and her body) are not responsible for making other people feel loved all the time.
It is important that they know if she does not feel like hugging or kissing them, it does not mean that she loves them any less. It's just that she doesn't feel like showing affection at that moment.
Brittany Calls Out The Older Generation For Overlooking The Importance Of Consent
The hardest part about teaching her daughter consent at this age has been getting the grandparents on board with understanding their role in it.
She believes that sometimes the grandparent's emotions overshadow those of the child.
She Will Continue To Teach Her Daughter to Say No When She Feels Uncomfortable
Her daughters' feelings are the number one priority as she learns about consent and her right to say no.
Brittany's strong message finishes off by stating that it is the grandparent's responsibility to "do better."
She Says She's Not Asking Anyone To Understand Her Anger
In a series of responses to now-hidden comments, Brittany addresses some people's main issues with her methods.
In this clip, she responds to a commenter who says their child has a very affectionate bond with their grandparents. Brittany poses the question of whether this parent has ever actually asked their child if that is something they want or need.
They Called Her A Karen And Told Her She's Raising A Snowflake
In this response video, Brittany says she never expected her original video to gain so much attention and hate.
She doubles down on the meaning behind why she is teaching consent and how important it is that it starts in the home so that children feel safe.
She Wants To Highlight That Teaching Consent Is Not A Parenting Style
Brittany admits she practices gentle parenting with her child but wants to make clear that teaching about consent is not a parenting style.
Instead, it is an important issue that should be covered in every single household no matter what your preferred parenting style.
Is Asking For A Hug Really That Controversial?
In the big picture, Brittany doesn't seem to be asking for too much. I know that there are definitely prickly, wet hugs and kisses from great aunts and uncles I would have preferred to skip.
Her video opened up an important discussion and many commenters suggested it sparked conversations in their own home about their understanding of consent.
TikTok Mom Faces Criticism For Letting 3-Year-Old Cook Dinner
Everyone has their own way of parenting. What works for one family might not be best for another. TikTok user @lauralove5514 learned the hard way that sometimes sharing your parenting methods online is an open invitation for all kinds of people to comment on them.
The now-viral video of her three-year-old cooking dinner has started a discussion online about how much responsibility a toddler can be trusted with.
Kids In The Kitchen Is Not A New Idea
In many cultures, children helping out in the kitchen is not a new concept.
Learning how to cook and prepare food is viewed as a part of growing up in a family.
Little Baker Is A Mess-Maker But Mom Embraces It
Letting young children play in the kitchen is proven to be great for developing fine motor skills and their sense of measurement.
Even though it's sure to be messy, the experience for the kids is totally worth it!
Children's Cooking Classes Are A Thing And They're Awesome
Most cities around the world now offer classes in the kitchen that are guided by instructors for children who love to cook.
But that didn't stop online trolls coming for @lauralove5514 on TikTok when she shared a video of her three-year-old helping her make dinner.
This Three Year Old Toddler Makes An Awesome Pasta Dinner
While Laura was excited to share her son Carter's accomplishment, people online were quick to try and cut her down.
She started receiving nasty comments asking if she was forcing her son to participate and keeping him from playing.
And Mom Had No Time For Mommy-Shamers In Her Comments
@Lauralove5514 responded quickly when this person suggested Carter was her personal slave. She told her followers that Carter loves to cook and is doing so because he wants to.
She made multiple videos to defend herself and show that her son simply loves to cook in the kitchen.
Toddler Has Been Helping In The Kitchen Since He Was 15 Months Old
Some users were shocked to find out that Carter has been helping his mom in the kitchen since he was 15 months old.
His mom wanted to encourage his interest in cooking and now, at three years old, it's one of his favorite things to do.
How Young Is Too Young To Cook Dinner?
One commenter critiqued the mom for letting the child cook dinner, suggesting instead that she let the kid play with toys.
She said she is teaching him valuable life skills and that he actually gets upset when he is not allowed to help with dinner.
Toddler Has Mini Meltdown When Told He's Not Allowed To Make Dinner
She uploaded this video in response to some of the hate she was getting about "making him" participate.
Clearly emotional, the child is immediately soothed when he is told he can help make dinner. Poor little dude just wants to cook!
These Are Just Some Of The Benefits Of Letting Your Child Help In The Kitchen
The mom strongly believes that her children are capable and smart enough to help her out in the kitchen.
She says that her son is learning about caring, nutrition, measuring, and most importantly, he enjoys it.
Do We Underestimate Young Kids' Abilities?
This forward-thinking mom ends her viral video by saying that she thinks people underestimate what toddlers and young children are capable of.
She says if you give them the opportunity to learn they will prove to you what they are able to do!
