Parenting Trends to Watch Out for in 2025
Here are the six parenting trends I believe we are going to be seeing during this coming year:
1. The decline of gentle parenting:
Parents are realising that gentle parenting is exhausting. Gentle parenting puts impossible pressure on parents, demanding that children’s needs are always placed first. Read more about gentle parenting.
2. The decline of sharenting:
Parents are becoming more aware of the dangers of sharenting and the fact that we have no right to expose our children. Read more about sharenting.
3. The delaying of children using technology:
Children’s use of technology is one of parents’ top concerns. Communities of parents are getting together to delay their children’s access to technology. This trend was fueled in 2024 by Jonathan Haidt’s book: The Anxious Generation. Read more about children and technology.
4. The rise of personalised and flexible education:
Parents are moving away from one-size-fits-all education and are looking for education options that suit their child and their family. From after-school activities, flexi-boarding, to hybrid homeschooling, parents are looking for a more tailored approach to their children’s education.
5. The rise of lighthouse parenting:
Outside the four main parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive and neglectful), I do not like parenting labels because I do not think they are particularly useful. No matter how I feel about it, lighthouse parenting is gaining traction amongst parents, and I think we are going to be hearing a lot about it during 2025.
Lighthouse parenting was first quoted in 2014 by pediatrician Kenneth Ginsburg. Lighthouse parenting is somewhat in the middle between helicopter parenting and free-range parenting. Lighthouse parents provide firm boundaries and emotional support while letting their children navigate their own challenges.
It is important to note that while many aspects of lighthouse parenting are positive for children, there is no research examining lighthouse parenting as a single parenting construct.
6. The integration of technology in parenting:
Parents are relying more and more on apps and devices. Whether it is through smart baby monitors or AI powered educational tools, parents are relying on technology to make parenting more efficient and informed. The question is whether all these tools are trustworthy and the long-term impact they will have on child rearing practices.
What do you think? Any other predictions? We will see if I was right with my parenting trends at the end of this year… I would love to hear your thoughts. Do post your comments in the comment box below or send me an email.
Love,
Ana
