A new US study explores ‘gentle parenting’, a style of parenting increasingly promoted on social media. Despite the growing popularity of gentle parenting, this is the first study to investigate how it is conducted, and how it affects parents. In a survey of 100 parents with young children, nearly half self-identified as ‘gentle parents’, with notable diversity in how this manifested in their parenting. However, ‘gentle parents’ generally shared a focus on attempting to stay calm, helping their children understand their own emotions, and showing affection.
