⚡️Gen Z Parents Are Different - Can That Impact ECE?

Today’s Issue: TikTok Update; Parenting Trends to Look Out For; ECE in the News = 3/4 cup of coffee.

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TikTok Might Be Staying: Social media is a big part of small business marketing and getting eyes 👀 on products and services. We’ve all been following the TikTok drama between the US and China. TikTok is huge with younger parents and can impact your social media strategy. But the drama may be over. Based on a new deal, Oracle would control and manage the US operations. That’s good news! Now you can feel a bit more secure that your center’s ECE dance moves🕺🏻 will be available for parent viewing. More details are 👉👉👉 HERE!!

Quick Reader Poll

🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 New Parenting - Gen Z is Doing Things Differently

One of the hardest things ECE leaders need to deal with is working with families and aligning on their needs. It can cost enrollment. From helicopter parenting to free range styles, it can be varied.

Kiddie Academy spearheaded a recent survey of 2k parents focused on this topic. The national ECE provider understands the importance and a couple of trends emerged.

Breaking with Generational Trauma

41% of parents said they are focused on this ideology. When talking about breaking generational trauma, they’re referring to the idea that patterns of harm—whether emotional, behavioral, or even physical—get unconsciously passed down from one generation to the next. This could include things like:

• Harsh or authoritarian parenting styles

• Avoidance of emotions or lack of open communication

• Rigid gender roles or cultural pressures

• Family silence around topics like mental health, addiction, or abuse

FAFO Parenting

Another new trend popular this year is called (F*** Around and Find Out) parenting (FAFO), which emphasizes consequences over permissive softness.

FAFO operates on a simple premise: parents issue warnings and let kids face the natural or even contrived results if they disregard rules. They want to ensure that kids are safe and that consequences don’t put the children in harm. But they still have to learn their lesson.

Why Does It Matter?!

Parents may seek centers that align with their values. For operators, this might mean adapting staff training, communication, or classroom strategies to balance empathy with structure. Programs that acknowledge these parenting shifts can strengthen trust with families and reduce conflict. When talking to families, ask questions and see what is important to them and let them know you’re aware!

‼️👇You know you want the details. Click the BUTTON below!‼️👇

ECE In The News

⚖️ CC Modernization Act: On September 17th, a bipartisan legislation introduced the Child Care Modernization Act, that would strengthen the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant program. In a nutshell, the Act would enable states to better meet the growing child care needs of working families, providers, and employers. Click 👉👉 HERE to get the top 5 things you should know!

😤 Bezos Academy - 3 New Tuition Free Schools: What do you do when you have more money than, well, Europe? You open tuition free preschools to help support families. Bezos Academy, founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, is opening three new schools in Louisville. But it’s not open to everyone. Families need to fall below 400% the federal poverty line. But it’s a great reinvestment into communities that need help. Check it out 👉👉 HERE.

The Internet is a Playground:

🗓️ On this Day in History: In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the Boulder Dam, today known as Hoover Dam, on the Colorado-Nevada border. It was the highest dam in the world at that time, and its construction claimed the lives of 96 workers. 🌊

😻  Fun Game: This game is silly but fun. Tap to JUMP!

🐶 Puppy Shopping?: So many puppies in a shopping cart!

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