FAFO Parenting

In the ever-expanding jungle of parenting strategies�helicopter, lawnmower, gentle, free-range�there emerges a new contender: FAFO parenting. Short for �Find Out, by Fooling Around,� the method suggests that the fastest way for children to learn is through the occasional painful consequence of their own actions. Advocates insist it�s not cruel, just practical. �My son ignored me when I told him not to stick his tongue on frozen metal,� said one Minnesota mom. �Now he has the scar to remind him. That�s FAFO.� Unlike �gentle parenting,� which emphasizes endless discussions about feelings, FAFO parenting embraces a stripped-down approach: natural consequences speak louder than lectures. Online forums brim with success stories. One father posted that after his daughter refused to wear shoes outside, she �FAFO�d into a bee colony� and now never leaves the house without socks. Critics argue the approach borders on negligence. �Allowing a toddler to FAFO with an electric socket isn�t teaching�it�s child endangerment,� warned one child psychologist. But supporters insist there�s nuance: �We�re not letting them play in traffic,� said another parent. �We�re just letting them discover gravity the hard way.� Social media has amplified the trend with viral videos: a boy attempts to skateboard down a steep driveway, wipes out, and gets captioned, �FAFO Lesson #34.� Meanwhile, merchandise is booming. Etsy now sells �FAFO Parenting� mugs, tote bags, and even a baby onesie reading, �Future FAFO Graduate.� The philosophy has even attracted academic interest. A university researcher recently launched a study on whether FAFO kids develop resilience faster or simply more bruises. Parents interviewed for the project showed no signs of backing down. �Life isn�t bubble-wrapped,� one dad said. �If my kid can�t handle falling off a swing, how�s he going to survive a group project in middle school?� For now, FAFO parenting continues to divide households�half calling it tough love, half calling it a lawsuit waiting to happen. -- Bohiney Magazne bohiney.com