Don't Use Santa To Threaten Your Kids!

TOP OF MIND

I just talked to Santa... he hates you!
A new poll just dropped, and it revealed that one-quarter of parents with kids under 5 have used Santa to threaten their misbehaving kids.

"If you don't act right, Santa won't come to our house!" or some variation of that, is a favorite amongst parents.

Additionally, the poll revealed that many parents have threatened to leave a Christmas activity early, take away toys, or deny dessert to get their kids to behave.

Nearly half of polled parents have resorted to bribes to get better behavior out of their children, but does any of this actually work?

The important bits
Probably not.

Pediatrician Dr. Susan Woolford explained that while discipline in general helps young children learn what behaviors are safe and appropriate, “empty threats, however, undermine trust and credibility and aren't usually effective. Positive reinforcement and consistent discipline are more likely to shape long-term behavior."

Unfortunately, consistency is the hardest part of any endeavor. Experts recommend planning ahead and making sure you're on the same page with your partner. Sending mixed signals is a big no-no.

What's it all mean?
Parenting is hard, but we shouldn't be lumping Santa into this mess. He has enough to worry about with all those unruly elves.

Here's a full guide on how to discipline your kids based on their age.

DID YOU HEAR

👵 Put caution tape around granny's purse
Have you heard of Granny's Purse Syndrome? According to pediatric ER doctor Meghan Martin, it's when young kids get into their grandparents' (often unsecured) medication. Granny's purse is typically ground zero for this phenomenon. Pediatric emergency medicine physician Todd Zimmerman says he often sees kids in the ER due to ingesting their grandparents' medication. Thankfully, there are easy ways to prevent this from happening.

⚽️ 3 in 4 parents can't afford to put their kids in team sports
A recent survey of parents across the country revealed that 75% of parents have strongly considered taking their children out of sports because they can no longer afford it. 23% of parents admitted to taking on additional work just to fund it, while 18% have taken on debt. This is concerning to some experts because youth sports participation has been proven to have lifelong benefits. One solution might be getting more public schools involved. Read about that here.

🏋️‍♀️ Moms carry most of the "mental load"
Sorry if this sparks an argument in your household! New research has shown that mothers take on 71% of all household tasks that require mental effort, including meal planning, organizing schedules and creating budgets. Additionally, mothers take on nearly 80% of daily tasks, such as cleaning and childcare. But when it comes to home repairs? Well, dads finally show up with 65%. Get all the stats here.

💩 Remember the mom with all the dirty diapers?
Back in October, we told you about a mom who went viral on TikTok for having 17 dirty diapers scattered around her home. She claimed that she was just too busy to throw them out. Well, she's now being investigated after multiple people online reported her to Child Protective Services.

🌆 This city is giving an extra day off work to help boost birth rates
Can you guess which city?

A DOSE OF GOOD

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BITES WITH KIYAH

Grocery shopping is something we all do, but small mistakes can lead to wasted food, blown budgets, and extra stress. 

Have you ever walked into the store for milk and bread, only to walk out with a cart full of stuff you didn’t need? Or maybe you’ve spent way more than planned and still end up with feeling like you have nothing for dinner? 

ME TOO! The good news is that with a few small tweaks, you can change this. This week, I'm sharing 8 common grocery shopping mistakes (& how to avoid them)!

HERE’S A QUESTION

According to this article, more parents are opting for private photoshoots with Santa for their kids. Apparently, Mall Santas have become passé.

Last week, we asked about your 2025 New Year's Resolutions, and a little over 50% of you answered with, "Get healthy" while "Make more money" came in second. No one answered "Survive," so we guess you have that covered... must be nice!

RECALLS

Stanley recalls over 2.5 million travel mugs
Drinkware brand Stanley experienced insane growth this past year, thanks to several viral trends on TikTok and Instagram.

But unfortunately, they just suffered a major setback. The company issued a recall on over 2.5 million Stanley Switchback and Trigger Action stainless steel travel mugs due to a potential burn hazard.

Apparently, the lid threads on the mug could shrink if exposed to too much heat, which causes the lid to come off.

Stanley has received over 90 reports globally of the lids coming off. As a result, 38 people were burned, 11 of whom had to receive medical attention. Let's hope they get some $$$.