Parents around the country are learning about a new viral fad that’s putting kids at risk, the Cookie Challenge. This engaging exercise is a great way to challenge kids’ empathy and growing ethical decision-making skills. As an added challenge, this sometimes includes one parent being dropped without a cookie to test how their child will respond. Hannah Cook, an above-mentioned Nashville mom, recently took her 2-year-old son Judah for his vaccines. Her passionate story rattled the cages so much it reached over 90 million views online in a flash!
In her TikTok video, Cook recorded Judah’s distress as she acted as though she wouldn’t accept a cookie. At first, Judah cried for maybe two seconds before he turned around and gave his mom one cookie from his cookie jar. Cook expressed her surprise at his reaction, stating, “We had no idea what his reaction would be.”
Families are doing the Cookie Challenge to help researchers study the development of empathy in young children. Even more importantly, this activity has quickly become their favorite T3 activity! Mary Margaret Fair is a Dallas-based licensed clinical social worker. Dr. Morrison elaborated that fundamental empathy typically begins to emerge in children around 2-4 years old.
Fair acknowledged that these early experiences play a critical role in how kids learn to understand their own emotions. She commented, “With this experience in mind, there could be a lot of factors at play in determining whether a child will or will not share in these types of challenges.” She noted that some answers sound good—or even empathetic—on the surface. Those reactions may be more a result of social conditioning than real expressions of empathy. “I would consider these as a learned behavior rather than empathy, which is a feeling,” Fair explained.
Haylee Jandreau, a mom from Portland, Maine, decided to give the Cookie Challenge a go with her 4-year-old daughter, Maven. Maven was sharp enough to realize that her mother was the only person who didn’t have a cookie. She could hardly believe it, taking a second to think about her next move. Maven suggested that Jandreau stop by Target and pick up a cookie. This advice is indicative of her desire to negotiate and seek solutions as opposed to simply ceding the territory.
Jandreau praised her daughter’s creativity and insight, stating, “She is wise beyond her four years and highly motivated by sugary treats.” She further reflected on Maven’s thought process during the challenge and observed, “So, I should have known that she would have a well-thought-out plan to see me happy and enjoying a cookie, but not at her expense.”
As Cook and Fair both counsel, children’s responses to these challenges can vary widely. Age and unique personality, of course, have huge effects in determining how those reactions take shape. Cook remarked, “I think every kid is different and each age is different,” indicating the wide range of behavior that can emerge during the challenge.
Fair was careful to underscore that this challenge is fun and inspiring. To echo his expressed sentiment, it is crucial for parents to be educated on the stages of development in their children. “This cookie challenge is just a fun and lighthearted activity to do with your family,” she noted.
Families all over the country are taking the plunge into the Cookie Challenge. This engaging experience deepens their connections while equipping parents with an understanding of their child’s emotional growth. We learn more about how lessons in empathy and ethical behavior start from an early age as each child’s response helps to paint a bigger picture.
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