Let’s hear it for sittervising
There’s a new parenting trend called “sittervising” making the rounds on social media. The premise—supervising your kids from a seated position, which leaves many parents who do this on the regular scratching their heads at the “newness” of it all.
The phrase was originated by Susan Allison, M. Ed, a former teacher, mother-of-three, and founder of the Busy Toddler Instagram account. “You do not need to hover over kids while they play OR feel like you absolutely must be playing with them at all times,” Allison wrote alongside a video of her watching her kids in the distance. “You can supervise kids from a seated position.” She explained that kids need time to engage and interact without parents getting involved and, more importantly, “Adults need time to recharge from kids.”
Essentially, you’re letting your kid be a kid and come up with their own activities, and you relax instead of feeling like you have to jump in every five minutes to help or guide them in a certain direction. It’s the “go outside and play” mentality from previous generations combined with a label to make parents feel less guilty about something that is entirely natural and healthy.
“We often tell our children exactly what to do and how to do it, or that toys should be used in a certain manner. But creativity is an outgrowth of exploration, of using something in a new way,” psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D. told Parents.
Many parents were happy to report they’ve been sittervising for years without actually knowing what to call it:
I’m sittervising. pic.twitter.com/aIQaGUJ71S
— MJ Banias (@mjbanias) July 1, 2022
Apparently "sittervising" is a new trend where you sit on the couch or a park bench while your kids play instead of hovering over them and oh boy do I have news about what I've been doing this entire time
— Lynn Burton (@disasterballet) August 14, 2022
Word of the day: Sittervising – The not-exactly-groundbreaking idea is for a parent to SIT while their kid plays. Aim for somewhere between helicopter parenting and free-ranging. You don't have to be the snowman or throw the ball. You can just sit. Who knew? pic.twitter.com/k9pgJz2iJQ
— Dr Sarb Johal (@sarb) September 1, 2022
Obviously, as kids get older, they learn to play more independently than when they are toddlers. While we want to ensure their safety with age-appropriate toys and supervision when they’re young, it doesn’t mean we need to be involved all the time. “I’m doing it because I know it’s what’s best for my children and one of my best parenting tools for supporting their development and learning,” Allison wrote on her website. “Sittervising is steeped in child development research, best practices, and a deep knowledge of pedagogy.”
Turns out there’s a name for kicking back and watching our kids grow and learn on their own while we sip coffee in the sunshine—what a time to be alive.
