Mom’s unusual way of getting her stubborn toddler to obey is ‘reverse psychology at its finest’

If you’ve spent time with a toddler, you know one thing for sure: they rarely do what they are asked to do. If they are told to put on their shoes, they will run the other way, and if they are asked to eat, they will suddenly not be hungry. Toddlers are tiny rebels, testing limits and pushing back just because they can.

That’s why one mom’s clever parenting trick on TikTok is getting so much attention, as she calmly navigates her rebellious toddler. In a short clip, @hannuh.powell tries something unexpected; she tells her son not to do things. “Don’t wear the sunglasses,” she says. He puts them on. “Don’t wear that hat,” and on it goes. “Don’t look at the camera,” and he immediately poses. It’s a perfect example of reverse psychology, and it works like magic.

Reverse psychology is when one encourages someone to do something by suggesting the opposite. It’s often used with kids, especially toddlers, because they want to feel in control. Studies have shown that even 2-year-olds react strongly when told what to do. They resist, not to be difficult, but to feel independent. Experts say this kind of resistance is completely normal. Children, even as young as toddlers, use 'no' to assert their independence. Psychologists argue that this behavior, known as reactance, begins in toddlerhood when kids develop a sense of self and freedom. It is in fact an essential stage of growth.

With parents everywhere, this is the same, and the comments of the viral clip are a goldmine of shared experiences and hilarious parenting hacks that prove just how universal this tiny rebellion phase really is. A netizen, @Violet, offered her own workaround for the impossible task of getting toddlers to pose: “Hack #2: videos instead of pictures so that you can just screenshot the good parts lol. They never stay still for photos.” It’s the kind of practical wisdom only parents of toddlers truly understand. What is the need to fight for a picture or forcibly make them pose when you can let the chaos roll and pick your moment later?

Others jumped in with similar stories about the magic of reverse psychology. @Hailey Miller shared a moment where her child was mid-tantrum, and she flipped the script: “I did this when he was throwing a tantrum once. ‘Don’t you dare go to your room and think about what you’re doing,’ and he runs to his room like ‘I’m doing it!!!!!’ all mad. I go, ‘Noooo come back.’” It's parenting as improv comedy, and somehow, it works. @Emma added,  “Yeah, kids don't hear the word 'don’t'. That’s why safety instructions should be ‘do this instead.’” Then there are the playful deceptions that, frankly, deserve awards. @uNolwandle admitted to creating a fake 'forbidden' water cup just to get her child to hydrate. “I have a special cup that has water that he isn’t allowed to drink, then I gasp when he gulps it all.” A forbidden fruit tactic, except with hydration and a sippy cup.

For more videos like this, you can follow @hannuh.powell on TikTok!