Parents let their daughter eavesdrop when they 'gossip' about her — and people love this idea

The internet has fallen in love with a toddler, and this time it is not for what she said, but for how she eavesdropped, and ended up smiling eye to eye. In an Instagram video shared by Hannah Cases, who goes by @hannahwiththelipstick on Instagram, a little girl sits at the kitchen counter, nibbling on chicken nuggets, while her parents chat in the background. But the conversation is all about her, and it is a crazy parenting hack.

What they’re doing is something many parents are now calling 'positive gossip', which means saying sweet, affirming things about your child when they’re in earshot, but not directly addressing them. In the video, the parents praise their daughter and say, “She was such a good listener today, all the kids love her, everyone was so happy to see her.” And as she hears their words, she doesn’t interrupt or call attention to herself, but instead continues simply listening. Still and quiet, and beaming ever so slightly with the kind of smile that shows she knows she’s loved.

This moment, viewed nearly 700,000 times on Instagram alone, is stirring hearts for a reason, and the internet thinks it's a brilliant parenting moment. And it establishes that children overhear, most of the time, not what we tell them directly, and that ends up shaping how they see themselves. At first, the term 'positive gossip' might sound like a contradiction, but it can be considered an interesting parenting tool. Instead of offering praise directly to a child, parents say kind things about them to someone else, whether it’s a spouse, a grandparent, or even the family dog, knowing that ears are tuned in.

The video is captioned, "The way she couldn’t help but smile. I’ve heard of the trend of talking behind your kids' backs in a positive way, and seeing how she reacted made me realize how impactful it is to hear someone saying good things about you to others. She was so locked in and hanging on every word. This is definitely going to become a regular thing."

Parents across the internet were moved by the video. In the comments, many shared how they’ve made 'positive gossip' part of their own parenting rhythm. @jolee.wright wrote, “This is my favorite thing to do with our five-year-old daughter! I loveee praising her with her listening to my husband, it’s the best.” For her, it’s become a cherished routine, letting her child absorb love not through direct praise, but through quiet overheard moments. Others also mirrored the emotional impact. @whosthatgirlitsbea captured the heart of the trend, saying, “What we say about them becomes their inner voice! She’s going to grow up believing the most beautiful things about herself.”

@sellingocwithjess added, and said, “So cute! I love how she is so polite, chewing with her mouth closed, too.” Similarly, @kellyreinstatler shared how her family has embraced the practice as well, stating, “We do this with our sons. We call out things that they've done well in their hearing. It's so powerful.” There is power in words; in a way, words are received, planting seeds of self-worth that grow over time.

You can follow @hannahwiththelipstick for more such videos!