Kids Don't Get Sarcasm

A TikTok Trend: Not as Harmless as It Seems

There’s a TikTok trend going around where parents joke to their kids, “I’m so hungry, I could eat a kid,” and then film their child’s reaction. 

At first glance, it might seem like harmless fun. But when I saw it, I felt a pit in my stomach.

Not because I don’t appreciate humor — I love playful moments with kids. But because this isn’t that.This is an adult using their power and platform to get laughs at a child’s expense. And that crosses a line.

Young children (0-10) don’t understand sarcasm or abstract jokes.They take our words literally. So when a trusted adult says, “I’m going to eat you,” even in a funny voice, it can be genuinely scary or confusing. What adults think of as playful teasing can register as a real threat to a young child.

And when it’s filmed and posted online for others to laugh at? That experience can feel even more isolating — and humiliating.

In fact, I was recently contacted by Melissa Willets at Parents about this exact trend. I was honored to be quoted in her article — not just as a parenting coach, but as someone deeply committed to helping families raise emotionally safe and confident children.

Here’s why this matters:Bullying is often targeted, planned, and rooted in a power imbalance. And that’s exactly the setup here: an adult (with more power) teasing a child (with no script, no warning, and no understanding of the joke) for laughs.

That’s not just a funny moment — it’s a model of bullying behavior.

And kids are watching. When we joke at them, not with them, we teach that:

• Teasing is okay if you’re bigger or in charge.

• It’s funny to make someone uncomfortable — as long as others laugh.

• Their feelings and confusion make a good joke.

Here’s good news: We can choose differently. We can

✔️ Laugh with our kids, not at them.

✔️ Ask, “Would I want someone saying this to me on camera?”

✔️ Use these trends as checkpoints, asking: What am I modeling here?

✔️ Teach kids how to spot a joke that’s fun vs. one that feels mean.

✔️ Give kids the words to say, “That’s not funny to me.”

Thanks again to Parents for inviting me into this important conversation. To read the full piece click here.

Parenting is hard — and social media adds pressure none of us grew up with. Our kids are learning how the world works from us. And words matter.