What the ‘give them your stuff’ TikTok trend showed us about toddlers' learning

Did you see the TikTok trend where parents gave their toddlers stuff to see what they did with it? We saw toddlers running lipstick around their lips, rolling deodorant under their armpits and having a go at getting AirPods in their ears. This trend highlighted that as parents we don’t get much personal space! But it also clearly showed us toddlers' 'social learning' in action. 

Social learning theory 

Social learning theory was outlined by Stanford University Psychologist Albert Bandura in 1971,^[1] and has been tested in many (non-TikTok) experiments since.  

This theory suggests that one way we learn is by watching those around us, so we can learn by doing something ourselves, and by watching someone else do it.  

Watching, thinking and copying – how social learning happens 

Your toddler won’t remember and copy everything they see – partly because they can’t control their attention (yet). But they learn by watching all the time, and they’ll have a sense of what they want or need to take in.  

The things they see you do often will be what they remember and copy; if you do these things a lot, they’ll think these are important to learn. 

Some of what your toddler copies is based on what they think people who are important do, so they are more likely to copy adults or older children than other toddlers.  

What do I do with this? 

When your toddler shows they know what objects are used for, you’ll know that they have learnt from experiencing these objects being used.  

So, the ‘give them your stuff trend,’ was a great example of social learning in action 

And finally, if you decide to give your toddler some of your things and see what they do – remember to supervise them, especially with small items (or things that could be used to draw on your walls!)  

Reference: 

[1] Bandura, A. (1971). Social Learning Theory. General Learning Press.