Parents are Breaking Eggs on Their Toddler’s Foreheads in Viral TikTok Trend, But is It Even Funny?
Parents on TikTok are Taking on the Egg Challenge, But Why?
Over the years the internet has brought us all kinds of trends, some weird, some wonderful and some that make us sit up in utter confusion and say, “What? Why?” If you’re an avid TikTok user, you may have already stumbled across the “egg challenge.” For some unknown reason that I’m yet to fathom, parents have taken up the challenge in droves.
What is the Egg Challenge?
The basic premise of the challenge is to set up a camera on you and your child in the kitchen where you are about to cook together. In my experience kids love to help in the kitchen, so as you can probably imagine, they are standing there expectantly waiting to help. But instead of cracking the egg on the side of the bowl, the parent surprises the child by smacking it into their forehead and then emptying the contents into the bowl, all the while filming their response and sharing it with strangers across the world.
While the parent hoots with laughter at their clever prank, the expression on the majority of the children’s faces I’ve seen, is shock and confusion. Not only does the parent’s action physically hurt the child (try to crack an egg on your own forehead and see how hard it is), but it’s a violation of their trust. You only have to watch a few to start to feel pretty uncomfortable about this TikTok trend.
But, I’ll let you be the judge…
@kacygurkin #kidsoftiktok #fyp #foryou #savannah #eggchallenge #2023 #eggs ♬ original sound – Kacy Gurkin
Of course, you will find a few where the child, after the initial shock joins in with the parents laughter, but there is still a sense of them being the butt of the joke, and not quite understanding what or why it just happened.
In others, the child taking their lead from the parents behaviour lashes out and hits the parent or caregiver back. And can you blame them? They just showed that that not only was it ok to hit someone in the head, it’s also funny.
@luvitall2havefun That wasn’t very nice #viraltiktok #viralvideo #funny #kid #eggchallenge #egg #joke #fyp
@nandiarrow #kim #yeezys #eggchallenge #eggprank #funny #kids ♬ original sound – Nandi Arrow
A Paediatrician Reacts to the Egg Challenge
In a recent TikTok of her own, Paediatrician Dr. Tanya Altmann addresses the bizarre TikTok trend, and asks “Why would you do that to your child? I just don’t think that its nice or appropriate.”
@drtanyaaltmann Everyone is talking about this viral TikTok trend where parents are cracking eggs on their child’s head as a prank. Parents…. why?! #eggchallenge #tiktokchallenge #eggcracking ♬ original sound – Dr. Tanya Altmann
Among her concerns about the behaviour, is the fact that children look up to parents as their role model.
“They are going to role model that behaviour and try to hit their friends in the head with other things when they are at school. Come on, is there nothing better to do? Please be nice. Role model good behaviour to your kids and teach them how to cook and use food appropriately.”
What do you think of the egg challenge? Harmless fun or poor judgment?
