Monthly Curriculums Are Trending on TikTok — Are They Worth the Hype for Parents?
I'm a strong believer in the value of hobbies, especially now, when boredom can be cured with a single tap. Hobbies offer a fresh perspective, a chance to learn something new, and often a well-needed distraction from life's less pressing moments (like the Jet2 holiday sound we all can't stop singing).
Whether it's reading a subject you wished you studied in college or dropping into a local workshop to sculpt a mug, setting aside time for yourself—especially as a parent—can be deeply rewarding. And now that no one's grading us, we get to explore topics that genuinely interest us, at our own pace, without fear of failure.
So I was excited when I first came across TikTok's new monthly curriculum trend. Most videos start with creators setting their goals for the month, many of which centered around reading new books, exploring hobbies, and building better habits.
But, as with most things online, this wholesome trend has split into two directions.
The Monthly Curriculum Trend Sparks a New Type of Self-Care
The monthly curriculum trend took off in early August as users (many of them moms and teens) began flooding the hashtag #monthlycurriculum with videos of their August goals. The goals range from what types of books they hope to finish by the end of the month, to setting time aside to journal and move their body. As one Tiktoker put it in her video, "I think it holds us accountable to not let the month go by without doing anything that stimulates our brains."
Many #monthlycurriculum videos are incredibly wholesome, and some even feel a bit therapeutic. Some creators make goals to learn topics they were too self-conscious to explore during their time at school. In one video of a stay-at-home-mom sharing the list of books she hopes to read, she explains that she selected one on finances and even cheekily mentions that it is likely intended for high schoolers. "I'm a 32-year-old stay-at-home-mom and I decided to go through [the book] because I've never really been good with money and it's time to get my finances in order. So this is my economics unit."
I've seen video after video of folks sharing what books they plan to read, what they hope to learn, and ways to hold themselves accountable (while still giving themselves grace—of course). Many are finding books at local libraries, recreating recipes to share with friends, and finally setting aside time to finish watching their favorite shows and movies.
And while there's a strong focus on activities that promote learning, there's also a side of the trend that leans heavily into beauty enhancements and some curriculum videos are packed with activities that promise to help women "look better"—that is to be more conventionally attractive through dramatic weight loss or adhering to expensive skincare routines.
The Not-So-Wholesome Side of the Monthly Curriculum Trend
As with most online trends, it didn't take long before it went from inspiring to questionable. In one video, an influencer begins by opening her laptop and showing a slideshow that starts with a slide entitled "Monthly Curriculum"—which is how most of these videos start. But beneath it reads "Miami Girl Glow-Up Guide."
She begins to explain that this video will help people "become the best version of themselves." In the video, she runs through over a dozen different things women should start doing, including hot yoga/sauna/steam room two or three times a week, daily red-light therapy, castor-oil-Epsom-salt baths, drinking natural juices every single morning, buying new workout sets (to motivate you to workout), a 10-mile walk once a week, hot pilates four or five times a week, doing a hair mask once or twice a week, scheduling a lymphatic drainage facial (or micro-needling), and much much more. The video is over six minutes long and doesn't mention any creative or intellectual goals until five minutes and 30 seconds in.
In another video, another creator emphasizes going to the gym five times a week as her non-negotiable goals in her monthly curriculum, "I'm starting to get older and genetics can only help with so much," she says. However, she does include goals like learning a new instrument.
At its worst, this trend veers into "looksmaxxing" territory—a term used online to describe doing everything possible to optimize physical appearance. The shift from encouraging personal growth to enforcing appearance-based perfectionism is subtle but significant and while many of these beauty goals are rooted in personal choice, the messaging—whether intentional or not—can imply that self-improvement is only valid if results in being more conventionally attractive.
The idea that we must spend every moment becoming smarter, more interesting, and more beautiful can feel exhausting, especially for women already navigating unrealistic societal expectations.
So, Is It Harmful or Harmless?
The monthly curriculum trend might be one of the most positive movements I've seen come out of TikTok in recent memory. Folks are rediscovering their love for learning, finding ways to heal their inner child, and holding themselves accountable for what they know (and what they don't fully get yet).
But as it gets swept into the tide of algorithm-driven beauty standards, it risks reinforcing the idea that every moment must be optimized, and that we must always be improving ourselves.
While many of these curriculum videos are harmless and even healing, others include strict expectations to finish several lengthy books or master a new hobby—all within 30 days. The desire to learn more isn't inherently bad, but when improvement is treated like a full-time job, it can leave people feeling inadequate or burned out. You don't need to schedule every day of your month or have a perfectly curated curriculum to grow as a person. In fact, sometimes the most meaningful progress comes from slow, meandering learning and quiet wins that aren't captured on a TikTok slideshow. (You should still try to finish that book, though).
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