Latest news with #GlenHenry
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Do you have a 'living room kid' or a 'bedroom kid'? What it says about your family
Does your child come home from school and run up to his or her bedroom? Are you lucky to see them unless there's food involved? Conversely, do you have a child who hunkers down in the living room, does their homework, watches television, and just never leaves the comfort of the couch? Yvette Henry was in her kitchen fixing up dinner. So were all four of her kids. 'Ya'll, we have almost 4,000 square feet here and you're all right here. Right here,' she said on the "How Married Are You?!" podcast that she hosts with her husband, Glen Henry. But then she remembered a TikTok video about 'living room kids' and 'bedroom kids,' and realized she and her husband had built a home dynamic where their children felt emotionally safe in shared spaces. 'I don't think that I always appreciate what I have in this situation,' Henry said in the podcast clip that hit nearly 1 million views on TikTok and was posted elsewhere on social media. 'Like the gift of all this togetherness that we are going to look back on one day and say, 'oh my gosh, I miss that.'' Here's what to know about bedroom kids and living room kids. 'Living room kids' and 'bedroom kids' are not terms established by behavioral science but have gained popularity online as parenting influencers talk about their household dynamics and their own past upbringings. A living room kid refers to a child who spends much of their home time in shared spaces such as the living room, kitchen or dining room. A bedroom kid refers to a child who spends most of their free time in the privacy of their bedroom. No matter what kind of person you are, if you're a parent, pay attention to your children's needs and what rooms they gravitate to. There's nothing inherently wrong with either. Although it might result in more messes, parents should feel proud knowing that living room kids feel comfortable and safe when congregating with family, said Whitney Raglin Bignall, associate clinical director of the Kid's Mental Health Foundation, a nonprofit promoting children's mental health. 'Safety could play a role,' she said. If there's a lot of family conflict, a child might spend more time in their room to avoid that stressor. 'The Giving Tree': This author 'fixed' it with a new ending. Some say it's long overdue. It's not just about safety, Raglin Bignall said. There are other factors at play, such as culture, age and personality. Some children are naturally more introverted than others, she said. Other children prefer quiet and solitary activities, like reading. Families may designate specific playrooms for children and adult spaces for parents to unwind. Children also tend to spend more time in their rooms as they enter their pre-teen and teenage years, said Dr. Thomas Priolo, a child psychiatrist at Hackensack Meridian Health. "A teenager will want to be more independent and feel responsible for themselves, and having a space for themselves in their room allows them to take control," he said. "As children get older, it becomes more important and more of a conscious decision." The time children spend in their room may also depend on the time of year, Priolo said. During the school year, kids are more socially stimulated by school and extracurricular activities, so they may want more time to unwind in their room alone. It's not necessarily a bad thing for children to spend more time in their bedroom, but he said parents should be wary if an ordinarily "living room" kid suddenly starts isolating in their room. This could be a sign that there's something wrong. "Rather than viewing it as 'living room' versus 'bedroom kids,' the best way to view it is as a house and making sure that kids feel safe no matter where they are," Priolo said. Riglin Bignall also reminds parents that having 'living room kids' can sometimes be overwhelming. It's OK to be a 'bedroom parent' every once in a while to recharge. 'Everyone needs breaks. You can't have people around you all the time,' Riglin Bignall said. 'It's great to have communal and family time and build family belonging but it's also important to think about when are you making sure you have time to fill your cup.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Living room, bedroom kids: TikTok parents reflect on family dynamics
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Are you raising a ‘living room kid' or a ‘bedroom kid'? Here's what it reveals about family quirks
There's 'room' for debate. 'Living room kids' and 'bedroom kids' have gained popularity on social media as parenting influencers discuss the terms and what they reveal about a family's dynamic. A living room child is a child who spends most of their time at home in shared spaces such as the living room, kitchen or dining room. Meanwhile, a bedroom child spends most of their time in the privacy afforded by their own space. On the 'How Married Are You?!' podcast, married co-hosts Yvette and Glen Henry discussded how their children were all in the kitchen as Yvette was preparing dinner. 'I'm like, ya'll, we have almost 4,000 square feet here and you're all right here. Right here,' Yvette laughed — but then she realized she was looking at the circumstance all wrong, remembering a discussion she had previously seen in a Reel about 'living room families.' 'I don't think that I always appreciate what I have in this situation,' she realized. 'Like the gift of all this togetherness that we are going to look back on one day and say, 'oh my gosh, I miss that.'' Whether your child is a living room or bedroom child goes deeper than where they spend their time — it's about why they spend their time in these spaces. As the Henrys explained in the caption of the Instagram video, which has garnered 1.2 million views, 'living room kids feel safe' — they're 'loud, goofy, all up under you because they belong here' and aren't trying to escape from anything. The space they're in 'feels like home.' On the other hand, they wrote that bedroom kids retreat, isolate and go quiet 'because the shared space doesn't feel like it's for them.' 'Listen, we're not saying every child's personality is the same,' they clarified. 'But sometimes the mess, the constant chatter, the chaos in your living room? That's the sound of safety. Of comfort. Of connection.' Whitney Raglin Bignall, associate clinical director of the Kid's Mental Health Foundation, a nonprofit promoting children's mental health, agreed with the sentiment that parents should feel overjoyed that their children feel comfortable enough to be in these shared spaces. She also asserted that children may spend more time in their bedrooms to avoid any stressors caused by family conflict. 'Safety could play a role,' she told USA Today, adding that other factors could play into the situation as well, such as the child's age, personality, culture or time of year. For example, some people are naturally more introverted than others, and some prefer more solitary activities such as reading. Children might choose to spend more time unwinding in their bedrooms during the school year, too, Dr. Thomas Priolo, a child psychiatrist at Hackensack Meridian Health, explained to the outlet, since they are more socially stimulated by school and extracurricular activities when outside of the home. And as children enter their pre-teen and teenage years, they tend to retreat to their bedrooms because they 'will want to be more independent and feel responsible for themselves, and having a space for themselves in their room allows them to take control,' Priolo said. 'As children get older, it becomes more important and more of a conscious decision.' Some families may have designated playrooms for children to spend time in while parents unwind in so-called 'adult spaces.' 'It's also about how families accept and welcome children's play, their toys and personal items in communal living spaces rather than requesting that these are kept in their bedrooms or separate spaces,' Dr. Martha Deiros Collado, a clinical psychologist, told Newsweek. She added that allowing toys and games in communal spaces 'sends out a loud message that children are not mini adults. It communicates: children live here too and we let them take up as much space as adults do.' However, Priolo noted that it's not a bad thing to have a kid who wants to spend more time in their bedroom — but red flags should be raised if a kid who normally spends time in shared spaces starts to retreat into their bedroom. 'Rather than viewing it as 'living room' versus 'bedroom kids,' the best way to view it is as a house and making sure that kids feel safe no matter where they are,' he said. Raglin Bignall added that it's OK to shift from a 'living room parent' to a 'bedroom parent' every once in a while to recharge, especially since it can become overwhelming. 'Everyone needs breaks. You can't have people around you all the time,' Raglin Bignall said. 'It's great to have communal and family time and build family belonging but it's also important to think about when are you making sure you have time to fill your cup.'
USA Today
7 days ago
- Lifestyle
- USA Today
Do you have a 'living room kid' or a 'bedroom kid'? What it says about your family dynamic
Yvette Henry was in her kitchen fixing up dinner. So were all four of her kids. 'Ya'll, we have almost 4,000 square feet here and you're all right here. Right here,' she said on the "How Married Are You?!" podcast that she hosts with her husband, Glen Henry. But then she remembered a TikTok video about 'living room kids' and 'bedroom kids,' and realized she and her husband had built a home dynamic where their children felt emotionally safe in shared spaces. 'I don't think that I always appreciate what I have in this situation,' Henry said in the podcast clip that hit nearly 1 million views on TikTok and was posted elsewhere on social media. 'Like the gift of all this togetherness that we are going to look back on one day and say, 'oh my gosh, I miss that.'' 'Living room kids' and 'bedroom kids' are not terms established by behavioral science but have gained popularity online as parenting influencers talk about their household dynamics and their own past upbringings. A living room kid refers to a child who spends much of their home time in shared spaces such as the living room, kitchen or dining room. A bedroom kid refers to a child who spends most of their free time in the privacy of their bedroom. No matter what kind of person you are, if you're a parent, pay attention to your children's needs and what rooms they gravitate to. There's nothing inherently wrong with either. Although it might result in more messes, parents should feel proud knowing that living room kids feel comfortable and safe when congregating with family, said Whitney Raglin Bignall, associate clinical director of the Kid's Mental Health Foundation, a nonprofit promoting children's mental health. 'Safety could play a role,' she said. If there's a lot of family conflict, a child might spend more time in their room to avoid that stressor. What health and wellness means for you: Sign up for USA TODAY's Keeping It Together newsletter. Why some kids prefer living rooms over bedrooms It's not just about safety, Raglin Bignall said. There are other factors at play, such as culture, age and personality. Some children are naturally more introverted than others, she said. Other children prefer quiet and solitary activities, like reading. Families may designate specific playrooms for children and adult spaces for parents to unwind. Children also tend to spend more time in their rooms as they enter their pre-teen and teenage years, said Dr. Thomas Priolo, a child psychiatrist at Hackensack Meridian Health. "A teenager will want to be more independent and feel responsible for themselves, and having a space for themselves in their room allows them to take control," he said. "As children get older, it becomes more important and more of a conscious decision." The time children spend in their room may also depend on the time of year, Priolo said. During the school year, kids are more socially stimulated by school and extracurricular activities, so they may want more time to unwind in their room alone. Why it's OK to be a 'bedroom parent' It's not necessarily a bad thing for children to spend more time in their bedroom, but he said parents should be wary if an ordinarily "living room" kid suddenly starts isolating in their room. This could be a sign that there's something wrong. "Rather than viewing it as 'living room' versus 'bedroom kids,' the best way to view it is as a house and making sure that kids feel safe no matter where they are," Priolo said. Riglin Bignall also reminds parents that having 'living room kids' can sometimes be overwhelming. It's OK to be a 'bedroom parent' every once in a while to recharge. 'Everyone needs breaks. You can't have people around you all the time,' Riglin Bignall said. 'It's great to have communal and family time and build family belonging but it's also important to think about when are you making sure you have time to fill your cup.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Do you have a 'living room kid' or a 'bedroom kid'? What it says about your family dynamic
Yvette Henry was in her kitchen fixing up dinner. So were all four of her kids. 'Ya'll, we have almost 4,000 square feet here and you're all right here. Right here,' she said on the "How Married Are You?!" podcast that she hosts with her husband, Glen Henry. But then she remembered a TikTok video about 'living room kids' and 'bedroom kids,' and realized she and her husband had built a home dynamic where their children felt emotionally safe in shared spaces. 'I don't think that I always appreciate what I have in this situation,' Henry said in the podcast clip that hit nearly 1 million views on TikTok and was posted elsewhere on social media. 'Like the gift of all this togetherness that we are going to look back on one day and say, 'oh my gosh, I miss that.'' 'Living room kids' and 'bedroom kids' are not terms established by behavioral science but have gained popularity online as parenting influencers talk about their household dynamics and their own past upbringings. A living room kid refers to a child who spends much of their home time in shared spaces such as the living room, kitchen or dining room. A bedroom kid refers to a child who spends most of their free time in the privacy of their bedroom. No matter what kind of person you are, if you're a parent, pay attention to your children's needs and what rooms they gravitate to. There's nothing inherently wrong with either. Although it might result in more messes, parents should feel proud knowing that living room kids feel comfortable and safe when congregating with family, said Whitney Raglin Bignall, associate clinical director of the Kid's Mental Health Foundation, a nonprofit promoting children's mental health. 'Safety could play a role,' she said. If there's a lot of family conflict, a child might spend more time in their room to avoid that stressor. 'The Giving Tree': This author 'fixed' it with a new ending. Some say it's long overdue. It's not just about safety, Raglin Bignall said. There are other factors at play, such as culture, age and personality. Some children are naturally more introverted than others, she said. Other children prefer quiet and solitary activities, like reading. Families may designate specific playrooms for children and adult spaces for parents to unwind. Children also tend to spend more time in their rooms as they enter their pre-teen and teenage years, said Dr. Thomas Priolo, a child psychiatrist at Hackensack Meridian Health. "A teenager will want to be more independent and feel responsible for themselves, and having a space for themselves in their room allows them to take control," he said. "As children get older, it becomes more important and more of a conscious decision." The time children spend in their room may also depend on the time of year, Priolo said. During the school year, kids are more socially stimulated by school and extracurricular activities, so they may want more time to unwind in their room alone. It's not necessarily a bad thing for children to spend more time in their bedroom, but he said parents should be wary if an ordinarily "living room" kid suddenly starts isolating in their room. This could be a sign that there's something wrong. "Rather than viewing it as 'living room' versus 'bedroom kids,' the best way to view it is as a house and making sure that kids feel safe no matter where they are," Priolo said. Riglin Bignall also reminds parents that having 'living room kids' can sometimes be overwhelming. It's OK to be a 'bedroom parent' every once in a while to recharge. 'Everyone needs breaks. You can't have people around you all the time,' Riglin Bignall said. 'It's great to have communal and family time and build family belonging but it's also important to think about when are you making sure you have time to fill your cup.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Living room, bedroom kids: TikTok parents reflect on family dynamics
USA Today
7 days ago
- Lifestyle
- USA Today
Do you have a 'living room kid' or a 'bedroom kid'? What it says about your family dynamic
Do you have a 'living room kid' or a 'bedroom kid'? What it says about your family dynamic Show Caption Hide Caption Tips for flying with kids: Advice to make your family flight easier Learn how to have stress-free air travel with tips for flying with kids. Yvette Henry was in her kitchen fixing up dinner. So were all four of her kids. 'Ya'll, we have almost 4,000 square feet here and you're all right here. Right here,' she said on the "How Married Are You?!" podcast that she hosts with her husband, Glen Henry. But then she remembered a TikTok video about 'living room kids' and 'bedroom kids,' and realized she and her husband had built a home dynamic where their children felt emotionally safe in shared spaces. 'I don't think that I always appreciate what I have in this situation,' Henry said in the podcast clip that hit nearly 1 million views on TikTok and was posted elsewhere on social media. 'Like the gift of all this togetherness that we are going to look back on one day and say, 'oh my gosh, I miss that.'' 'Living room kids' and 'bedroom kids' are not terms established by behavioral science but have gained popularity online as parenting influencers talk about their household dynamics and their own past upbringings. A living room kid refers to a child who spends much of their home time in shared spaces such as the living room, kitchen or dining room. A bedroom kid refers to a child who spends most of their free time in the privacy of their bedroom. No matter what kind of person you are, if you're a parent, pay attention to your children's needs and what rooms they gravitate to. There's nothing inherently wrong with either. Although it might result in more messes, parents should feel proud knowing that living room kids feel comfortable and safe when congregating with family, said Whitney Raglin Bignall, associate clinical director of the Kid's Mental Health Foundation, a nonprofit promoting children's mental health. 'Safety could play a role,' she said. If there's a lot of family conflict, a child might spend more time in their room to avoid that stressor. 'The Giving Tree': This author 'fixed' it with a new ending. Some say it's long overdue. Why some kids prefer living rooms over bedrooms It's not just about safety, Raglin Bignall said. There are other factors at play, such as culture, age and personality. Some children are naturally more introverted than others, she said. Other children prefer quiet and solitary activities, like reading. Families may designate specific playrooms for children and adult spaces for parents to unwind. Children also tend to spend more time in their rooms as they enter their pre-teen and teenage years, said Dr. Thomas Priolo, a child psychiatrist at Hackensack Meridian Health. "A teenager will want to be more independent and feel responsible for themselves, and having a space for themselves in their room allows them to take control," he said. "As children get older, it becomes more important and more of a conscious decision." The time children spend in their room may also depend on the time of year, Priolo said. During the school year, kids are more socially stimulated by school and extracurricular activities, so they may want more time to unwind in their room alone. Why it's OK to be a 'bedroom parent' It's not necessarily a bad thing for children to spend more time in their bedroom, but he said parents should be wary if an ordinarily "living room" kid suddenly starts isolating in their room. This could be a sign that there's something wrong. "Rather than viewing it as 'living room' versus 'bedroom kids,' the best way to view it is as a house and making sure that kids feel safe no matter where they are," Priolo said. Riglin Bignall also reminds parents that having 'living room kids' can sometimes be overwhelming. It's OK to be a 'bedroom parent' every once in a while to recharge. 'Everyone needs breaks. You can't have people around you all the time,' Riglin Bignall said. 'It's great to have communal and family time and build family belonging but it's also important to think about when are you making sure you have time to fill your cup.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@
