A quick THREAD on the #TemptationChallenge , because so many people have been asking me about it. In case you are new to this social media craze, here's a loving example of it, from @LadBabyOfficial . I reckon @DadsRockEdin will love this too.
2. I believe this recent social media craze has been initiated by celebrity mums who tried the #TemptationChallenge with their children, and other parents are now repeating it, fuelled by the ease of #TikTok. theblast.com/c/kylie-jenner…
3. What many people may not realise is that the #TemptationChallenge is a version of the 1960s Marshmallow Test, published by scientist Walter Mischel, which traced a link between a child's capacity for delayed gratification & later outcomes in adult life.
4. Effectively, the Marshmallow Test (now #TemptationChallenge) is a measure of self-regulation capacities. Here is Mischel himself talking about the study in 2016 on #ThisMorning.
5. Note that the Marshmallow Test involved children who were 4 years old, not toddlers. Asking toddlers to delay gratification is dealing w/ a very different developmental stage. The expectations then end up mismatched to the child's biological capacities. theblast.com/c/kylie-jenner…
6. The original Marshmallow Test has had major impacts on the thinking of economists, business strategists and others thinking about adult capacities. For example, here is James Heckman talking about t importance of 'soft skills'.
7. Here is another discussion of that work, using the language of 'self-control'. The capacity to manage impulsiveness is really important - and nurturing that capacity works best when it is woven into a general awareness of child development. theforeveryears.wordpress.com/2016/11/08/the…
8. The conclusions drawn from the Marshmallow Test have been recently subject to re-evaluation. The impact of socioeconomic factors has been particularly emphasised. It isn't just about 'grit'. Here's a 2018 discussion. theatlantic.com/family/archive…
9. Here's more on the debate on the Marshmallow Test. vox.com/science-and-he…
10. Here's the book that scientist Walter Mischel himself recently wrote on what the science of self-control and the Marshmallow Test tells us. Published in 2014. goodreads.com/book/show/2045…
11. But, when that 1960s scientific experiment has been translated into a celebrity-driven, social media fuelled, lockdown bored public in 2020, new controversy arises. Here's a flavour, as captured this week on @Niall_Boylan of #IrelandTalks. omny.fm/shows/the-nial…
12. Here's more on the debate. huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/chocolat…
13. Two big strands of the debate so far are: 1) Is it ever fair of parents to put videos of their children on social media? 2) It is unkind of parents to intentionlly task their children w/ such patience challenges? Here, for ex, is @janeparenting2 take.
14. I would add 3 more strands to the #temptationchallenge debate: 1) Does it matter if people know abt the scientific history of the task? My own view is that, at the least, this knowledge helps parents & journalists think beyond the level of 'cuteness'. Its about so much more.
15. Secondly 2): The age of the child involved matters a lot. Asking a toddler to have such patience is really different from the original study, which involved 4-year-olds. Here's mum @kellymcgarv making that point this morning:
16. Finally (my most favourite) 3): What impact does this task hv on the relationship betwn a child&parent? If there is lots of laughter&love, maybe it strengthens it? Those qualities are very apparent in t @LadBabyOfficial video I started thss thread w/:
17. There are other 'challenges' out there that encourage parents to try something with their kids -- but that have a very different dynamic. For example, @JimmyKimmelLive Halloween Candy Challenge asks parents to betray their children's trust.
18. I've written about the @JimmyKimmelLive challenge before. Here's a blog from 2015. You'll get the message: I don't think this challenge is good for parent-child relationships. It stops being 'cute' once we view it through a relational lens. suzannezeedyk.com/when-corporati…
19. So...a number of people hv asked me what I think about t #TemptationChallenge. It doesn't matter so much what I think as what I am able to help other people think about. If this thread encourages folks to get more curious about children's experience, then I've done my job.
20/end. I will say this though: Whenever I am pushed to give 'one piece of advice to parents', I always say this: "Laugh - as much as you possibly can. A bank of that will get you through the hard times." 
