On the Radar: ‘Gummy Bear Moms,’ Gen Z Visiting Historic Sites and a ‘Cat in the Hat’ Scares

What’s a ‘Gummy Bear Mom?’

What? Remember the term “almond mom?” It applied to moms who could be a bit diet-minded and sweets-restrictive with their kids, opting for ultra-healthy snacks instead. Well, now meet their counterpart: the “gummy bear mom.”

So What? Now, you may be worried that a “gummy bear mom” is a little too cavalier with the snacks, perhaps to the detriment of her child’s health. But that’s not really the point. This is a generally positive term to refer to moms who try to find a balance between healthy foods and those sweet snacks.

Now What? This new term is part of a trend to destigmatize dichotomous ideas about food—that vegetables are good and desserts are bad. Parents might want to consider how certain foods are viewed in their household. Think about which snacks (and which amounts of snacks) could be appropriate for your kids without abandoning efforts to keep them healthy.

Gen Z’s Interest in Historic Sites and Nature

What? Who loves historic heritage sites? Apparently, Gen Z. The National Trust, a conservation charity in the United Kingdom, recently reported that the number of young people signing up for memberships “rose by 26% over the last year.” And it’s not just historic sites: Gen Z has developed a larger interest in the great outdoors, even taking up activities like birding.

So What? A growing number ofGen Zers have started to push back against predominantly on-screen, online lives. And it seems they’re resonating with an idea voiced by Scottish American naturalist John Muir over 100 years ago: “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.”

Now What? It’s good to “touch grass.” And it’s encouraging to see younger generations enjoying the history and natural beauty of our world—something we all could probably use a little more of in our screen-obsessed society.

Threatening ‘Cat in the Hat’ Trend?

What? A new social media trend involves posting images or videos of a menacing version of the Dr. Suess character the Cat in the Hat accompanied by disturbing messages. According to Newsweek, this trend, which started as an online hoax, has now garnered police attention.

So What? Some of the “Cat in the Hat” posts have gone a step further and included names of real individuals as targets, which can constitute a crime, even if made as a joke. Currently, a high school student in Kansas has been charged with two counts of criminal threat by law enforcement.  

Now What? Warn your teens against participating in this and other similar social media trends. As we’ve seen, what starts as a joke can result in serious real-world consequences.