#Attachment

A Washington Post column sparked debate after a grandmother described letting her 2½-year-old granddaughter cry for up to 30 minutes to encourage independence and ease preschool routines. Scientists and child psychologists now urge a nuanced, compassionate approach, especially for Thai families juggling traditional wisdom with modern parenting guidance.

The core scenario is familiar: a tired, hungry, or emotionally seeking toddler cries for attention after time apart from working parents. In Thai culture, many grandparents instinctively respond with quick comfort, reflecting long-standing beliefs about nurturing and emotional warmth in early childhood. Contemporary voices, meanwhile, warn that over-responses can “spoil” toddlers or foster dependency. The question remains: what does science say about how caregivers should respond to toddler distress?

A recent column in The Washington Post prompted fierce debate after a grandmother described her daughter’s strategy of letting a 2½-year-old granddaughter cry for up to 30 minutes rather than picking her up—a response designed, the parents say, to encourage independence and make things easier for teachers at preschool. But is “crying it out” appropriate or potentially harmful at this age? New neuroscience studies and child psychology experts urge a more nuanced, compassionate approach, especially for young Thai families navigating traditional and modern parenting advice.