For parents across India, the year 2025 unfolded as a tumultuous journey marked by constant adaptation. School schedules faced unprecedented disruptions, reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic era. An early-year Indo-Pak conflict led to temporary school suspensions, injecting a sense of deep uncertainty. Throughout the year, children repeatedly shifted to hybrid learning models due to factors like heavy rain, storms, and persistent smog.
Navigating Academic and Digital Turbulence
This erratic routine placed immense strain on households. As Wi-Fi networks struggled with surging bandwidth demands, parents frantically rearranged their work schedules to accommodate last-minute announcements from schools. The anxiety fueled by news of conflicts and natural disasters necessitated urgent family conversations to soothe young minds. Many parents now humorously plan to add "anytime, anywhere counsellor" and expert multi-tasker to their resumes, skills honed out of necessity this year.
The cultural landscape for children also evolved rapidly. Just as parents got acquainted with one set of trends, Gen Alpha updated its lexicon with words like "bussin", "gyatt", "mewing", and "fanum tax". Viral trends such as the "Ghibli aesthetic" and the enigmatic "6 7" left many adults perplexed. In music, some Swifties expressed disappointment with Taylor Swift's new album 'The Life of a Showgirl', with allegiance shifting to the global K-Pop phenomenon, K-Pop Demon Hunters. Gen Z was captivated by "Saiyaara", while the re-release of 1975's 'Sholay' became a unique bonding experience, bringing three generations together in cinemas.
Shifting Education Goals and Pressing Parental Concerns
Higher education aspirations saw a notable pivot. With new visa rules and rising intolerance towards migrants in Western nations, Indian families began looking towards universities in South-East and West Asia. This trend was bolstered by new partnerships between leading global institutions and is expected to gain further momentum.
However, the most alarming issue for parents was the rise of vaping among school children. Students as young as 12 or 13 were turning to e-cigarettes, often due to peer pressure. This crisis prompted collaborative efforts between parents, counsellors, and teachers on preventive education, though many still find it a significant challenge. Parenting styles also came under discussion, with "plastic wrap parenting"—characterised by excessive control—becoming a widely debated topic.
Learning and Bonding Through Stories and Art
Amidst the chaos, meaningful connections were forged through books and creative expression. At The Art Studio Mumbai, founder Purnima Sampat observed that children in grades 3-4 started hesitating in their art, fearing their work wasn't realistic enough. The book 'Ish' by Peter H. Reynolds became a turning point. The concept of "ish"—as in "horse-ish" or "castle-ish"—gave children permission to embrace imperfection, leading to fewer crumpled papers and more confident explanations of their creative intent.
For accessibility consultant Siddhant Shah, the book 'Granddad's Pride' by Harry Woodgate opened new avenues for discussing gender and queerness with children, breaking mental barriers. Despite initial scepticism from some teachers, the book fostered complex, non-judgmental conversations in schools through his pop-up library, READ_Inclusive.
Author Vibha Batra engaged middle graders in critical discussions about reconciling love for the Harry Potter series with the author's controversial views on trans rights. These conversations gained further depth with the Broadway premiere of 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child', sparking debates on diversity and colour-blind casting for roles like Hermione.
Social media's role was intensely examined. Author Anushka Ravishankar found that teenagers view platforms as a source of solace and escape, akin to how books functioned for previous generations. While acutely aware of dangers like cyber-bullying and stalking, the teens emphasised the crucial need for open communication and daily gadget-free time with family.
Digital safety remained a tightrope walk, as noted by Gurugram-based parent Radhika Kapoor. Monitoring her 13-year-old's activity on platforms like Roblox—rife with risks from explicit content to predatory chats and unexpected in-game purchases—sparked essential conversations about privacy and online safety.
Ultimately, 2025 was defined by these small, significant moments of learning and connection. For many, it was a year of embracing "expression over perfection," navigating complex new worlds with their children, and finding joy in family rituals, whether through Lego thrillers, Assamese Bihu songs with a great-grandmother, or simply reflecting on a challenging yet transformative year together.
