There’s a trend emerging among kids where they ask someone to do them a favour and when that person kindly does it for them, they’ll respond: “good boy” (or “good girl”).

According to Parents, the mocking trend emerged on TikTok when someone asked a police officer for their badge number and name. When the officer provided the information, the person responded with “good boy” – and so a quietly hideous trend was born.

Unfortunately, the phrase has seeped into classrooms – with teachers saying they’re witnessing children saying it to each other, and even to them.

Fiona Yassin, family psychotherapist, and founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, told HuffPost UK the trend ”is a particularly provocative one”, as its purpose is often to “evoke shame, anger or an inflammatory response”.

Why is it problematic?

While saying “good boy” or “good girl” doesn’t seem particularly insidious on the face of it, it comes across as condescending and disrespectful. It can also have a negative impact on other children if they become the butt of the joke.

Yassin explained: “In adults, the part of the brain responsible for judging punishment and reward is fully mature – typically around the age of 26 or 27.

“However, when children or young........

© HuffPost