Influencer Vidya Gopalan Reveals Her ‘Controversial’ Parenting Guidelines for Kids
Influencer Vidya Gopalan is opening up about her expectations for her daughter this school year.
“First and foremost, no TV or games on your phone from Monday to Thursday,” Gopalan stated in a GRWM video posted on TikTok earlier this month, mentioning that there’s some “flexibility” regarding her 8th grader, especially considering her daughter’s enthusiasm for The Summer I Turned Pretty.
Gopalan, who has two children with her husband Rakesh and boasts over 4 million followers on her @queencitytrends account, emphasized that her second rule involves instilling “responsibility” in her children.
“You must prepare everything needed for school the night before: change of clothes for sports, water bottle, iPad, and homework. If you forget something, I won’t be able to drop it off,” she instructed.
@queencitytrends Remember… this approach works for us. Feel free to do what suits your family best 🏡 that works for you 😘 #strictparents #schoollife #parentsoftiktok #socialmedia #momsoftiktok
As for her third rule? Gopalan insists that her children shouldn’t have their phones near them while tackling homework.
“It’s a huge distraction. If you’re constantly getting texts and Snapchats, focus will be lost,” she explained, adding that her kids cannot keep their phones charging in their rooms at night.
Both Gopalan and her husband conduct “periodic phone checks” on their children’s devices, noting that they use a specific Verizon service that “monitors” their kids’ activities. Although Gopalan mentioned this “doesn’t apply to my daughter just yet,” she anticipates that her daughter will eventually share her location on her devices.
Gopalan acknowledged that her next rule might be “controversial,” revealing her expectation for her kids to achieve straight A’s.
“Will they face challenges along the way? Absolutely,” she remarked. “But the expectation is to excel in school.”
Commenters rapidly shared their thoughts on her set of rules; some expressed support. “None of this is controversial; it’s essential. You’re protecting them and teaching them responsibility!” one user noted, while another mentioned, “Your rules are fostering responsibility, discipline, and structure. This is excellent parenting.”
However, others disagreed. “As an education major and a teacher, I support all these rules except for the all A’s expectation,” said another user. “It’s not healthy; you can inspire good grades without demanding they be perfect.”
