School called mom about her kindergartener picking up a bizarre habit from his friend — the truth about the other child made it heartbreaking
School is meant to be a place for kids not just to learn but also to socialize. However, the world is currently witnessing a paradigm shift, prompting many parents to homeschool their children. TikTok user Katie Fanning (@the_mrs_fanning), received a call from her son's school informing her that he had been learning a friend's strange habit. However, when she learned about the "game" the kids were playing, it broke her heart. Sharing the disturbing experience with her TikTok followers on February 17, 2026, the young mother issued a warning that has sparked many parents online to advocate for homeschooling.
While the young mother assumed the call from school was to inform her if her son had fallen ill or gotten into trouble, the revelation shook her. She was informed by the teacher that another student from his class had been teaching a few classmates, including Fanning's son, a strange game: snorting water and pretending they were drunk. Fanning noted that if this behavior went unnoticed, the child could potentially bring real controlled substance next time and encourage other kids to use them, which might result in a parent receiving a call from the ER.
Fanning also expressed her heartbreak knowing that the 6-year-old in her son's class must have learned this from watching adults at home engage in substance use. Children often learn many of their behaviors from observing adults at home. A person’s first lessons in speaking, acting, and responding to situations often begin at home.
In Fanning's case, the 6-year-old may have seen an adult engaging in substance use and tried to recreate it playfully. They were mimicking what they had observed by snorting water. This illustrates how strongly children observe their surroundings and introduce these behaviors to other peers, making it crucial for adults to be mindful of their actions and words around kids.
The mother, visibly emotional, also noted that she will now need to teach her 6-year-old about substance use, which she finds heartbreaking at his tender age. Michigan State University emphasizes that adults need to be more conscious of their behavior around children. Research shows that even babies as young as 14 months can mimic what they observe on television. By the age of two, children are likely to imitate actions they see, even from unfamiliar people.
Soon after her video gained more than 45K likes on TikTok, many users shared their views on this issue. @Bels mentioned, "It's so sad that the parents have done this around the kid. It's not the kiddos' fault; it's 10000% the parents. I hate that this happened to you all." @Alexa commented, "I pulled my kids and homeschooled because of the things they were exposed to in kindergarten, so devastating." @Athena remarked, "Honestly, saving this so I can show people when they ask why on earth I would homeschool my children. I obviously know not everyone can, but I'm very happy I'm fortunate enough to be able to."
For more such videos, follow @the_mrs_fanning on TikTok.
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