What are “Inchstones”?

HALEY LONGMAN
APR 04, 2024

Are you one of those parents who celebrates all of your kids’ milestones, big and small? Well congrats, you’re officially in on one of the year’s biggest parenting trends.

 

The official name for this trend is “inchstones,” which, as opposed to milestones, means celebrating all of your kids’ moments no matter how “insignificant” they may be; we’re talking throwing a party for your kid losing their first tooth, giving them a present for potty training, or celebrating a half-birthday (guilty as charged…my son gets a chocolate cupcake of his choosing every year when he turns six months older).

“Inchstones” is a term coined by Pinterest to celebrate these “tiny triumphs” in a child’s life. And according to Pinterest Predicts 2024, there’s been a major surge in the following search terms across their platform lately:

  • End of year school party ideas +90%

  • Monthly milestone ideas +90%

  • Potty training rewards ideas +100%

 

Inchstones may be a familiar concept to parents of kids with special needs; they’re already celebrating moments that parents of neurotypical children may take for granted, such as marks of independence like feeding themselves or saying their first full sentence. But now it’s catching on as a more widespread phenomenon.

 

Are inchstones for me?

There’s no right or wrong way to parent (or so they tell us), so it’s up to you whether or not you choose to make a big deal of, say, your kid’s first solo bike ride, or if you’ll simply give them a, “good job, bud!” and call it a day. 

 

But like many things in parenting, inchstones are not for everyone and, honestly, the concept will probably make your Boomer parents cringe. Back in the ‘90s, once-a-year birthday parties and twice-a-year gifts were all we needed to keep us satisfied. Graduation parties? A bonus for sure! But parenting is vastly different these days, and moms and dads today are doing the most for their littles. The mentality is this: if we can do a small gesture or spend a little bit of money to make our kids feel proud of whatever it is they accomplished, then what’s the harm in that? 

 

We’re not shrinks here, but celebrating all achievements is a logical way to keep your child’s self-esteem up….and a great excuse to throw a mini celebration (cupcakes are a must, obviously) if you can swing it.

What are your thoughts on inchstones? Yay or nay?

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