What's the Cookie Challenge? the Viral TikTok Trend Testing Toddlers

As soon as your toddler is up moving, munching and playing with others, one life lesson seems to be on repeat: sharing is caring. It’s a heartwarming—but tricky—concept for little minds to master, which may be why the internet can’t get enough of the latest TikTok parenting trend putting it to the test: the “Cookie Challenge.”

The premise is simple (and seriously cute). Three plates of cookies are placed on a table, each covered with a napkin. One for Parent A, one for Parent B (or sometimes the family pet!), and one for the toddler. Once the napkins are lifted, it’s revealed that the toddler has not one but two cookies, while one parent has one and the other, none. Then comes the big moment: Will the toddler share… or savor every crumb? What follows is comedy gold—and sometimes, a total tearjerker.

Some kids “passed the test” with flying colors. In one viral video, @joeyandcynthia’s daughter immediately handed a cookie to Mom. Over at @ladyandtheblues, their little one shared a cookie with the family dog, Lady. And in one of the most emotional takes on the trend, @hannahcook’s son burst into tears the moment he saw that Mom didn’t have a cookie—then quickly handed her one with a shaky lip and a big hug.

Of course, not every toddler was in a sharing mood—and that’s where the laughs roll in. @jessshdez22’s toddler took a big bite before even acknowledging Dad’s empty plate. And when he finally did? He clutched both cookies tightly, prompting an off-screen chuckle: “We lost… we failed as parents.” Other kids cleverly tried to game the system—looking under napkins or suggesting that maybe more cookies were hidden offscreen (we see you, @hilaryraee, @itsmoniquesworld, and @ryleighclouse). And as any parent of multiples knows, results can be mixed—like in @swimmer_2_winner’s video, where only one out of three kids decided to share their cookie.

Ultimately whether each child happily offered up their second cookie or were in a bit more of a cookie monster mood, each video offers a sweet glimpse into the ups and downs of toddler parenting. Some days your hard-earned lessons shine through—and other days, well… the cookie temptation is just too strong. Either way, we’re pretty sure these parents and toddlers are doing just fine.