"It's not like my parents did something wrong or that they didn't love me. They gave me everything they could, and my father was always there whenever I needed him. But he wasn't the kind of person who expressed affection openly. I never doubted his love, but I also never heard words of encouragement as often as I would have liked."

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"Now, as a father to twin daughters, I want to be different. I want my girls to grow up knowing, without a shred of doubt, that I am their biggest cheerleader, that I see them, value them, and celebrate them every single day," says Vipul Sharma (name changed), 33, reflecting on his choice to embrace cycle-breaking parenting.

For parents like Sharma, the shift isn't about rejecting how they were raised but about consciously deciding which parts of their upbringing they want to carry forward and which patterns they want to leave behind.

Today's generation of parents is more aware of how deeply their words, actions, and even silences can shape their child's sense of self. And while many may have experimented with styles like gentle parenting or, at times, leaned into stricter approaches, cycle-breaking has emerged as a steady, intentional choice.

But what exactly is cycle-breaking parenting, and why are more and more parents adopting it as their guiding philosophy? Let's find out from experts.

What is it?

Dr Sushma Gopalan, child psychologist – child life specialist, Aster CMI