Julia Fox Sparks Debate By Claiming 'Childhood Was Invented' To Get Parents To Buy 'Sh*t Kids Don't Need'

Actor and influencer Julia Fox got the internet's interest again, but it's not because of one of her unique outfits, a current paramour or a photo shoot this time.

It's her take on parenting.

Mom to a 19-month-old son, Fox recently posted a TikTok sharing her parenting philosophy and it's... well, something.

The Uncut Gems star claimed the concept of childhood is a scheme "invented in the 18th century."

She thinks we should return to a time before then, when children were considered "little adults"—you know, like when they had jobs in coal mines, were chained to looms in garment factories and stuff.

Which is certainly an opinion.

Here Fox's take on parenting below.

Fox told her followers:

"The idea of childhood, the concept of childhood—was only invented in the 18th century."

"Prior to that children were just regarded as little adults."

"That's why in a lot of old paintings the children don’t look the same way that we show them today, you know, with the like angelic features and all that stuff. They didn’t do that back then."

Fox went on to say that she thinks the concept of childhood is basically a sort of scam.

"I think that the idea of childhood was invented as a way to just get parents to spend a lot of money on sh*t that kids don’t [need]."

"It’s not really teaching your kid anything, you just end up raising a kid that’s like helpless and doesn’t know what to do."

Fox then described how her son Valentino doesn't particularly like his toys, but is far more interested in what Fox is doing.

So she advocated teaching kids life skills instead of playing make believe. 

"I suggest everyone buy their kid a little mini mop, a mini broom, and start teaching them those life skills really young, so that when they enter the real world, they don’t have to outsource for everything, and they know how to do things for themselves."

Fox's unique view on parenting generated tons of reactions.

People had a field day clowning her hot take.

@max_balegde/TikTok

@emiliecovacari/TikTok

@wander_lust__/TikTok

@schleprock3000/TikTok

@evilpenguinss/TikTok

@alexfsands/TikTok

@neeklikeniko/TikTok

@tbhjunru/TikTok

@kik1_1995/TikTok

It's possible Fox was referencing the Montessori method of raising and teaching children, which focuses on teaching kids life skills as part of their play and learning.

Fox had a back-and-forth about this with a fellow TikToker in the comments.

@baambaay/TikTok

But whether she was talking about Montessori-style parenting or actually sending kindergarteners to work in factories like the 1800s, one thing is for sure.

Fox certainly knows how to get attention.