Judy Sheindlin, better known as “Judge Judy” after the popular daytime program, recently shared her perspective on parenting during an interview with Fox News Digital. “Every parent, unless you’re psychotic, you want your children to grow up to be responsible, law-abiding, productive citizens and mates and friends. And it’s a parent’s responsibility to take care of building that morality from at home,” she said. “That’s not anybody else’s responsibility. That’s not a school’s responsibility. That’s not a community’s responsibility.” She stated that a parent’s own morality sets the tone. She cited the example of a six-year-old picking up a phone call from a parent’s mother-in-law and being told to say that they are not at home. “Well, that sounds innocent enough, doesn’t it?” said Sheinlin. “But what you’re really teaching the child in that moment is it’s okay to lie. My parents, my parents, I look up to you just told me it’s okay to lie.”

She also pushed back against the desire parents have to be buddies with their children. “Parents sometimes run into trouble when they say, ‘we just want to be our kids’ buddy.’ But children require rules, just as the adults do. I mean, the country is in the state it’s in now because the rules get blurred,” she said. “So my advice to parents is you’re not supposed to be friends.” She encouraged parents to enforce boundaries and lay down strict rules. As a mother of five and grandmother to 13, Sheindlin has had a lot of experience in what she’s talking about.

Her son, Adam Levy, said he appreciates his mother’s approach. “I became the cross-examiner that I am because of her. Growing up, whenever I was a little off, if I told a lie, if I tried to cover something up because I did something wrong, she always knew. She knew,” he said. “And it wasn’t just that she had that sixth sense, which she did, but she was able to ask a series of questions that ultimately I was unable to answer.” Levy now serves as a judge on “Tribunal Justice.”

Sheindlin’s comments come at a time when “gentle parenting” is beginning to face some scrutiny. The Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh recently spoke out against the popular trend making its way on TikTok, calling it “dangerous.” He noted that 75 percent of millennial parents identify with the “gentle parenting” style. He cited an example of gentle parenting from Parent.com which recommended a parent suggest a child tie their shoes rather than tell them to tie their shoes. Walsh said such ways of approaching a child draws away from a parent’s responsibility to “command respect” from their children. He shared several videos of gentle parenting techniques and criticized them for their lack of authority. In a post on X, he criticized parents for not being an authority figure in their homes. “A lot of very bad parenting ideas have become popular in recent decades. One of the worst is that you should never offer ‘because I said so’ as an answer to your child when he asks why he has to do something or why he can’t do something,” he wrote. “In fact, ‘because I said so’ is one of the best and most effective answers you can give. You should say it as much as possible. A child should be trained to respect your authority and follow your instructions whether or not he understands or agrees. Weak leaders explain themselves, cajole, and negotiate. Many parents today are weak leaders in their homes.”