It always starts with a little too much quiet.
That’s the setup in a viral TikTok that has moms everywhere clutching their baby monitors. The video—racking up 2.6 million views—opens with a simple but ominous on-screen text: “who gave the toddler an allen wrench.”
Inside the toddler’s room? A scene that left everyone, including his mom, absolutely speechless.
There, in the soft natural light of his nap-time lair, is a baby-faced engineer squatting in front of his crib with laser focus. Around him? Bolts. Crib slats. Absolute disassembly. It’s giving Tool Time meets IKEA After Dark. The only thing missing is a tiny hard hat.
“This what they mean when they want 20 years experience,” said @b (52.2K likes).
“Now that’s Montessori,” added @just someone (18.1K likes).
“Never take him to IKEA,” warned @LC (1,222 likes).
It’s toddler chaos at its finest—but also? Lowkey genius.
Is this what gifted looks like?
While most parents would see crib destruction as a meltdown in the making, this toddler’s clinical focus and methodical unscrewing had viewers wondering if he was the next Tony Stark.
Yes, it’s hilarious. But also, it’s developmentally fascinating. Around age two or three, kids’ fine motor skills start to click into place. Twisting, turning, pushing, pulling—those repetitive motions? They’re how toddlers learn best. That’s also when executive function (aka decision-making and problem-solving) begins to bloom.
According to research published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly, hands-on exploration—like using tools and manipulating objects—helps toddlers develop cognitive flexibility, attention control, and spatial awareness, all key markers of early STEM learning.
In other words: if your toddler is unscrewing furniture instead of throwing peas, it might be time to buy a child-safe tool set and call it a win.
Related: Toddler grabs the Swiffer and straps in his baby—what he does next has the internet cheering
Montessori moms vs. chaos-core moms
The comments section turned into a full-on parenting philosophy debate. Montessori moms chimed in with affirmations: “We love a focused worker!” “Practical life activity unlocked!” Meanwhile, chaos-core parents were like, “That crib was on its last leg anyway.”
Both camps kind of have a point. Structured exploration (think sensory bins and take-apart toys) can satisfy that urge to do, but sometimes kids just need the real thing. The secret sauce? Boundaries + trust + supervision = tiny humans who are confident problem-solvers (and ideally don’t dismantle their bedframes).
How to support your little tinkerer
If your toddler seems more curious than destructive, here are some mom-approved ways to safely nurture that energy:
- Tool kits for toddlers: Look for wooden or plastic sets that mimic real tools, including screwdrivers, bolts, and gears.
- Take-apart toys: Old remote controls, small appliances (with batteries and sharp pieces removed), or even empty cardboard boxes with velcro fasteners can turn into DIY labs.
- Routine “work” time: Build a predictable part of their day where they get to focus, tinker, or build uninterrupted.
- Praise the process, not the result: Instead of “Wow, you built that!” try “I saw how carefully you turned those screws—you were so focused!”
Because one day, your toddler might take apart a crib. And the next? They might just be inventing the crib of the future.
Until then, maybe hide the Allen wrenches.
Related: Mom leaves toddler alone for two minutes—returns to a scene she’ll never forget