What came first? Chicken parmesano or chicken nuggets?
Chicken parm, 1950s: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicken_parmesan
Chicken nuggets also 1950s: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chicken_nugget&diffonly=true
However chicken milanesa (breaded chicken cutlets) has its origin at about 1200s: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Veal_Milanese&diffonly=true
So, in my opinion Chicken nuggets specifically came after chicken parm, since its recorded history dates much further back than an emulsified paste of poultry breaded and fried (dino shapes inclusive)
Therefore the kids versión is a riff off chicken parm and not the other way around, so you can feel better about that.