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Kids aren't the smartest. Sure, one moment they might drop a philosophical and poetic line that seems to tap into some universal truth and make you wonder about it for the rest of the day, but the next they might be shoving a straw into an orange, trying to have some juice.

So let's take a minute and have a little innocent laugh at them, shall we? I mean, people who witnessed our, let's call them, less fortunate moments have certainly had so it's only fair we enjoy what the younger generation has to offer too, right? We earned it.

That's why we at Bored Panda put together a new list of pictures that capture children at times they seemed to have no idea how the world actually works. Continue scrolling to check out the images and fire up our earlier articles here and here to catch up on the series.

#2

How Do You Expect Kids To Live With Such Narrow Minded Parents?

How Do You Expect Kids To Live With Such Narrow Minded Parents?

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How much you talk with your child can be really important to their development. In the mid-1990s, an interesting discovery was made about a stark difference in language achievement in children. Researchers Betty Hart and Todd Risley visited families from different socioeconomic groups, spending an hour each month recording them over more than two years.

Going through the data, they found that children from the poorest backgrounds heard one-third as many words per hour as those from higher-income backgrounds. Scaling up, the researchers proposed that by the time the children were four years old, there would be a 30-million word gap between children from poor backgrounds compared to those in wealthier, professional households.

#4

Ahh Yes, That's Reasonable

Ahh Yes, That's Reasonable

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#5

My Son Thought This Light Switch Would Control The Lights In The Store

My Son Thought This Light Switch Would Control The Lights In The Store

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Almondein
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

‘Alright, who’s messing with the escalators?’

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TahJia Williams
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dont call him dumb for this!! Hes got the initial concept 😂😂😂

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Eppe
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Making a hypothesis and testing it. This kid is going places.

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Zaza
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother pissed in a showmodel toilet in a hardware store. I get why this is high up on the list, but that's not clueless, that's just kids being too young to understand (or not yet having been taught) how things work. This is cute af :)

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Casmera Norwich
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still play with those switches (and doorbells, too) .... and I'm 72 :D

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THEBOI4000
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I was working at home Depot then I would turn of a couple of the lights for your kid

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JensenDK
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was in a mall once, when all electricity disappeared and everything went completely black. And a small child's voice was heard from somewhere in the darkness: Now, who is playing with the light switch???

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voice of reason
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Did he cry when nothing happened. My son would probably hunted down a hammer to try again. He had psychological and emotional problems. But he could be so funny and kind. Never trade in even when husb left and moved 3000 miles awayQuitethe challenge.

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Hagen Radcliffe
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

he looks like my son. My 38,bald- ish, grown ass man. I miss that cute little guy who loved the “lumber store!”

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Napoleon dynamite
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha when I was little I told my 5 year old sister that if she flipped the right switch the lights would turn off. 20 minutes later she was mad. Very mad

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Betsy Novack
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Necessity is the mother of invention. Wheels turning. He will probably black out the entire Eastern SeaCoast before he's 9.

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HK Hoel
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I actually think this is really smart. Kids live in an observation based world, and he made the connection even though it's a different setting.

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Nicola Mawson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did actually once turn off a DB box, turning all the lights off. It was in the middle of a shelf

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Seanette Blaylock
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do the soles of his shoes glow in the dark? They look like about that color. If they do, great idea for making him easier to find in poor lighting.

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Imogene Cargeaux
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is seriously the cutest damn thing ever. Look at his little baby brain working overtime.

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Hermione
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Better that then testing what happens if he sticks his finger in the socket above.

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Annaliese Coppin
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did that once my stupid brain told me I would be fine but nope! Electricity✨

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Panda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well done! Test and prove, don't trust whatever you are told.

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DELETED.
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They actually control a display. Maybe you thought the switch controlled the city.🤔

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Brian Brown
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This kid is dumb, Everyone knows it's the one on the right! This is cute.

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As Melissa Hogenboom pointed out for the BBC, this study was far from ideal. It had a small sample size, and it's not entirely clear if the word gap is as large as the researchers first suggested.

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Critics have since shown that low-income children hear many more words than Hart and Risley reported when factoring in language they overhear from conversations both inside and outside the home.

But responding to these critics, another group highlighted that "young children do not profit from overheard speech about topics of interest to adults."

#7

Important Questions For The Doctor

Important Questions For The Doctor

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Zedrapazia
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember when I was a kid, the local mayor came to talk to us and answer some of our questions. My best friend decided to ask him how often he changes his underwear.

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#8

Just Lost My Foot After A Motorcycle Accident. This Is The Sticker My Son Chose To Decorate My Brace

Just Lost My Foot After A Motorcycle Accident. This Is The Sticker My Son Chose To Decorate My Brace

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However, if this word gap does exist, it is problematic because language is known to be one of the most important predictors of how well you are going to do later in life, from your earliest school years to university and so, might even be an indicator of the success of your future career.

Whether we're learning basic numeracy or articulating memories, we need language.

#9

He Refused To Let Me Help Him Order His Food Because He's A "Big Boy". Now He's Sitting Mad As Hell With His Egg On A Hot Dog Bun With Jalapeños And Black Olives

He Refused To Let Me Help Him Order His Food Because He's A "Big Boy". Now He's Sitting Mad As Hell With His Egg On A Hot Dog Bun With Jalapeños And Black Olives

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#11

We Found My Wife’s Phone In The Toilet Yesterday. We Weren’t Sure Which Of Our Three Kids Put It There Until My Wife Scrolled Through Her Pictures Today

We Found My Wife’s Phone In The Toilet Yesterday. We Weren’t Sure Which Of Our Three Kids Put It There Until My Wife Scrolled Through Her Pictures Today

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Lady Goldberry
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That kid has the eyes of a master criminal. 'You gonna use the 'no' word on me? Fine. I'm gonna sever your contact with the outside world...'

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Scientists are even able to show how the brain responds to early language exposure. One group, led by Rachel Romeo, a neuroscientist and speech language pathologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, showed that conversational interactions can have a visible benefit on brain development.

The team recorded conversations in families’ homes monitoring both the amount of language they were exposed to and the number of conversational turns and discovered that children who had more turn-taking conversations were better at language comprehension tasks.

#12

Well It Was Definitely One Of You

Well It Was Definitely One Of You

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#13

Would Not Stop Crying Until She Got Her Own Cone Of Shame

Would Not Stop Crying Until She Got Her Own Cone Of Shame

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#14

My Niece Just Made Everyone Friends And Said "No Fighting". I Can't Stop Laughing

My Niece Just Made Everyone Friends And Said "No Fighting". I Can't Stop Laughing

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#15

My Brother And I Met Our Favorite Super Hero (The Hulk) When We Were 4. We Were Frustrated Because Lou Ferrigno Wasn’t Green

My Brother And I Met Our Favorite Super Hero (The Hulk) When We Were 4. We Were Frustrated Because Lou Ferrigno Wasn’t Green

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Indeed, we have evidence that it is not passive hearing – or even the amount of words a child is exposed to – that matters most. Instead, it is the quality of the conversation that is important. The back and forth turn-taking nature that requires listening and responding.

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It’s what Hirsh-Pasek and her long-time collaborator Roberta Golinkoff refer to as a “conversational duet”, as “you can’t sing it alone”. In fact, another study found that if a conversation is interrupted by a phone call, the child does not learn a newly presented word (they will learn it if the conversation is not interrupted).

#17

My 10-Year-Old Nephew Told His Mom He Doesn’t Know How His Phone Broke. He Just Woke Up And It Was Like That. A Few Days Later She Finds He Posted This On Youtube

My 10-Year-Old Nephew Told His Mom He Doesn’t Know How His Phone Broke. He Just Woke Up And It Was Like That. A Few Days Later She Finds He Posted This On Youtube

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#18

It Makes 1 Hour That They're Looking For Their Car Keys That Their Kid Buried Inside The Sand

It Makes 1 Hour That They're Looking For Their Car Keys That Their Kid Buried Inside The Sand

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#19

Toddler Got Her Hands On Hair Removal Lotion Instead Of Her Dad’s Hair Gel

Toddler Got Her Hands On Hair Removal Lotion Instead Of Her Dad’s Hair Gel

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Even if Hart and Risley's study wasn’t perfect, the idea that a significant socioeconomic gap exists has been replicated by numerous studies.

In 2008, for instance, Meredith Rowe of Harvard University found that types of conversations do differ significantly between low- and high-income families – in part due to the differing levels of education reached by the parents in these groups.

#20

If You Look Closely, You Can See My Son Hiding From Me

If You Look Closely, You Can See My Son Hiding From Me

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#21

The Neighbourhood Kid Loves My Cat And Insists That My Cat Loves Her Back. This Picture Accurately Shows How Much Kitty Loves Her

The Neighbourhood Kid Loves My Cat And Insists That My Cat Loves Her Back. This Picture Accurately Shows How Much Kitty Loves Her

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#23

My Baby Is Trying To Escape The Car To Play With A Baby In Another Car

My Baby Is Trying To Escape The Car To Play With A Baby In Another Car

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Though a word gap can have lasting consequences, the good news is that all parents talk to their children at least sometimes. And if parents would focus more on the quality of interactions rather than quantity, then children could benefit.

The more social experiences they have, whether with their parents or with any other caregivers around them, the more they will learn.

#24

Crying Because She Found Out Her Mum’s Real Name

Crying Because She Found Out Her Mum’s Real Name

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#25

I Just Have To Post This So I Will Always Have The Memory

I Just Have To Post This So I Will Always Have The Memory

Me to my class: "Okay boys and girls, hang up your snacks so we can go into art class!" I laughed so hard! I love kindergarten!

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#27

Playing Hide And Seek With A Toddler Is Always A Thrill

Playing Hide And Seek With A Toddler Is Always A Thrill

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While the stress of day-to-day life can leave less time for talk and play, with a few subtle tweaks in how we speak to children – and how we listen to them – we can literally grow their brains for the better.

#28

My Child Has Tons Of Toys And Is Playing With An Onion

My Child Has Tons Of Toys And Is Playing With An Onion

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Nannychachi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I gave one of my granddaughters a real potato to play with as Mrs. Potatohead. She drew a face with a Sharpie and stuck old costume jewelry on it. Carried it around for days.

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#29

Just Found Her Chilling Here For Over An Hour

Just Found Her Chilling Here For Over An Hour

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#30

My Nephew Is Shooting For The Stars

My Nephew Is Shooting For The Stars

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#32

No Stupid Questions. Just Stupid People

No Stupid Questions. Just Stupid People

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DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I asked my mom why I wasn't invited to her wedding, that took place two years before I was born

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#33

My GF Works At A Daycare

My GF Works At A Daycare

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#34

Gonna Save A Bunch Of Money On College

Gonna Save A Bunch Of Money On College

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Nadine Bamberger
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well at least now you k ow he's capable of following instructions without asking, perfect for middle management lol.

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#36

My Little Sister vs. The Roomba

My Little Sister vs. The Roomba

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#37

My Son Was 6 When He Was Helping Us Move. Each Year This Memory Pops Up And It’s A Family Favourite

My Son Was 6 When He Was Helping Us Move. Each Year This Memory Pops Up And It’s A Family Favourite

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#39

"Mommy, There's Green Goo Coming Out Of My Waffle!" -My 6-Year-Old Son

"Mommy, There's Green Goo Coming Out Of My Waffle!" -My 6-Year-Old Son

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#40

My Son Said He Was Hot And Wanted Ice Cream. This Is Not What I Expected

My Son Said He Was Hot And Wanted Ice Cream. This Is Not What I Expected

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#41

Imaginary Friends Vibes

Imaginary Friends Vibes

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oli
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jacob his the one who only childs can see and live under parents beds

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#42

My 10-Year-Old Brother Is Stupid As Hell

My 10-Year-Old Brother Is Stupid As Hell

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River Webb
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hmm the hint is hard to figure out, anyone know what the password is?

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#44

My 4-Year-Old Won't Stop Laughing About This Donut Smiley Face That's Wearing Sunglasses And Has Two Mouths

My 4-Year-Old Won't Stop Laughing About This Donut Smiley Face That's Wearing Sunglasses And Has Two Mouths

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#45

My Nephew Wanted A Portrait Of George Washington. Thank Goodness He Didn’t Want A Portrait Of Ben Franklin

My Nephew Wanted A Portrait Of George Washington. Thank Goodness He Didn’t Want A Portrait Of Ben Franklin

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Shay
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As someone who has worked as a bank teller, I can confirm that this bill is still acceptable. Someone brought in $200 dollars worth of 20’s that were torn right in half in exchange for new bills. He had thought he removed the cash from the envelope we put the money in. As long as each half of the bills serial number matches the other, and is legible, we just tape it together. If you’re really good, and have a steady hand, it’s almost not even noticeable. If the bill is in really bad shape, it’s sent back to the federal reserve as mutilated.

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#46

She Dressed Herself. It's Definitely Backward

She Dressed Herself. It's Definitely Backward

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River Webb
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

girl genius may not be as genius as she thought, still a fine effort though

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#47

I Guess I Don’t Have To Worry About College With This One

I Guess I Don’t Have To Worry About College With This One

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Henry Hagens
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you are young enough not to get that concept, you should not always have a phone in your pocket

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#48

Me At 3 Years Old, Having A Meltdown, Because My Parents Sold Our Car, Little Blue

Me At 3 Years Old, Having A Meltdown, Because My Parents Sold Our Car, Little Blue

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Nadine Bamberger
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was part of the family! Today you sell Little Blue, who says Little Taylor isn't next?

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#49

He Didn't Want His Shoes To Get Wet, So He Put Paper Bags On His Feet And Waded Into The Ocean

He Didn't Want His Shoes To Get Wet, So He Put Paper Bags On His Feet And Waded Into The Ocean

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DUN DUN (she/her)
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am 20 and today I was this🤏🏻 much away from using hand-wash on tooth brush instead of toothpaste

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#50

At Age 8, I Achieved My Lifelong Dream Of Becoming A Piggy Bank. That's A €0.10 Coin On The Way Out

At Age 8, I Achieved My Lifelong Dream Of Becoming A Piggy Bank. That's A €0.10 Coin On The Way Out

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Note: this post originally had 133 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.