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No person is perfect, so a perfect parent is someone that doesn’t exist, either. But some parents could really benefit from a course or two, or a reality check, at least.
If you’re wondering what kind of parent that would be, we have a few examples that paint a pretty colorful picture. You can find them on the list below, where we have put some images showing just how ignorant or out of touch some moms and dads are. If you thought yours were difficult, you might find yourself changing your mind by the time you reach the end of the list.
Below, you will find not only the images but also Bored Panda’s interview with Dr. Yvonne M. Vissing, Professor of Healthcare Studies at Salem State University and the Founding Director of the Salem State University Center for Childhood and Youth Studies in Massachusetts, who was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about parental influence.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
A Mother’s Love
RELATED:
#2
Some People Just Take It To A Different Level
#3
I Asked About Learning Activities For My Toddler
Trillian 11 months ago
I started school at age 6. We don't learn any letters in kindergarten. I didn't know a word of English until 5th grade. And I can spell necessary. But I agree, I think the school like kindergarten in the US is too much. Let the kids be kids for a while.
Leekier 11 months ago
In my country kids usually start school the term before their 5th birthday or sometimes the September before. Often the start at nursery school a year earlier. It’s all pretty relaxed until they’re older; it doesn’t seem to traumatise us. It just depends on what you’re used to.
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SkippityBoppityBoo 11 months ago
With my god kids, when I babysat, I used to read to them and with them from an early age, which their parents did too. For example - "Which word is duck?" and they would then point it out and get a forehead kiss with a "Yeays! That's right!". It's never too early to learn... Plus? Kindergarten isn't just about learning, it's about learning social skills such as sharing, making friends etc. Then there's possibly spotting a child who may have a learning disability such as dyslexia. The earlier one is spotted, the earlier they can get help with it.
Ruth Watry 11 months ago
In Finland, kids do not start school until they are 7, and they are one of the top education countries in the world.
Roxy222uk 11 months ago
Well, it's a funny rejoinder, but going to school before the age of 5 doesn't make a child better at spelling.
Child of the Stars 11 months ago
No, but attending school as early as 3 is important for social development. Even kindergarten is mostly learning disguised as play. Most of what we think of as formal schooling doesn't really start until 6 or 7, at least in the US.
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Tams21 11 months ago
If the parents actually do stuff with the kid (i.e. read to them, play board games, regularly go to playgrounds) and have ensure they can play with similarly aged children then I don't disagree with this.
Katie Barnes 11 months ago
It is SO sad how many children are not getting these basic things with their families (reading to them, playing board games, helping with easy chores, going to playgrounds/for walks, socializing with other kids). Every year we get more and more kids without these fundamental experiences coming to school and being completely overwhelmed by it. They just want their tablets.
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Deb Dedon 11 months ago
FWIW, some kids start schooling themselves. Read to them, let them see what written words you're pronouncing, and learning happens. Or keep books around and let them explore. Or take them to the library. We've long known that we seem to have a limited-time open window to learn language. Keeping that window closed doesn't help kids.
P.sharma 1 week ago
I started schooling my daughters around 2 yrs old with alphabet, written letters not the song, and numbers and simple addition and subtraction, and forms (triangle and rectangle and so on) By the time they were five they could recognize all letters and their sounds, , thus be able to have simple oral dictation, and and their pluss and minuses. We made it fun. They loved this, refused to go to bed before doing their “homework”, BEFORE they ever set foot in the school. Kids do that in India all the time, and if they can do that in India, then why not Norway. My point? Kids are capable for a lot more than what we give them credit for.
Suck it Trebek 11 months ago
Person can't even spell and they think their kid has to much schooling for their own good.
Nice Beast Ludo 11 months ago
I think you should send your kids to pre-k because it's the only time that school is going to be really fun for them and the half day gets them ready for full day kindergarten (where I live at least). I remember when I was a kid that kindergarten was really fun but here it's not like that anymore. They have play time but it's mostly straight school subjects started early. My daughter started not wanting to go some days in kindergarten but she adored every day if pre-k.
Julian Smith 11 months ago
I am impressed that there is one full stop/period used, all is not lost!
Sarah Matsoukis 11 months ago
Attention span is training, learning itself is a skill, those people are setting their kids up for failure
P.sharma 11 months ago (edited)
In India it’s normal to start school between 2-3 yrs old. Its play and learn, but since its school, you don’t get to choose to stay home without any reasons. My own learned ABC, from they were 2 yrs old. Not only alphabet itself, but also phonetics. By 3 they could spell long words 8-10 letters. Quite accurately. They «broke» up the words phonetically for every letter sound. 90% spelled correctly. Mistakes were made only with double letters, and with silent letters. By 4 they could do plus and minuses. We did all of this in playful way. They always loved to do their «homework» (their words, not mine), before going to bed. My point being. That children’s brain works much better than what we realize. They love to learn new things. And no, it didn’t affect their school learning. On the contrary, they felt great. Edit: i don’t live in India. And no, it didn’t affect their school learning. On the contrary, they felt great , learning things they knew from before.
Parenting can be a headache, there’s no doubt about that. But, being a child can come with a set of challenges, too, especially when living with somewhat difficult parents.
The latter can come in all shapes and sizes: some might be too controlling, and others—not care at all. Some might yell constantly or use the silent treatment as a way to solve everything. Then, there are the parents who need to be parented themselves, which doesn’t give the child much of a normal childhood, either. Whatever the case, it doesn’t make the child’s life any easier and is likely to affect them for years, if not decades, to come.
#4
Mom Of The Year Over Here
#5
Insane Advice Found In The Wilds Of Facebook
Depressy spaghetti 11 months ago (edited)
Idiots like these are the reason why people think all Christians are nutjobs. NO ma'am or sir thats not how to instill God thats how to end up alone in a nursing home with a child that hates your very existence .
Unfortunately, poor parenting is not something that’s easy to change. To make matters worse, it can become a cycle, as certain parenting techniques that people experience as kids might later be used with their own children. One study suggests that poor parenting can be passed down from one generation to the other, NBC News reports. The authors found that the more adverse childhood experiences a person had, the more likely their offspring were to be troubled, too, as early as the time they turned five.
“We found that 91 percent of parents had at least one adverse childhood experience, while 45 percent had four or more,” said one of the researchers behind the study, Anne-Marie Conn of the University of Rochester Medical Center. “And among their young children, 72 percent had already experienced at least one adverse childhood experience.”
#6
I Don't Have A Problem With Extended Nursing, But Still Using Months?
Nihil Supernum 11 months ago
I mean, she probably stuck with months as it sounded better to her than four and a half years old...
#7
Saw This And Just Knew It Belonged Here
#8
Really Sorry Your Baby Is A Baby
Talking about how people’s detrimental experiences as kids can affect their own style of parenting later in life, Conn noted that it’s not easy to break patterns of behavior. “You were brought up in an adverse environment and that is what you know,” she said.
Take spanking, for instance. If they were spanked while growing up, some people might consider that a normal way of disciplining misbehaving children. But, individuals who want to break out of the cycle of poor parenting might think twice about doing that or find a way to change their ways completely.
#9
Yes, Yes You Could Have
Alan Fallguy 11 months ago
Actually, she seems to be learning, which makes her a much better mother than the anti-vaxxers who stay ignorant.
#10
My 5-Year-Old Child Is Enrolling In School And They Say I Can’t Come And Breastfeed Him. I’m Being Discriminated Against
#11
I Guess If That’s What It Takes To Get You To Vaccinate Your Kids
Discussing the topic of bad parenting, Professor of Healthcare Studies at Salem State University, Dr. Yvonne M. Vissing, noted that some people might not even understand that their parenting methods can be detrimental to their offspring.
“I think that most parents believe they are caring and responsible, but the manner in which they interact with their children can be quite concerning,” she told Bored Panda in a recent interview. “If a parent is overtly dangerous to a child, they can be reported to child protective services. The problem is that most outsiders are scared to report them (even if they are mandated reporters) because of retaliation.
“Also, children are scared to divulge maltreatment a) because they may see it as normative and not understand that they are abused, b) they fear retaliation from parents if they ‘squeal’ about how they are really being treated.”
#12
She Left Her 4 Year Old In Charge For Only An Hour
#13
"Your'e Not A Real Mum Unless You Gave Vaginal Birth To It"
The Redhead 11 months ago
I claim the title of the Ultimate Not A Reall Mother. I had a C-section, didn't breastfeed, and didn't hold my baby until she was 1 month old. I had a sudden medical emergency my daughter was delivered via emergency c-section @ 26 weeks, my health continued to decline, wound up in a medically induced coma for 3 weeks on a vent in the ICU. How selfish of me to call myself a mother. My daughter did great she's now a normal happy healthy 7 year old. I recovered as well.
#14
Mom Gets Her Young Kid A Tattoo
“What a child experiences in the first few years of life sets the stage for their development and their perceptions,” Dr. Vissing continued, emphasizing the importance of parental influence.
“There are many programs, such as Harvard's Center for the Developing Child, that focus on the importance of age zero to three as the critical time for child development. This is before many children can speak, so parents may think their children don't get what's going on, but they do.
“Studies by physicians at Yale and other institutions find (by taking blood samples and looking for hormones and other measures of stress) that by the time they are three months old, children who are facing adverse child experiences (aces) have markedly different levels than those who are well-nurtured. Therefore, early love and support is central to the physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development of a child; it starts when a child is born,” the expert emphasized.
#15
This Guy Who Has Full Gear On But His Kid Doesn’t Even Have A Helmet. What A S**tty Person
#16
Sure Hope The Crunchy Points Were Worth Your Child Losing His Hearing
Nay Wilson 11 months ago
As someone who is extremely hard of hearing (completely deaf in my left ear, half deaf in my right) nice work, mama(!) 🙄🙄🙄 navigating the world without being able to hear is really scary
#17
Let’s Name Our Baby After How We Met
Dr. Vissing noted that such “parenting techniques” as spanking a child, hitting them, or telling them how bad they are have been found to be associated with a host of problem behaviors and conditions in children. “For example, kids who are hit when they are ‘bad’ learn that violence is a suitable problem-solving strategy for when someone is upset. They will then hit their parents, siblings, peers, or lovers later on.
“Teaching children how to control their emotions and solve conflicts in a positive, nonviolent, and respectful way has been shown to create people who are themselves nonviolent, respectful, and kind,” the expert pointed out.
#18
I Wonder Why She Can't Find Another Baby Sitter
#19
Who Needs Privacy. I’m Gonna Show 53,000 People Your Picture And Tell Them You Got Your Period Today
#20
Sketchy "Possession" Of Child
Discussing this extremely sensitive issue with Bored Panda, Dr. Vissing noted that many people learn how to interact with children the same way their parents did. “They may say they didn't like what their parents did, but when they become parents, they may try one or two different strategies themselves; and if those don't work, they default to what they learned when they were children.
“When pregnant, parents may go to parenting classes but usually they are focused on how to get the baby out of your body and not what to do with them when you take them home.”
#21
What Exactly Is A "Base Tan"
#22
She Got One Thing Right
SheamusFanFrom1987 11 months ago (edited)
Nah, you aren't childish. Imbecilic and an ignoramus maybe, but certainly not childish. Sheeesh...!!! -_-
#23
Limiting The Amount Of Water Your Child Can Drink
Enby Lindor 11 months ago (edited)
This should be illegal (Edit: Thanks guys for reminding me that it is. I wrote this a 2 am when I was half asleep😅)
#24
No Fatties Allowed
#25
Forcing A Crying Six-Year-Old To Run A Marathon?
ScarletRos 11 months ago
How is a 6 year old permitted to take part in a marathon? As far as I understood there’s normally a minimum age of sixteen.
#26
It Seemed Fine Until She Mentioned Concerns Over Dark Circles And Other Issues
#27
The Mom Group I'm In Is A Goldmine For Crazy. I Posted About My 2-Year-Old Asking For Privacy In The Bathroom And This Was A Comment I Got
#28
How To K*ll Your Kid At School In One Easy Step
#29
Yes, The Problem Is Definitely Not That You Gave A Phone To A 2-Year-Old
Child of the Stars 11 months ago
And making a 2yo sit in the corner for hours should be child abuse. The recommendation for a "time out" is one minute per year.
#30
The Hypocrisy K*lls Me
StarCrossedFriday 11 months ago (edited)
Er, why is the dog being vaccinated reassuring but the kid doesn’t get the same protection? Add to that that the kid getting tetanus isn’t less likely if the dog is vaccinated anyway, and I’m completely lost. Not as lost as OP and their poor child, though.
#31
I Really Hope That Is A Reborn Doll
#32
"Anon Post Because I Am Ashamed"
Blue Bunny of Happiness 11 months ago
I can only hope that daycare does see the injuries and reports her.
#33
When You Accidentally Adopt Defective Children And Need To Detox Them
#34
How Can I Make My 4-Month-Old Have Skinnier Legs?
Caroline Nagel 11 months ago
Another one of the many here who SHOULD NOT have any children! Poor kid, she will be fatshamed by her superficial mother forever.
#35
Naming A Child Penelople
#36
This Extreme Fear-Mongering Angers Me So Much
SheamusFanFrom1987 11 months ago
No worries, pretty sure the 2.5 YO will survive. Unfortunately, your month-old, on the other hand...
#37
I Wonder Why This Isn’t Working
#38
They Had Their 12 And 15 Year-Old Boys In The Bed Of The Truck, Sitting On Dining Room Chairs, Holding Their New Glass Dining Room Table Facing The Wind For Maximum Drag
#39
Where Are This Kids Parents? He Was Alone For At Least 10 Minutes
Multa Nocte 11 months ago
And no one did anything? If I looked around and saw no one with a child this young I would call out and then take the child to security.
#40
Should She Have Another?
The brutal part is that in previous posts she says she can’t leave her husband with her baby because it’s the same as being watched by an 8 year old. Other post history includes complaining about how awful it is with her husband and if she can continue to be with him.
Blue Bunny of Happiness 11 months ago
Reading all these posts, I’m beginning to understand how Trump got to be President Elect…. Sadly, the crazy seems to be global these days.
#41
Mom Wishes Her Teenage Daughter Had Genetic Disorder
#42
Finally Found One In The Wild. Almost 450 Comments Flaming Her
Megan Curl 11 months ago
Quality family time - watching a serial killer documentary with your 10 year old. Well done mom!
#43
"Mommy Moment"
Dirk Daring 11 months ago
Remember these "mommy moments" when you're asking why your kids never call or visit.
#44
From A Mom Group On Instagram. I Guess People Without Children Are Not Allowed To Be Tired
#45
7-Year-Old Gets Bullied At School For Sitting In A Car Seat, So Mom Waits Until He's Asleep, Takes A Photo Of Him, And Posts It On The Official Parents Magazine Instagram Page
Charlie the Cat 11 months ago (edited)
In the UK, children should use a child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135 centimeters (4 ft 5 inches) tall, whichever comes first. After that, they should use a seat belt.
#46
Woman Posts Photo Of Young Daughter Scrubbing A Toilet
Ashtophet’sRevenge 11 months ago
I think this obviously staged photo (already spotless toilet) is one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen. Why?
#47
Popped Up On My Newsfeed
#48
2-Year-Old Addicted To Screens
#49
100% Team Good Poop Time
Ashtophet’sRevenge 11 months ago
They’re called magazines… or even a book! For either of them…
#50
Asking For A Friend
Annik Perrot 11 months ago
LOL, that one I could get behind. Compared to the rest it's remarkably innocuous. Mind you pay the kid back, though!
#51
I Was In The Wrong For Telling Her About Her Kid Having A Plastic Bag Over Their Head And Someone Who Needed To Mind Their Own Business
#52
All Of Our Shoes Stink, It's Just The Way It Is
SheamusFanFrom1987 11 months ago
Man, life must sock so hard to have parents that will allow their bad decisions to stink up the beginning of their lives...
#53
"Disappointing And Frustrating"
#54
Parents Who Can’t Keep Their Contagious Child At Home Are Completely Insane, Especially To Vulnerable Babies And Immunocompromised Individuals
#55
The Girl Is Wearing Headphones Because, You Know, Safety First
Forrest Hobbs 11 months ago
Visible safety gear = zero. It's the fault of the entire culture, not just those particular parents.
#56
Allowing Children In Places Clearly Barricaded Just For Clicks
#57
You Can’t Fix Stupid
#58
Gee I Wonder Why People Were Being Rude?
#59
Man Straps Baby To Lawnmower
#60
Do Idiots In Truck Beds Count?
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Boo 11 months ago
Well that was depressing! Some of these "parents" shouldn't have had children.
Elisabeth Chai 11 months ago
here in Italy they say: the mother of stupid is always pregnant. Truer words were never spoken. And I agree with Susical
Susical 11 months ago
Please, oh please, let these all be fiction! I thought this would be a funny post, but it's scary & sad for these people's kids.
Kare Deter 11 months ago
Right? I feel much better about my previously thought woefully inadequate parenting skills.
Load More Replies... Geekymummy 11 months ago
Add a teacher in the UK, I can confirm that some parents genuinely think and feel this way. As a parent myself, I am devastated for their children.
Schnitzel 11 months ago
Heading down the IVF road next week (wish us luck) and after reading this post I am confident we'll be decent parents! Holy yikes may most of it be fake..
Apatheist Account2 11 months ago
There really should be a similar process to getting a licence to drive. Written and practical tests before you're allowed to procreate.
Pink kitty 11 months ago
I hope these stories were made up because the 'parents' in them were either horrible, disrespectful or just plain stupid. I thought this was going to be amusing but it's horrifying and depressing
Nils Skirnir 11 months ago
I’m sure most were true. If you doubt it, you’ve never been to certain areas of US.
Load More Replies... Breadcrumb. 11 months ago
I'd say family planning should be taught more in schools but sounds like most of these types home school.
Lyone Fein 11 months ago
Every single one of these: 1. is crazy unhinged idiocy. 2. should not have children. 3. defines "decline of Western Civilization"
pug nose curly tail 11 months ago
I can't ever get past post #2 or 3 in these. So heartbreaking.
Uncle Schmickle 11 months ago
Most of these were invented to sound more outrageous than the previous one.
Surly Scot 11 months ago
Every post made me glad I didn't have kids so I don't have to deal with these other moron parents. My child is friends with another child, so I have to meet the owners? Nah.
HardBoiledBlonde 11 months ago
I have not given this a comprehensive "think through" but here goes: Many of these posts are admitted crimes against children. A Task Force, or similar?, should be created to monitor for posts like these and then be referred for appropriate action(s) and intervention(s). Children must be protected.
Boo 11 months ago
Well that was depressing! Some of these "parents" shouldn't have had children.
Elisabeth Chai 11 months ago
here in Italy they say: the mother of stupid is always pregnant. Truer words were never spoken. And I agree with Susical
Susical 11 months ago
Please, oh please, let these all be fiction! I thought this would be a funny post, but it's scary & sad for these people's kids.
Kare Deter 11 months ago
Right? I feel much better about my previously thought woefully inadequate parenting skills.
Load More Replies... Geekymummy 11 months ago
Add a teacher in the UK, I can confirm that some parents genuinely think and feel this way. As a parent myself, I am devastated for their children.
Schnitzel 11 months ago
Heading down the IVF road next week (wish us luck) and after reading this post I am confident we'll be decent parents! Holy yikes may most of it be fake..
Apatheist Account2 11 months ago
There really should be a similar process to getting a licence to drive. Written and practical tests before you're allowed to procreate.
Pink kitty 11 months ago
I hope these stories were made up because the 'parents' in them were either horrible, disrespectful or just plain stupid. I thought this was going to be amusing but it's horrifying and depressing
Nils Skirnir 11 months ago
I’m sure most were true. If you doubt it, you’ve never been to certain areas of US.
Load More Replies... Breadcrumb. 11 months ago
I'd say family planning should be taught more in schools but sounds like most of these types home school.
Lyone Fein 11 months ago
Every single one of these: 1. is crazy unhinged idiocy. 2. should not have children. 3. defines "decline of Western Civilization"
pug nose curly tail 11 months ago
I can't ever get past post #2 or 3 in these. So heartbreaking.
Uncle Schmickle 11 months ago
Most of these were invented to sound more outrageous than the previous one.
Surly Scot 11 months ago
Every post made me glad I didn't have kids so I don't have to deal with these other moron parents. My child is friends with another child, so I have to meet the owners? Nah.
HardBoiledBlonde 11 months ago
I have not given this a comprehensive "think through" but here goes: Many of these posts are admitted crimes against children. A Task Force, or similar?, should be created to monitor for posts like these and then be referred for appropriate action(s) and intervention(s). Children must be protected.
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