50 Delightfully Creepy Things Kids Did That Are Both Hilarious And Concerning
Many of us might be fascinated by horror on the screen and in the yellowing pages of our books, but it’s a whole other story when we face it in real-life. Especially when the source of it might be our tiny little munchkins. Innocent angels? Not all the time, apparently.
Bored Panda dove deep into the darkest recesses of the internet to collect some of the weirdest, scariest things that children have done that totally creeped their parents out. Sure, some of these posts look amusing, even comical, but some of these behaviors are really worrying. We don’t want to use the word ‘evil,’ but it’s the type of mean and peculiar stuff that’s bound to make nearly any grownup concerned.
If you’re a Parent Panda, we’d like to hear about the strange and even scary things your own kids have done. Tell us all about how you reacted and taught your toddlers not to do that ever again. Meanwhile, when you’re done with this list, you’ll find Bored Panda’s previous articles about truly chilling child behavior right here, here, and here.
Bored Panda wanted to understand how children learn about right and wrong, how parents can help them become more caring, as well as about people's capacity for empathy, so we reached out to Dr. Eileen Kennedy-Moore, Ph.D. Eileen is an internationally published author, speaker, mom of four, and a psychologist in private practice. One of her most recent books for children that she authored is 'Moody Mood Cars.' She was kind enough to answer our questions and stressed that when kids end up doing something that's less than kind, parents shouldn't assume that it's "a sign of terrible things ahead."
This post may include affiliate links.
This Kid Is Going Places
"Children learn from observation of what others do, but also through explicit teaching and explanations, and through experience and observation of how others respond to certain actions," Eileen explained to us. The psychologist revealed to Bored Panda that people's capacity for empathy can grow throughout their lives. Broadly speaking, the older we are, the more we understand and care about the feelings of others.
"In general, we become more empathic at 19 than we were when we were at age 9, and that continues, so we're more empathic at 29 than 19, at 39 than 29, simply because we've experienced more of life, so it's easier for us to put ourselves in someone else's shoes," she said.
According to psychologist Eileen, there are three 'ingredients' that children need to respond to others in a caring way. First of all, they need to be able to imagine someone else's thoughts and feelings. "The ability to imagine accurately someone else's perspective generally begins around age 4 and grows with age and experience," Eileen explained to Bored Panda.
My 8-Year-Old Is A Jerk And Almost Made Me Burn My House Down
I Did It
Secondly, kids need to be able to manage their own distress. "Kids don't have the bandwidth to respond kindly to someone else if they are overwhelmed by their own feelings." And third of all, they need to believe they're capable of helping others. "If they don't think they can help or don't know how, they're likely to freeze or avoid situations where someone is upset." And parents play a vital role in helping their kids develop more empathy for others.
"Parents can help by talking about people's thoughts and feelings as they come up in books, movies, or real life. This gives children a window into people's internal life that helps with perspective-taking. Parents can help children manage their own emotions by naming those feelings as well as teaching specific coping strategies such as distraction, deep breathing, counting to ten, or using words to ask for what they want," the psychologist said.
"Finally, parents can guide children toward seeing themselves as helpers by talking about how children's kind actions impact others. For instance, they might say, 'That was kind of you to help your brother with his block tower. He was sad when it fell down, and he felt happier when you helped him build it up again.' Or, 'Thank you for helping me put away the groceries. I'm happy that we got the job done quickly.'"
Chaotic Evil
The Joys Of Parenting
This Is How My 2.5-Year-Old Niece Insists On Holding Her New Baby Brother
It's inevitable that children will eventually make a mistake and do something that isn't kind. It's a question of when, not if. In those cases, parents shouldn't rush to conclusions and should not assume that this is an indication of "terrible things ahead." After all, we all make mistakes sometimes.
"Instead, acknowledge good intentions, describe the other person's feelings, and focus on moving forward. For instance, you could say, 'I know you're excited about going on the swings, but your sister also wants to swing, and she's sad that she hasn't had a turn yet.' Then, to move forward, you could ask, 'What can you do to help her feel better?' or 'What would be fair to everyone?'"
This Person's Child Built A Cicada Skin Army
Asked My Sister If My Nephew Was Enjoying The Wedding. This Is The Picture She Sent Back
At Least He’s Honest
Look, the fact of the matter is that nearly everyone has done or said some incredibly weird stuff when they were kids. (Some of us never grew out of it!) We experiment. We test limits. We learn about what’s right and wrong by copying others and putting our ideas into practice.
However, there’s always a line. Once crossed, someone’s behavior turns cute and whacky to something resembling immoral. Cutting off your doll’s hair or spooking your parents with a cardboard cutout in the dark isn’t the same as hurting someone or putting nails and screws in someone’s shoes. Super occult, esoteric crayon and colored pencil pictures probably lie somewhere in the middle.
The vast majority of parents would probably agree that they want their children to grow up to be upstanding, kind, moral citizens. Kindness forms a core part of who we are as human beings. Without this hardwired instinct, there would be no society, no desire for cooperation. However, another part of the equation are the moral lessons that we (do not) pick up from our parents and loved ones as we grow up. Sometimes, there are some blindspots regarding morality and empathy that kids might need some help and guidance to correct.
Our Airbnb Had A Translucent Bathroom Door. I’m Used To My Impatient Toddler Stalking Me Through The Bathroom Door, But This Took It To A Much Creepier Level
My Two Older Children Were Trying To Lay Out All Of Their Pokémon Cards, But The Youngest Kept Intervening, So They Duct-Taped Him To A Chair
My 3-Year-Old Nephew’s Nanny Cam Tonight
Very recently, licensed counselor Suzanne Degges-White, a professor at Northern Illinois University, explained to Bored Panda that family beliefs, spiritual beliefs, and our own biology lead us to be kind to others.
"Many of us are raised to believe it is the 'right thing to do.' Basically, all spiritual belief systems have a version of the 'Golden Rule, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,'" the professor told us.
"We also do good turns because we know that one day we may be in need of a little 'generosity from the universe,' so it's like putting 'money' into a karma account," she explained why people tend to be nice towards others and lend a helping hand. That’s not all, though.
People These Days Don't Appreciate Compliments
This Is Why The Scariest Horror Movies Involves Young Girls
She Lived To Tell The Story
She could have died. How old were these boys? They shoukd have known better.
"Lastly, humans are wired so that when we do something kind for another, we feel good about ourselves and neurotransmitters like endorphins and oxytocin have been shown to get a boost when we do something good for another. It is through cooperation that society functions, so the survival of the human race depends on being willing to help others. Family values, spiritual beliefs, and biology all play a part in this motivation," she told Bored Panda.
A House Of God
Ahh, Yes, The Kid's First Structure
the quality and lighting of the picture just makes it that much worse
Little Belinda Is Watching You
"Many of us take pride in being of service to others as it is culturally valued and we want to hold significance in our worlds. So when we do good deeds, we show others our willingness to help those in distress/need; we live out faith-based encouragement to treat others the way we would like to be treated, we uphold family values, and our brains get a positive jolt of happiness when we help others," Suzanne said that we feel good when we do good deeds. That’s usually all the motivation needed to act kind.
“I’ll Visit You”
My Son Made A Paper Enderman And Hung Him From The Ceiling Outside His Room. I Just Met Him In The Dark
Guy In One Of My Dad Groups Found This In His Kid's Room
Parenting blogger Samantha Scroggin, from ‘Running Outside in Slippers,’ told Bored Panda what parents can do to get their children to open up to them. She stressed that the main thing for parents to do is not to judge, no matter what they hear. That helps build trust.
Yeah, I Wouldn't Sleep Great Either. Why Are Kids So Damn Creepy
My 9-Year-Old Son Drew Me A Picture
Kid Is Secretly A Medium
"If they had a bad dream or even a yucky thought they can't shake, I'll be there with them and we'll talk it through. I think working to be non-judgemental and staying calm even if your kid might be overreacting helps cement your child's trust of you as a parent. Believe that they are being truthful of their perception of events," the blogger said.
In 3rd Grade
This Afternoon I Noticed Him Sneakily Grabbing Some Fishing Nails, So I Followed Him And Caught Him Red-Handed
He told me he was setting a trap.
A Nanny Of 4-Year-Old
I’m a nanny. One of the kids had been pulling out strands of my hair several times a day for months, despite being scolded and getting time out for it. Then she shows me this hair bracelet she made “so part of you is always with me”. She’s 4.
Meanwhile, when it comes to protecting kids in the community, it’s important to find a balance between staying vigilant and respecting others’ privacy.
"We all need to stay vigilant when it comes to the care of children. If any of us even suspect abuse, we need to report that. That said, if the children are safe and cared for, and no laws are being broken, I say let parents parent how they see fit," Samantha shared her opinion.
Creepy Kids
My Kid Was Playing Workshop While I Fixed The Garage Door Yesterday. Super Glad I Checked My Shoe Before Putting It On
My Sister Has An Interesting Hobby
"We have different experiences and beliefs, and that will reflect in how we raise our own kids. We can judge all we want, but we should practice restraint in staying out of other families' business. Because we wouldn't want someone poking their heads into our lives telling us how to parent our kids," she said.
Just Practicing Ya Know
Hmm, That's A Worry
Introducing, My Middle Child (Please Note The 3 Other Children Playing Normally In The Distance). She Found A Deceased Squirrel And Was Super Excited
Nawww ❤️ I was around the same age when I found my first dead thing ❤️ it was a flat sugar glider
Me too, I kept it in a jar under my bed. Mommy was not happy when she started smelling it (: Sorry mom
Load More Replies...That squirrel looks like it's about to burst apart spilling forth hideous smelling gas and fluids any second! X-D
I dunno... I'd be screaming at my kid to put the dead thing down instead of snapping a pic, but I guess that's just me... 🤷♀️
No not just you, me too, and I'm guessing most other people.
Load More Replies...think it’s just bloated, probably been dead for a bit
Load More Replies...When my (now 18yo) daughter was a toddler, she was playing in the backyard, and then she comes over and hands me this really weird looking toad toy. I laugh, and say "omg, I thought that was real for a secon... Wait a minute, that IS a real toad!!!" Apparently she somehow found a completely intact, mummified toad, just chilling in our backyard. 🤦♀️
Or she was like me at that age, and picked it up without permission.
Load More Replies...Actually I was the same as a kid, if they aren’t already decomposed, you can get a good look at their cute little faces! :)
I somehow snuck out of the house and onto the street, we had a large front yard and a pretty step driveway to walk up. Then I picked up a dead squirrel I found that had been run over and brought it into the house a put it in the refrigerator to help it back to life. A hour or so later my mom opens the fridge and freaks out. My brother was supposed to be watching me but he didn't. I used to hear this story all the time growing up. I don't remember doing it but it's definitely something I would have done.
Oops didn't put how old I was and the edit isn't working. I was almost 4 years old when this happened.
Load More Replies...I would find dead critters, bury them, then dig them up repeatedly to show everyone what I found. My cousin would cry harder each time I buried it because, in his words, it got deader every time it had to be buried. I had him convinced once that we buried things to plant them so we could grow more of what was buried. He watched for 3 weeks once terrified the entire time when I buried a rat snake. Of course I told him it was a cobra, very deadly, and there would be like 50 of them grow on the tree once it sprouted. We were ages 9 and 7. Good times, man, good times.😂🐍😂🐍😂
That’s cute I was around 5 when I found a dead raccoon picked it up showed it to my mom and said “mommy look I found a new stuffy”
Again, panic is not necessary. The squirrel is dead, can't bite, no saliva left. Sigh.
Load More Replies...Oh, great. Hey, did you know squirrels have fleas -- and those fleas often carry bubonic plague?
Fleas flee when the carrier dies- and that thing's been dead a while.
Load More Replies...I Love My Son, But Checking The Monitor And Seeing This Always Creeps Me Out
Are We Just In A Dream Right Now?
Encourage his curiosity and imagination. The world needs more deep thinkers.
This School Project Someone's Kid Made
I'm Just Wondering How Long That Bee Has Been Under There
Think My Daughter Found Her Baby Monitor
My Daughter Made A Realistic-Looking Necklace Made Of Clay Teeth
My Cousin Woke Up In The Middle Of The Night And Randomly Looked At The Baby Monitor And Saw This
She said it scared the hell out of her. She stayed like this for several minutes.
It may seem creepy to you but I wonder what it's like for the kid...sitting in the dark but there a little light just on in the corner, I wonder what that is??? Night vision cameras of affordable price aren't stealth, they have a little light on them, could be red or green. You can see it in her eyes. She's not staring into your soul, she's just wondering what that glowing dot is
My Son Discovered That I'm Not Really At Work, But Am Working From Home
When my son found out, his favourite new hobby was to bash away at my keyboard...so, as that's no different to what I do, he now covers my work while I have a nap.
All Fun And Games Until The Hypothermia Sets In
Furby Torture
The ONLY good thing to do with a Furby... Creepy little freaks! (I mean the Furbys, not the kids, the kids are alright!)
So When I Was A Kid Me And My Sister Always Used To Play “Crucify”, And My Sister Once Complained That She Couldn’t Use Actual Nails On Me
Jump Scares For Grandma
Let’s See Mom Get Arrested. That’ll Be Hilarious
That would of cost an a*s whooping and grounding with the silent treatment if I was this kid 😂
Disembodied Children's Voices Coming From Somewhere Closely Behind My House
My Son Stuck His Finger In My Eye And Scratched Off The Whole Top Layer Of My Cornea
These are all making me so glad I'm gay! I'll be having none of this b******t, thank you very much. ^_^
Despite Multiple Talkings Too, My 2-Year-Old Keeps Leaving Dolls In Life-Like Positions Around The House. Scares The Life Out Of Me Everytime
My Kid Watching Me Poop
My Sister Is Downright Psychopathic
No Words
My German teacher had a tattoo of numbers on her arm, and some of the 'tough kids' in my class would draw attention to it, make fun of her and say the most ghastly things to her. I was too scared of them to speak out - and I am still ashamed of that. She was an incredible teacher.
Not Sure If I Should Be Proud Or Concerned. My Daughter Said “He’s Got The Rona!” And Started Making Him A Coffin
My Daughters Wanted To Play With Chalk Outside. I Came Out To Them Setting Up A Fake Crime Scene
My Sister And I Used To Rip The Heads Off Of Monster High Dolls And Attach The Head To Their Calves
My Son Just Turned A Month Old, And My Wife Has Been Keeping Track Of His Firsts On Our Calendar. I Just Noticed This Today
Well, That's An Interesting Choice
Back In My Nannying Days, I Had A 5-Year-Old Draw A Picture Of Me
When I asked him to explain he said, “That’s you. You’re dead because I’m stabbing you and putting your skin flakes in a jar”.
So...at least it's nice to know it's exactly what it looks like. Wait, did I say nice? Horrifying. That's the word.
Well At Least We Know How Much They Care
My 7-Year-Old Son Drew This In School And Proudly Presented It To Me. It's An Evil Elf
Friend's Daughter Did This. What The Hell?
How To Scare Your Mom 101
4th Grade Me Had Some Issues
No More Arts And Crafts
Well, That's Not Disturbing At All
My First-Grade Students Were Asked To Write Letters To The Local Nursing Home And
Wife And I Went Out One Night And Came Home To My Son Sleeping Like This
My 9-Year-Old Daughter Did This. I’m Slightly Concerned
"There may be a snake in your boot, Woody, but there's a rat in my operations. The books tells me it's you. We've been together a long time, Woody. You know how this next part plays out."
Bloody Puddles
This Is How My 12-Year-Old Sister Amuses Herself
Little Susie’s natural talents and enthusiasm for the cryogenic sciences were evident from an early age.
My Almost 3-Year-Old Daughter Found Our Ouija Board And Has Been Using It To Practice Her Abcs And Numbers
"Daddy, what do I do when I want to point to S but it keeps making me point to Z and O over and over? Also I no longer crave joy, only blood."
The Awkward Moment You're Being Stalked Around Kmart By Doc McStuffins
My Friend's 4-Year-Old Daughter's Favorite Doll She Calls "Zom-Baby"
My Two-Year-Old Cousin Is Genuinely In Love With Her Skeleton
You're Going To Have A Younger Brother, They Said. It's Going To Be Fun, They Said
Future Arsonist
Got Up To Use The Restroom. My Daughter Left These Guys Out
A Get Well Card From The Great-Grandchild To My Grandmother
Found This On An Elementary School’s Playground
Creepy 4-Year-Old
Not Sure What Spider-Man Did Exactly But He’s Been Hanging There For The Last Few Days And Both My Kids Are Playing Around Him As If Nothing’s Going On
Finding Gems In My Husband’s Childhood Journal
This Is My Child’s New Favorite Game. Send Help
What’s Going On Here? Soul Sucking? Breathing Life In Or Out? What?
This Kid's Drawing Of Mom
A Little Bit Creepy When Your 6-Year-Old Comes To The Back Door Like This
I’m Concerned
Should I Be Worried?
No, how else would you take your spare clothes and make-up when you're a Lego doll?
My 6-Year-Old Son's "Art Project"
My 11-Year-Old Daughter Drew This
I Used To Make Gallows Out Of Paper When I Was 12
My 7-Year-Old Nephew Did That Because He Didn't Want Him To Walk In His Room After Seeing Toy Story
Looks Like My Daughter Got Her First Job Done, Making Daddy Proud. This Is Mom's Lipstick By The Way. Still Looks Evil
Creepy Kid
This Toddler Tries To Eat A Bird
Was Googling “Drawing Ideas” And Came Across This Masterpiece
The dark side of Steve Winwood, revealed. "I'm the same boy I used to be..."
My 5-Year-Old Daughter's Doll
So The Kid I Babysit Did This To His Toys
My Toddler Was Jumping On The Bed Flailing His Arms At My Eyes. I Asked Him What He Was Doing, Upon Which He Cheerfully Replied - I Want To Poke Your Eye Out
Satan, Is That You?
My Younger Cousins Thought It Would Be Fun To Play With My Naruto Figures While I Was At School
This Drawing My 4-Year-Old Made Me For Me And Slid Under My Door While I Was Napping
Second Grader's Career Of Choice Was To Be A Mortician
I'm A Bit Worried About How My 5-Year-Old Plays With Her Dolls
me and my bros tied strings around doll's necks and threw them through open window into puddle, we just played that they're swimming in a lake...
Day 10 Of Quarantine. I Think My Kid Is Up To Something
Yeah right. No way a little kid made a perfect pentagram with a perfect circle on their own. People are so gullible.
Some of these are oddly endearing, some of these are the work of f*****g little sociopaths or mummy and daddy telling lies on social media for clout.
Ahhhhh how refreshing... My kid just tells me about her other mommy in heaven
Yeah, except for a few ones, these are child crying for help. But, hey! Instead of take them to therapy o at least talk let just take a picture and put on social media so mummy and daddy can get a few likes to boost its ego.
Almost all of them are just children fooling around, hardly anything therapy worthy in this post.
Load More Replies...The really creepy thing is ..... mathematics. Statistically speaking at least one of these little darlings is actually a psychopath or sociopath. Sobering thought. They may not grow up to be a serial killer but they will make the lives of everybody they encounter utterly miserable for the span of their natural life. *sigh*
Some of these are oddly endearing, some of these are the work of f*****g little sociopaths or mummy and daddy telling lies on social media for clout.
Ahhhhh how refreshing... My kid just tells me about her other mommy in heaven
Yeah, except for a few ones, these are child crying for help. But, hey! Instead of take them to therapy o at least talk let just take a picture and put on social media so mummy and daddy can get a few likes to boost its ego.
Almost all of them are just children fooling around, hardly anything therapy worthy in this post.
Load More Replies...The really creepy thing is ..... mathematics. Statistically speaking at least one of these little darlings is actually a psychopath or sociopath. Sobering thought. They may not grow up to be a serial killer but they will make the lives of everybody they encounter utterly miserable for the span of their natural life. *sigh*