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We sometimes forget just how smart, creative, brave, and witty we used to be when we were kids. So it comes as a surprise for some parents when their children do or say something absolutely brilliant. Like getting their parents out of speeding tickets or using the scientific method to figure out that the Tooth Fairy isn’t real (I’m pretty sure that she’s actually real, but it’s still impressive that someone would go to such great lengths to try and disprove her existence).

There’s a subreddit out there that documents the moments that kids went above and beyond and really flexed their brainpower. Now, we can’t actually mention the full name of the subreddit (thank you, Internet and Social Media Police), so let’s use a slightly abbreviated version, shall we? ‘Kids Are Smart’ is an online community of 51.6k members and has been active since late June of 2018.

They’re all about showing off the times that kids “demonstrate impressively intelligent behavior” and we’ve collected some of their very best posts. You’re bound to enjoy this, especially if you have any kids or young siblings yourselves, Pandas. Remember to upvote your fave post and, if you feel like sharing, drop on by the comment section with your own ‘smart kid’ stories.

I reached out to the moderator team managing the subreddit and they were kind enough to answer my questions. The founder of the community told me that the entire idea to start the subreddit came about from a post about “a simple kid, exhibiting clever behavior for their age” that was originally posted on the ‘Kids Are Stupid’ (again, a slightly paraphrased title) online group. “It doesn't really belong there and I figured we needed a new sub that fit it better,” they told Bored Panda.

I also got in touch with single mom, comedy writer, and pop star in waiting Ariane Sherine from the UK, who plans to release her debut pop album, BITTER, later in 2022. She features her daughter in a lot of her witty and relatable social media posts and they’re very popular.

“My daughter loves starring in my social media posts. She actually asks me to tweet about her! When she does something cool or impressive like skateboarding or graffiti writing, she asks, ‘Can you put it on Twitter?!’ Then she loves to read the comments. I guess some kids are more shy and retiring, but I like the fact that mine is confident and happy to show the world her talents,” she said. Scroll down for Bored Panda’s full interviews with the founder of ‘Kids Are Smart’ and with Ariane.

#1

No Hitting Doggo

No Hitting Doggo

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

How can people use this at school? Bravo to the child but boooo to the teacher!!!!

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#3

I Would Never Have Thought Of That

I Would Never Have Thought Of That

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

What a cool bunch! Good parenting to boot. Dads in some other parts of the world would have had a bout of fragile masculinity at that.

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

This is a victory but also a bad thing about that school. Why has it be a problem that boys wear skirts? And girls shorts or pants? They're so closed that they prefer anything but this.

veni_vidi_vicky avatar
Vicky Zar
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am not sure if I understand you correctly and you did not understand the text or if I am missing something. The school was ok with them wearing skirts. What they were not allowed to wear, were shorts (for whatever reason). Coming next year, they may wear shorts as well.

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

The kids should have taken the next year to implement the change back to shorts.

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

Skirts are more convenient than shorts if they have pockets.

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

But the girls are allowed to wear pants/shorts though...right?!?!?!!?

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

Should have said English school, the kilt is always an option in Scotland😂

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

Ridiculous, why on earth couldn't either the boys or the girls wear shorts?

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

They asked to wear shorts instead of TROUSERS. Pretty certain they all kept their pants on!

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

Stupid petty school uniform rules. They say that your school days are the best days of your life. Whomever said that must have had a really s**t life after they left school.

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

I remember wearing school uniforms very fondly, actually, though admittedly I was given an option of wearing skirts or shorts. It made getting dressed in the morning extremely hassle-free and took away any need for me to have to strain my brain early in the morning trying to decide what to wear. Pre-pandemic I often wished life were that simple again as I anguished over what to wear at work every morning.

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

The actual story is that girls were trying to get permission to wear shorts, and a group of boys decided to wear skirts to support their cause. You can see how the photo has been cropped from the original to try and remove the images of boys wearing shorts (there's one boy in shorts nearly cropped out on the left). This is UK school.

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

Back in the dark ages, girls weren't allowed to wear pants. I was the first girl to wear jeans to school, and yes, I was called into the principal's office. Didn't faze me a bit.

boredpanda_127 avatar
A
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My 14-year-old son wears a uniform to school. There are uniform-brand shorts they're allowed to wear from May to October, but no one ever wears them. Not cool apparently. So that was $50 well spent.

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

No way would Eton boys wear jeans. It might spoil their prospects of high office when they leave if they were mistaken for ordinary boys.

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Tee Witt
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2 years ago

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Funny, last time I saw this picture it was happening in the S, now it appears to have changed continents, did all the boys emmigrate?

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The founder of ‘Kids Are Smart’ shared their thoughts about how to balance strict and fun parenting styles. “I love my video games and loved them as a kid. With that said, a young child won't know what that or TV is if you don't introduce it to them early,” they told Bored Panda.

“I don't think parents need to put so much thought into creating an environment for their children to learn but rather just remove distractions (like screens). Young children will explore whatever pulls their attention. Instead of using your phone or watching TV around your child, try puzzles, build with blocks or read books around your child, even if they aren't aimed at kids. This makes that child want to copy the parent and focus their attention on those activities, rather than Baby Shark 100 times a day,” the mod pointed out that parents have the ability to encourage their children to develop their imaginations.

#4

Way To Look Out For Your Neighbor, Kid!

Way To Look Out For Your Neighbor, Kid!

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#5

Genius Boy Who Went Viral At 11yo For Helping College Students With Organic Chemistry Is Now A Researcher At 13

Genius Boy Who Went Viral At 11yo For Helping College Students With Organic Chemistry Is Now A Researcher At 13

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

I hope he loves what he is doing and isn't pressured into it just because he is a genius.

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#6

What A Kid

What A Kid

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“It's easier than ever to be distracted by useless information. Parents need to remove distractions from babies at an early age so they can explore things that help them develop their knowledge. Don't let YouTube Kids or mobile games raise your child,” they added.

Meanwhile, comedy writer and future pop star Ariane pondered how much kids take after their parents when it comes to creativity, sense of humor, and wit.

“Both I and my daughter’s dad work in the media, and from an early age, she’s wanted to be a pop star, writer, and actor. I don’t know how much of her creativity was influenced by seeing her dad’s writing in the newspaper and seeing me go out late to perform at musical comedy gigs. She definitely has creative talents, but how much of that is nature or nurture I don’t know. As for sense of humor, she’s far more sassy and sarcastic than me, so I think her sharp wit is all her own!” she said.

#8

Thinking Outside The Box

Thinking Outside The Box

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Ariane revealed to Bored Panda that she herself had “very strict parents,” and as a result, she has become extremely liberal.

“I think being liberal encourages creativity as it gives kids the confidence to express themselves fully, and my daughter is usually very sweet-natured and well-behaved. She’s also a lot of fun, while I didn’t dare to be fun in such a strict environment when I was a kid, so I’m really pleased that I’m giving her a happier and freer upbringing.”

#10

Thanks, I Hate Lightsabers With Shadows

Thanks, I Hate Lightsabers With Shadows

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#12

Thought This Belonged Here

Thought This Belonged Here

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

good question! the answer is: no! cut hair doesn't have any DNA. only in the roots of hair is DNA :)

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The ‘Kids Are Smart’ subreddit’s moderators stress the fact that “cute doesn’t equal smart!” In other words, redditors should avoid posts where children are just being children, without any moments of actual brilliance.

“Kids are cute, but that's not what this subreddit is for. Don't make posts showing kids doing regular stuff or having a hobby if it doesn't show a real sign of intelligence. A kid with a vlog channel, drawing with crayons, arguing a silly point, or whatever else it might be is not necessarily a sign of exceptional intelligence. The post will be removed if a kid being smart is not the focus,” the mods warn.

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#14

Creative 4 Year Old

Creative 4 Year Old

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

You should say not to complain about your meals. However it's been useful for him to widen his vocabulary.

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However, the online community is not just about celebrating book smarts. Posts about “immense creative talent’ are also allowed. “Although this is a sub to see kids being smart, certain creative talents require intelligence, even if the focus of the performance, artwork, etc doesn't show intelligence in the traditional 2+2=4 sense,” the subreddit’s moderators explain.

“A kid understanding proper perspective and color use in a painting requires intelligence. A kid having mastered the art of acting requires a certain social intelligence.”

One of the rules that genuinely made me laugh with how it was phrased is the “Do NOT spam your child” regulation. The mods state: “1 post per child per month, maximum. This isn't Facebook. Your kid might be Einstein, but that doesn't mean you get to fill this sub with posts of your child. Post once, that's it. If your post gets removed, it was likely deemed not suitable for the sub. In this case, you may post again immediately if you have another example of 200 IQ.”

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#17

No Food Allowed In The Living Room. No Tablet Allowed In The Kitchen

No Food Allowed In The Living Room. No Tablet Allowed In The Kitchen

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

Kid is exactly following the rules he was given. If the parent has a problem with it, they need to reexamine what they're trying to achieve with the rule, and rephrase it accordingly. Maybe the aim is to eat mindfully and only when hungry, and the new rule is "No eating while using screens."

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#18

My Nephew Showed Me His Quiz In Class. Can’t Disagree On This One

My Nephew Showed Me His Quiz In Class. Can’t Disagree On This One

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A while back, child independence expert Lenore Skenazy, the founder of Let Grow non-profit organization and the Free-Range Kids movement, told me that it’s “impossible” to figure out the right balance between being too strict and too lenient.

“One thing many parents are choosing today is to keep their kids under constant surveillance, with the help of tech. Whether it’s being able to track their kids’ movements, read their browsing history, or even scan their texts, parents have all sorts of new tools to make them seemingly omniscient,” Lenore told Bored Panda that parents should ease up on surveillance and respect their kids’ privacy.

#21

My Aunt Just Shared Her Son’s Assignment With Me

My Aunt Just Shared Her Son’s Assignment With Me

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“For the same reason you didn’t want your parents to read your diary, or to build a treehouse on the branch right next to YOUR treehouse, children need some space to grow into their own person. Kids need to know they are loved, but they also need to know they are trusted. They can’t prove that if parents never actually let them do some things literally on their own, without constant surveillance.”

#22

My 8 Year Old Is A Jerk And Almost Made Me Burn My House Down

My 8 Year Old Is A Jerk And Almost Made Me Burn My House Down

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

You’re raising a prankster. Prepare yourself. This is only the beginning.

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#23

My Eleven Year Old Sister Made This Bada*s Dragon Cake

My Eleven Year Old Sister Made This Bada*s Dragon Cake

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#24

This Never Actually Occurred To Me To Do This As A Child

This Never Actually Occurred To Me To Do This As A Child

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#27

The Secret Box!!

The Secret Box!!

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#29

My Son Wanted A Beard To Go With His Costume, But We Couldn’t Afford It. So He Disappears As Comes Back With This... He Cut His Own Hair And Glued It On His Face. He Got 3x More Candy Than Any Of The Other Kids

My Son Wanted A Beard To Go With His Costume, But We Couldn’t Afford It. So He Disappears As Comes Back With This... He Cut His Own Hair And Glued It On His Face. He Got 3x More Candy Than Any Of The Other Kids

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#30

I Think This Was Posted In The Wrong Subreddit

I Think This Was Posted In The Wrong Subreddit

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#31

Big Brain 3rd Grader

Big Brain 3rd Grader

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#32

An 11-Year-Old Boy Has Been Hailed A Hero After He Saved The Life Of His Grandfather Following A Car Crash. He Has Credited ‘Grand Theft Auto’ With His Driving Skills As He Took Over The Wheel After His Grandfather Collapsed

An 11-Year-Old Boy Has Been Hailed A Hero After He Saved The Life Of His Grandfather Following A Car Crash. He Has Credited ‘Grand Theft Auto’ With His Driving Skills As He Took Over The Wheel After His Grandfather Collapsed

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#33

I Told Her “Your Butt Needs To Stay In Your Room” Went To Check On Her And Found This Her Butt Is In Her Room

I Told Her “Your Butt Needs To Stay In Your Room” Went To Check On Her And Found This Her Butt Is In Her Room

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#34

Only Logical Explanation. (On My Son's Homework )

Only Logical Explanation. (On My Son's Homework )

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#35

Kid Plays 3D Chess On His Mom

Kid Plays 3D Chess On His Mom

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

He wasn't hungry and the TV was boring. Not THAT hard.

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#36

Smart Kidsmy 5 Year Old Built A Thing. He Built A Thing All By Himself

Smart Kidsmy 5 Year Old Built A Thing. He Built A Thing All By Himself

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#37

Told The Older Ones To Watch The Baby And Dont Let Her Get In Trouble

Told The Older Ones To Watch The Baby And Dont Let Her Get In Trouble

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#38

Asked My Student To Complete The Maze

Asked My Student To Complete The Maze

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

To be fair, almost none of these lines are connected so he could have gone almost unobstructed mostly diagonally for a shorter path.

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#39

Im Going To Start An Insect Business Too

Im Going To Start An Insect Business Too

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#40

An Inventor In The Making

An Inventor In The Making

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Note: this post originally had 60 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.