ADVERTISEMENT

Kids are the wonders of this world. Nobody really knows what’s on their mind, as they often come up with some very questionable decisions.

Like hiding stuff from their parents for undetermined reasons. And by stuff, we mean anything from ravioli and tomato stem circles to photographs, mobile phones, and you name it…

Let’s see what else parents had to say when someone asked the question “What are your kids currently attempting to hide from you?” and posted it on r/AskReddit. And while the "why?" part of the question may forever remain a mystery to us, it’s still amusing to see what our little ones have been up to without us knowing.

#1

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It My two year old attempts to hide the family dog (who is 75 pounds) in various places in his room so that the dog can sleep in there with him. So far, I've found the dog in the closet, behind the curtains, surrounded by stuffed animals to "blend in," and on numerous occasions I've walked in the room to see a giant mound under the comforter at the foot of the bed. My son is astonished every single time that I have not only found the dog, but was even looking for him in the first place. On more than one occasion he even attempted to persuade me that he didn't even know we had a dog.

katievantassell , pxhere Report

#2

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It My kid would get up in the middle of the night and want a snack. He would sneak into the kitchen and eat a whole tomato except the little circle where it connected to the stem.

He hid the little stem circles under whatever was on top of the trash and would go to sleep.

We always made sure there were tomatoes for him.

chisleu , Mark Mrwizard Report

#3

My nine year old step daughter was in her room one day for like hours with markers and papers. I thought she was drawing or making a picture book or something so I let it slide. It turns out she had our calendar and was making cards for everyone for every holiday and birthday coming up. I haven’t asked her about it but I’m honestly super proud of her logic and long term planning abilities.

ApexBarber Report

Add photo comments
POST
rainbownews avatar
Rainbow Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Epic long term planning abilities. I need to learn from this nine year old. 😅

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

To find out more about hiding behavior in children, Bored Panda reached out to Kimberly Koljat, a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in children 3–12 years of age and believes that anyone can benefit from the work of the creative arts.

Kimberly said that first of all, the context of hiding behaviors is extremely important for understanding a child’s needs. “Developmental age, what is being hidden, relationships, and communication skills are important considerations.”

For example, “If a teen is hiding something from their parents, like objects in their room, they could be playing out behaviors related to a developmental task of 'individuation,' or working on their sense of identity separate from their caregivers.”

#4

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It I thought my 15-year-old was diligently plugging the charger into her phone every night before going upstairs for bed...until I discovered she was actually plugging it into an empty phone case and taking her phone with her

matrialchemy , wikimedia Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sneaky, sneaky. My daughter couldn’t get away with that coz her phone case is clear plus she knows that if she sneaks her phone into her room she gets grounded.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

My 16 y/o had a box of condoms with a price sticker from the Dollar Store in his backpack, he left it on my passenger seat and they fell out while I was shifting it to the back seat. I went and bought him a better brand and replaced them. We have never discussed it Edit- Thank you all so much for the great feedback, parenting is no easy task lol. To clarify, we have discussed sex, I only meant that we've never discussed the actual switching of the condom boxes

jscm77 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jamie_mayfield avatar
Ivana
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had an argument with my husband about this recently. I don't want my hypothetical children having sex too early in life but I do plan to have really frank conversations about sex and safe sex. If they are buying condoms they are having sex, so supplying them with quality condoms is the best move you can do as a parent.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#6

I found a loaded one-shot Nerf gun under my 5-year-old daughter's pillow. When I asked her what she was doing with it, she whispered, 'It's for the tooth fairy

blindcide Report

Meanwhile, if a child is hiding a photo of their grandparents they cherish, it can be part of “a soothing skill to hold onto their memory related to grief if they passed, or to carry the feeling of them with them while they’re apart,” explained Kimberly.

If a younger child is hiding candy, it could deal with “children testing limits with their caregivers (an important part of development for some children, exploring what boundaries are in place).”

It also depends on what kind of objects your child is hiding, Kimberly says. “Hiding food can be an entirely different behavior, and it’s important to know if there’s previous traumas, such as food scarcity in the family, or if there are other behaviors related to food to consider that could be indicators of disordered eating.”

#7

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It A few years ago, I was going through my son's (3rd grade) backpack and found a can of ravioli. That's all well, except I never bought any ravioli. When I asked him about it, he burst into tears and and pulled out a box under his bed filled with Ravioli! He then proceeded to tell me how this girl that picks on him and says they are married gives him ravioli everyday and makes him take it. I can just picture this girl's mother telling her the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Lael_Annaed Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still need to talk to the girl. Its clear he boy doesn't like her advances

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#8

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It We had a foster kid who hid about two handfuls of spaghetti with sauce under his pillow. We found it the next day while he was at school, cleaned it up, and never told him we found it. But we made sure to have spaghetti twice a week after that.

chad_stanley_again Report

Add photo comments
POST
badgirl407 avatar
Pasion Jones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

im working on becoming a FP... then covid hit smh i just got a house with a 2nd BDRM and a big back yard.... now all i need is a little starting cash to buy the things they will need and finish my certs! i cant wait to help a young one since i cant have any of my own...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It My daughter is trying to impress me by learning origami. She's 7 and doesn't think that Dad can see all the missing paper and the (messily but improving a lot) paper cranes hidden throughout her room. I bought 2 more reams of paper and just left them out on accident. Lazy old dad not putting up his office supplies.

SleepyLinkOfficial , wikimedia Report

However, if a caregiver notices a pattern of hiding behavior, parents should “never directly move to reprimanding or punishing a child or directly questioning a child about it.” Kimberly explained that adults' means of expression and conversations will most likely not yield the results they wish for because children work through difficulties in their play.

Kimberly suggests joining the child in play and leading a play session once a week with them. “The child may gain that sense of agency they could be seeking through the hiding behaviors and stop the behaviors outside the play sessions.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Most importantly, parents should always stay curious about their child’s behavior. Kimberly urges parents to “spend some more positive time with the child to foster a greater sense of trust within the relationship.” In some more difficult cases, the support of a therapist may be the right solution.

#10

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It My 3-year-old nephew opens a bag of Lay's and sneaks two chips, then sneaks two more the next day, and so on. I will never have that kind of self-control.

imdungrowinup , espensorvik Report

#11

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It He has a crush on the babysitter and tries to draw hearts to give to her. He also proposed.

He is 6

LucretiusCarus Report

Add photo comments
POST
edougherty582_1 avatar
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is too cute. When I did work experience at a kindy a little boy told me that one day he would marry me.

suzi63 avatar
Suzi Gauthier
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know women who have dated men less mature than that! At least he knows how to treat a woman!

liltexasangel2004 avatar
Baby Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brother when he was 4 proposed and "got married" to my older brothers girlfriend and he still believes they're married...it's been 3 years

lilyanarodriguez avatar
Anonymous Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My little brother, who is eight, has had 5 girlfriend in his lifetime. First was an twenty year old girl that babysat him sometimes, and they planned their weding often. He cheated on her for her fourteen year old sister, but they broke up when the family moved away. In preschool he had a girlfriend that was way taller than him but absolutely adored him. He broke up with her without really talking about it, but they both knew. They are still really good friends though. Then he had a crush on this girl he was friends with for a few months before asking her put, but she turned him down, so it was never official. He currently has a girlfriend he adores is best friends with. On her birthday, both our families, not planned, went to Texas Roadhouse. They sat as next to eachother by coincidence. And he spent the entire time at her table. They even took a picture on a saddle together. Sadly, she moved away recently. I have had one boyfriend. When I was three.

meyerweinstock avatar
Meyer Weinstock
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Been there, done that....ended up working with her 20 years later at the same college. Nothing happened. Still in my heart.

lilarayner avatar
Biana Vacker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My little brother does this!! Also to my friends... but he has down syndrome so he doesn't understand... my friends all adore him tho!!

trixybellathepig avatar
Trixy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haha, my brother said he was going to marry our babysitter when he was like 6. Except he didn't keep it a secret. He told everyone! Lol.

levibaker avatar
Levi Baker
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You follow your dreams and all of your fans here at Bored Panda will back you up!

demstaraus avatar
DemstarAus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is this cute? If a little girl did this to a grown man we'd all be weirded out. This always makes me so uncomfortable!

pragyafating_1 avatar
Jaded Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just sad that kids these day r exposesd to so much adult things and damaged by them that they think it's cool to have SO before 15 and think it's ok to have sex before 18 or 21 when their bodies Haven't fully matured. Shows clear sign of psychological immaturity and abuse

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

I just found out that my six-year-old locks the bathroom door so he can get some privacy. Last night I looked across the kitchen to see the door slightly ajar and my son engaging in his private time.

Doing push-ups.

I didn't say anything, just watched him finish his 5 reps, flex in the mirror and then walk out of the bathroom.

crichins Report

Add photo comments
POST
earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd wonder why a six xear old thinks he needs muscles. Bullied at school? Weird body image picked up from media?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

My daughter has a picture of her mother and I on our honeymoon. Been "hidden" under her bed for a long time. We've been divorced over 4 years now. She still keeps that picture under her pillow every night. It's still there actually. I don't have the heart to take it from her. Too bad her mother is a cold hearted blood sucking two faced whore. Tough to see every time it I change the sheets.

sunsethacker Report

Add photo comments
POST
blablabliblablabla avatar
Lærke Littlebird
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let the picture stand in the open. No need for your daughter to feel guilty about it! No matter your relationship with your ex!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#14

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It My daughter throws her lettuce under the table for the dog to eat. The dog doesn’t like lettuce.

IrksomePigeon Report

#15

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It The pez dispensers in his night stand. He eats them in secret pretty sparingly so I let it go.

He's 6.

Sockbum , torbakhopper Report

#16

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It Where her dad’s watch is. I know where she hides it. And I’ve seen her wear it pretending to be him. It’s so cute. I won’t tell my husband though.

Carburetors_are_evil , lobo235 Report

#17

My daughter has a stash of "candy" wrappers under her bed. She is 4 and thinks she's slick. The "candy" is dried prunes though. I put those in the candy jar because she kept stealing candy.

stabwithqtip Report

#18

Conversation with daughter:

"Ok, so while I was changing your sister did you finish dinner"

"Yes daddy"

"ALL of it?"

"Yes"

"So if I look in the garbage can I'm not going to find any of your dinner in there?"

[Silence]

phormix Report

Add photo comments
POST
raroararoa avatar
RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If she doesn't want to eat it, don't make her. If she gets hungry she'll learn to eat her dinner next time. If she doesn't get hungry, then she's had enough and shouldn't eat more than she needs to anyway.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It My 6 year old got out of bed early on Sunday morning to sneak downstairs and steal Monopoly money from the bank in the unfinished game from the night before which was left out on the table.

robotron20 , Pixy Report

#20

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It Everybody’s kids here are hiding books to read secretly. Mine’s hiding in his bedroom trying to use a glue stick like lip balm.

cherrytwothousand Report

Add photo comments
POST
dc1 avatar
DC
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When my parents went to primary school ... late fifties, early sixties western germany ... there was a glue named "Pelikanol", made by the pen company Pelikan, that SMELLED like marcipane, but tasted, as they said, like crap. I recently read they added the smell on purpose, but still wonder why anyone would do this. Glue isn't meant to be eaten, or is it?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It Fortunately my teenager (16, going on 17) doesn't try to hide much from me. She's a terrible liar and gets busted right away every time, so she just casually admits stuff these days. It's pretty great.

However, she's been sneaking her boyfriend over to the house during the day while I'm at work and thinks I'm clueless. Girl, I know you eat a lot, but there's no way you're going through half a loaf of bread by yourself in one day. You also left his glass of water on the coffee table...

Enigpragmatic Report

#22

Himself. It's nearly bedtime. 2 year old thinks I'll forget to put him to bed if he runs into another room for 30 seconds.

sentientketchup Report

#23

Our son (9) is taking his marbles to school and screwing other kids out of their marbles. He's got a real hustle going on there. He's not allowed to take any toys to school, hence why he's hiding it. I checked his school backpack and found probably a kilogram worth of marbles in there. We are having a talk this afternoon.

Timmy_94 Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#24

My almost 2yo has started telling me crazy stories as if they are real. He recently told me that our dog rides a motorcycle to go play with her friends.

ASOIAFGymCoach73 Report

#25

My kid is 5. She sneaks food under her blanket (wrapped snacks) for later and is always amazed when I find them.

samwaines Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My daughter was terrible for stealing food. I used to find wrappers under her bed, behind her drawers, in a hole in the couch etc. I even found 2 empty tins of condensed milk inside the outdoor incinerator.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

My daughter (who's 9) thinks she's being crafty hiding a book under her pillow to read after bedtime. I've known for about a year and let her have half an hour 'secret reading time' after she goes to bed.

Bit harder to know if she's not reading after half an hour now it's summer and she doesn't need to use a lamp, but I can tell if she's turned her lamp off in winter.

YorkshireWitch Report

Add photo comments
POST
eaglegirl36 avatar
Eagle Girl
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Used to do that as a kid. Read under covers with flashlight. Helped my night owl brain unwind. Now I have a Tablet.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

My two year old dropped out Echo dot and split into two pieces. She attempted to sandwich it back together and put it back where it was but now says stuff like "alexa play mickey mouse" and then when nothing happens she says "uh oh alexa what happen?" You know damn well what happen and it's HAPPENED.

throwawaybutnotrlly Report

#28

My 12(m) son went on a double "date". My husband happened to be driving through town and saw the 4 of them together. I asked him and he said they "happened to be going to the same place". The mother of the other boy had the scoop and filled me in. I let my son know that he shouldn't lie to me and it is perfectly fine for him to be going on a double date - he apparently paid for the fries. I offered to drive him and the others somewhere if they wanted to go again.

sharpie_mark Report

Add photo comments
POST
jacobbeccagizmothesquirrel avatar
Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Makes more sense as male not month. I don't think 12 month olds walk around with cash for fries in his pocket.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

My 22-year-old son starts work at 6:00 a.m. He left the house at 6:30 and came back thirty minutes later. I think he got fired.

most_painful_truth Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it was a one off then that is pretty crappy if he got fired, but if he has done it numerous times or had enough warnings for other reasons then fair enough. I have been late to work twice. Once I was 45 mins late because there was a big car accident and the traffic was going at snails pace. Another time I was late because I accidentally wrote the wrong start time in my diary, I thought I started 2 hours later than what I was actually meant to. My boss rang me to find out where I was. I got ready quick smart, didn’t have time to iron my shirt, ended up an hour late. Oops

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It My 6 year old son poops in the back yard every morning and blames it on the dog

kitcha55 Report

#31

30 Parents Reveal What Secrets Their Kids Are Keeping From Them Without Knowing They're Already Aware Of It I have a bad drinking problem. I hide my booze but one day my daughter found it and will pour it out and replace it with water thinking it's the bottle not the liquid. So a few times a week I'll go to grab my stuff and realize it's just water after I take my first shot. I usually cry and will be sober for a day or so. I've never told her I know what she's doing because when I taste water that actually brings me joy knowing how much she loves me. I'm actually a really great dad to her and her doing that helps me put things in perspective

conservativetruthman , Ben Darlow Report

Add photo comments
POST
samlomb avatar
Samantha Lomb
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you are drinking so much your kid is dumping out your booze in an attempt to keep you sober you aren't a good dad and this is her cry for help. A kid should never have to do that

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

My 6 year old is gobsmacked that I know about the rolling around on the floor instead of schoolwork. No idea the teacher can reach me anytime..

killerturtlex Report

Add photo comments
POST
shannon_smith avatar
Shannon Smith
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Contact the teacher, and create a behavior management plan together. You have to work as a team, especially with virtual learning as behavior is managed by manipulating a students immediate environment and the teacher is now very limited in that capacity.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

Girlfriends kids (20 and 17) like to go work on the car together in the detached garage. Late at night. Yeah, pretty sure they're smoking weed. She likes to make them awkward by asking what they're up to. We see the 3ft bong you guys...

wheresjizzmo Report

Add photo comments
POST
earloflincoln avatar
Martha Meyer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'd actually try to put a stop to that. Weed isn't safe for people under the age of about 25, studies have shown. It can give teens especially long term depression and other mental health issues.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#34

She's slowly been collecting pens and hiding them in her toys. So far, no coloring outside of paper and coloring books, though. So I'm letting her get away with it.

1drlndDormie Report

#35

My daughter is too shy to tell me she started her period. I’m not going to embarrass her. We’ve had the talk, and she can come to me if and when she’s comfortable.

HoundIt Report

Add photo comments
POST
raroararoa avatar
RaroaRaroa
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Would probably save her a lot of stress if you went to her - you're the adult. How is she getting the supplies she needs?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#36

Got a 12 year old and I definitely know his Reddit account cause the little turd used my email to sign up. Must not have thought that one through. I’m too scared to look at it though.

everybodypays Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just look at your kids social media account. You'll get to know your kid a lot better. Kids won't tell you they are bullied but instead ask strangers on the internet for advice. And if your kid is a bully, you'll discover it too.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

My 4 year old 'wrote' a letter she keeps in her bottom drawer. When me and my husband die she will come home and get it.

We're not allowed look at it or touch it but apparently it says that we gave her loads of money and she gave us loads of pictures.

I'm not sure what this says about her or us, but it will be interesting how long she keeps said letter. It's been a month so far.

IdlyBrowsing Report

Add photo comments
POST
prenambini avatar
Loren
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol it's a fake will! This girl is smart and has her priorities straight!

#38

My 4 YO son is currently trying to hide that he pees his bed. His dad questioned him the other morning asking if he did and he said no... Even though we were holding his wet pants. When we asked whos pants they were he said "mommys." We asked again if he peed his bed and he said " no mommy did it". Little bastard

crosex Report

Add photo comments
POST
gillandbella avatar
Gillbella
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Making children feel ashamed of wetting the bed is a terrible way to parent! At 4 it's quite normal for children to sleep without waking up to the signals to wee. They need loving support.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

My 4 year old son just asked me how many coins I had on my desk. I said I didn’t know. He said he counted 6.

chel8 Report

Add photo comments
POST
iseektheunvanquishedtruth avatar
zims
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's not hiding... that's just a kid not realizing their parent's desk might be off-limits

#40

My oldest son has started, smoking weed.

What he doesn’t, know is daddy knows where the stash is and will continue to take some for, myself.

I’ll continue to take more and more until it becomes, painfully obvious and he gets the courage to bring it up to me.

CommaHorror Report