Purposely scaring your child is an abuse

I don’t mean to”peek-a-boo”, but actually scaring them and then laughing about it. Saw a video online where people took a boy, approximately 10 years old, to a “haunted carwash”, actors fully dressed up, make up and props, reaching in the car, scaring you. The child was terrified with tears, screaming, everyone around him laughing. This is so disturbing in my opinion. In general, it’s not my culture so I find this kind of Halloween activity icky but involving your child is inappropriate and cruel

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.
Add a comment
Avatar

I’ve never been a fan of Halloween.. so that sounds like a nightmare! Poor child😪

Avatar

I mean I’ve taken my then 6 year old to a fright night at a theme park with my 14 year old. My teenager had a panic attack so we went home. We weren’t sure really what to expect. My 6 year old was scared however she did have fun.
I think purposely making fun of your child is wrong but as a parent you need to work out their limits.

Avatar

That's over the line in my opinion. I love Halloween and places like that and if I knew my kid also loved it and would enjoy it even if they got a little scared I'd happily take them. I have a 5 year old niece who adores all things horror and doesn't get even the slightest bit scared and I immediately thought of her having a blast in that situation. But you know your kid best and know if that's something they wouldn't enjoy, and laughing about them being scared to that level is just cruel.

Avatar

I think there’s some kids who love that stuff (my son is so weird he loves being scared!) but if you see that your child is distraught by it you get them out and comfort them, don’t film them and laugh. I’ve seen a few videos like that and I hate them.

Avatar

I think it's okay to scare (some) kids, but I don't think it's okay to obviously see you kid in a lot of distress and just laugh about it.

Avatar

I love Halloween but it’s not something I would put my child through unless they asked and I felt they were of age.

Avatar

I think abuse wouldn’t be the word I’d use. But I think some kids can handle it and some can’t. I was a creep as a kid and I’m like that still, I love creepy, spooky stuff. And I’ve raised kids who also love creepy spooky stuff. But my husband as a kid was so scared of things and would have nightmares. He couldn’t handle it but I would have been able to. So I think you need to know your kid.

Avatar

When I was a kid there was a very sketchy bridge that was starting to break down at our local zoo. (How is this relevant Zainab? I’ll get there). I am extremely afraid of heights. My dad made us go on the bridge. I vividly remember there were boards missing out of it but my mind could have made that up. I was crying and he started shaking it and laughing. I’m still traumatized by it. So yeah doing shit to really frighten your kids is abusive.

Avatar

Ops, I was meant to select questionable behaviour.

Avatar

It's sad. That can cause a lot of anxiety for the child.

Avatar

I mean I think there an extent 🤷‍♀️ in the example given I agree but like it depends on the child’s reaction (if they can handle it tbh) being scared can be fun but if your laughing at your child scared and crying that’s just sick. I scare my one year old with masks and stuff and she absolutely loves it and just sits laughing at me 🤷‍♀️😂

Avatar

Surprising is okay, scaring is not. It feels like a betrayal of trust to me. And how are they supposed to kno you’re not just gonna randomly try to terrify them?

Avatar

It’s especially gross when people record their kids getting scared tho because then they’re just exploiting them for entertainment. It’s also hard to kno how okay a child is with being scared because they could be pretending they aren’t scared

Avatar

A little joke is funny, but to traumatize a kid is another thing. More things that are not funny: posting yourself disciplining your child online (Ex. Them throwing a tantrum and getting punished) like why show your kids vulnerable embarrassing moments like that to the world, and have it online forever… just reinforces in their mind that they are bad, and why expect more of them, this is just how they act. &&& LAUGHING at your child cursing. It’s not cute. It’s not funny. In fact it SCREAMS trashy parenting if I’ve ever seen it. Take that how you want to. But laughing when your child curses just shows them that it’s funny behavior and they should do it more. And a potty mouth is not cute. 🫶

Avatar

We love scary Halloween stuff. Some kids can handle it and some kids can’t. But you don’t actually know that until it happens. If your kid is in the later group it’s totally appropriate to walk out and remove them from the situation. However it’s definitely not abuse for kids to be scared during a haunted house situation in a general sense.

Avatar

I don’t like being scared. At all. My grandma used to get a kick out of scaring us for absolutely no reason smh … love that woman but haaaated when she scared me

Avatar

I mean that’s really horrible but we would go to fright nights as children at theme parks like Thorpe park

Avatar

Some parents are their child's first bully. That's so sad.

Avatar

That would scare me to the point of crying never mind a child

Avatar

I mean you can play to scare a child.. like hiding and jumping out.. but the moment you notice that the child is petrified.. that moment you realise it needs to end and comfort the child.

Read more on Peanut

Trending

in our community

5 month old activities

Hey everyone my baby is 5 months old and I want to reduce/cut screen time as I have read up on how bad it is what activities did people do to keep their baby entertained. Thank you in advance.

Avatar

4

Tablet for kids

Alright don’t need any negative Nancy’s telling me not to get my 2yo a tablet so if that’s what your gunna do please don’t participate in my poll.

We’re about to move cross country 3+ day trip and my 2yo and 9m hate the car I’m talking scream their heads off till they are out of their seats. We’ve already changed car seats and it didn’t help so I’d like to at least have one entertained and sit next to baby and try and distract her or put her to sleep. Our new car has tvs but since they are rear faced my 2yo can’t see it.

Debating getting her a tablet or dvd player right now on long car rides I end up giving her my phone because I get so overwhelmed sitting in between both of them screaming and crying.

And yes I do bring different toys I bring snacks I play songs try to distract her other ways but for the sake of not losing my mind on this move I think this is best.

-A very overwhelmed and anxious to move mama 😓

Avatar

20

My friend is over from another country but I don't feel like leaving the house

One of my old friend's is visiting where I currently live and we agreed to meet up today but I feel so tired and exhausted from everything that's been going on with me. I feel if I meet her I'm going to end up having another breakdown from the exhaustion which I have been having often. I'm just thinking about how I need to rest to be able to deal with my toddler and go back to work on Monday without feeling like I need another weekend. I'm torn on what to do so I need you guys to help me decide

Avatar

15

Struggling

My husband works and does so much for me and my baby girl. However I get annoyed every time he hops on a video game he usually plays for 1-2 hrs if she's still awake and has like 3+hrs of free time once she goes to sleep (i co/contact sleep). The last time I was able to have actual free time was last month when I tried to turn some onesies into shirts for baby girl to sleep in- and I wasn't able to finish them and haven't picked them up since lol. The only free time I get is while she's napping right next to me where I can't move an inch or breathe too deeply or she'll wake up, or when I shower. Crafting used to be my outlet and now if I were ever to tell him that I need to craft I don't even know what I would do or where to start I just sit there and stare.... just losing myself and I'm struggling with it. Does anyone else feel the same way? What do I do?

Avatar

2

7

Baby Food Maker

What’s everyone’s thoughts on a baby food maker? I’m looking to get Baby Breeza or Grownsy. Thoughts? What does everyone like?

Avatar

6

Weaning

Hello mamas,could I get some advice please with how and what to wean as started this week with my baby but not really what to give and when what time day. Have started with puree vegetables and making them myself and offering it in the evening to my baby but she tends to get irritated and tired and has a few spoonfulls and then gives up and has a meltdown. So I’m questioning myself am I feeding her wrong time of day and what’s best to mix the food with milk or baby rice please.

Avatar

5

Read more on Peanut