Pranking children

[FestiveStuffing]

I came across some pictures on my Facebook feed of children screaming, crying and running away when they'd been seated on a festively decorated sofa for photos and a figure dressed as the Grinch apparently jumped out and scared them. Kids varied from around age 4 to about 12, I'd guess. Lots of people find this sort of thing funny, according to the responses it had received- do you? I just feel sorry for the kids. Do you prank your own kids?

No, never.
I hated pranks as a kid and still do as a grown up. Getting your laughs from upsetting or scaring someone, especially children, is just stupid imo - even if it all turns out alright in the end.

Nothing that’s going to upset them; that sounds quite horrific.

No, I think it’s awful. Never liked those programmes where they did that either.

We told my 12 year old she was booked in to visit Father Christmas. She was vaguely horrified for about ten seconds until I winked at her and then she pretended to love the idea to my DH. That’s as far as we go.

No it's terrible.

My parents used to prank me. They would hide for ages and pretend I was all alone, or run off and hide when I was on fairground rides. They thought it was hilarious when they jumped out laughing and I was digressed. It's stayed with me my whole life.

I would never, ever prank my children. It's cruel and not funny in they slightest.

One of Dh colleagues "pranked" her children in May by telling them their school was open, got them all ready and dressed. Filmed their excitement at the thought of seeing their friends again and then laughed at them as she told them it wasn't true. They are only little and were crushed. She posted the video all over Facebook. Dh was disgusted and now only talks to her about work matters rather than being friends.

Oh, I'm glad it's not just me! I was wondering if I'd get accused of having a sense of humour bypass.

I saw the post you are talking about.
I don't like pranks generally but those photos were quite funny.

@iloverock

I saw the post you are talking about. I don't like pranks generally but those photos were quite funny.

Do you think? I reckon some of them will have had nightmares.

Depends on the prank and the age of the child and their ability to cope with it. I’ve usually gone the other way with mine and made something nice happen (told them we were doing something mundane and then driven to a theme park for example.)

I saw that Grinch video on FB and thought it was horrible.

I find the idea of filming your children being terrified odd in an elaborate prank very odd.

Some people give the appearance of caring more about 'likes' than other people.

@WankPuffins so many of these pranks are just for Facebook likes. I don’t understand caring more about that than your children.

I don’t blame your DH for not wanting to be friends with someone like that. Maybe he could prank her with a redundancy notice and she how she likes it.

@GuiEtVin that's heartbreaking. I'm so sorry you and your siblings had that childhood

@CatrinVennastin it's baffling, isn't it? Says a lot about how society has become with social media.

That's horrendous @GuiEtVin. I don't understand people who find stuff like that funny.

You would prank this young lady at your peril.
Very feisty.

[quote Riapia]You would prank this young lady at your peril.
Very feisty.

[/quote]

"NO! IDIDNOTTOUCHDOGSFOOD!'

I think 'pranking' comes very close to bullying, and can cross the line far too easily.
Just treat people with respect, especially children you're supposed to love

@GuiEtVin I'm so sorry they did that to you ☹️ how totally horrible.

You're right about your children though, they will remember that lovely surprise forever, and I'm sure you will treasure that memory too. 💐

I like stupid pranks like "honey there's a leak in the bathroom!" and your partner comes to look and you've put a leek in there 🤣

Some of the pranks I've heard of/seen/have had people suing others for on judge rinder are borderline psychopathic. Like what happened to @GuiEtVin () absolutely disturbed.

I like to poo pick in the garden and then I say we are having poo for breakfast. I then present a plate with a chocolate on. I also hide whoopee cushions under blankets on the sofa. DD loves it

Dd likes all that but some of pp's posts have been absolutely cruel.

@mogtheexcellent

I like to poo pick in the garden and then I say we are having poo for breakfast. I then present a plate with a chocolate on. I also hide whoopee cushions under blankets on the sofa. DD loves it

Dd likes all that but some of pp's posts have been absolutely cruel.

There is a massive difference between what you do and some of the cruel pranks on social media. Yours is fun and light and not designed to humiliate.

I've often told a child of mine on school pick up that I've brought the car as we have to go food shopping or some other mundane activity to rolled eyes, and then rolled up at the cinema or an ice cream place as a treat. That's not cruel IMO.

@mogtheexcellent

I like to poo pick in the garden and then I say we are having poo for breakfast. I then present a plate with a chocolate on. I also hide whoopee cushions under blankets on the sofa. DD loves it

Dd likes all that but some of pp's posts have been absolutely cruel.

I've never known a child not find a whoopee cushion hilarious, and at home it's just silly fun. It'd be different if she was 17 and you were meeting her first serious partner for the first time.

Pranks have never been my style of humour and I'm not fond of them. Some people go to a huge amount of effort just to be annoying and get laughs at others' expense, which strikes me as a bit weird to be honest.

Mild pranks with a nice ending can be fun. I remember when my brother and I were kids, we came home from school to my mum being disapproving and saying that Lesley next door wanted to speak to us about something, implying it was to do with us having been annoying in the garden. Lesley Next Door actually had a gorgeous new puppy she wanted us to meet.