WIBU to refuse an request for my 4 year old to participate in the ice bucket challenge?

[SpidersDontWashTheirHands]

I appreciate that it has done wonders for an underfunded and very deserving charity (though it annoys me massively that people are now doing it for any old charity of their choice) but I don't think it's appropriate for me to sit my four year old son on a deck chair and drench him with iced water. If he were fourteen I'd do it because he'd understand the concept. If it were a roaring hot July day we'd probably play out with water pistols. I just don't feel comfortable about doing this. So WIBU and curmudgeonly to refuse?

Oh and the person who nominated him was asking us to donate to MacMillan.

Make it lukewarm. No one will know.

FGS, you don't HAVE to do it. It's ridiculous that you need to explain yourself. Do it, or not. There doesn't need to be a big discussion and vote about it.

You don't have to do it - just post and say you're defaulting (is that the right term? I have a feeling it isn't!) and you'll make a charitable donation instead. My brother nominated me and I've had no time to do it (no garden and I've worked all day today) so I've donated a larger sum to MND instead - there's no obligation and no-one should hassle anyone to do things they're not happy to do.

Of course you were right to refuse. Weird that someone 'asked' him.

4 year old? I would refuse it for my 9 year old!

YANBU!

FUCK, I would refuse for myself! I donate to who I want when I can afford it want, not when someone dictates I should.

Oh fgs another thread about the Ice Bucket challenge. I can't understand why people feel unable to simply say no. It isn't law.

A simple, no thank you, he doesn't want to.
No big deal at all

Though I have to say I have seen a lot of kids having a lot of fun doing this, and I think most parents make the water a bit warmer.

Who nominated a 4 year old? What kind of idiot?

What MammaTJ said. I would respond with a simple "erm...no" and leave it at that.

Well, you could do it, if you want to traumatise your child for life.

I'm guessing you don't, though!

My 6 year old did it and we just used warm water. The little monkey then nominated me and took pleasure in pouring freezing water over me. And there was me being nice :)

I've been nominated I'm in my 30s and I've said no.
I never thought I'd be wishing for cute kitten pictures back on my newsfeed.
You ANBU.

I've seen a few younger ones do it with a little kids bucket of water, no ice involved and they've all nominated their friends. I think it's a great way to start a conversation with them about different conditions and their effects. I'd use it as a learning opportunity for my dd as well as a bit of fun.

You don't have to though, it's not obligatory.

Was the person who nominated him childless, by any chance?

I have seen pictures today of someone doing it to their puppy.

It might have contravened the cruelty act .

Just ignore if you really don't want to do it.
Or use warm water if he wants to give it a go.

Was the person who nominated him childless, by any chance?

No. She's done it to her own kids.

I understand that I can refuse, I was just wondering whether my reaction is unusual given that several of my friends have done this to their young children.

Younger ones have been using warm water no one expects them to use cold icy water!

The kids I know who've done it really wanted to and it's been a fun family thing to do together for charity. No different than taking a kid on a fun run IMO.

??

yanbu. Mine were nominated and I've ignored it. Other parents have done it to their dc's but mine would freak. I have enough crap to deal with without whingy chilly children.

"no thank you" should do the trick.

I've been nominated twice, neither of them mentioned a charity in their videos or nominations. I won't be jumping on the bandwagon participating.

A FOUR year old?? What kind of nutcase nominates a four year old for god's sake?

My SIL posted a video doing it to her 2 year old. I couldn't watch it all just looked like cruelty to me.
Several people on my timeline have got their young kids doing it and I don't understand it or see the point. If you are an adult then do what you want but I don't see the fun in pouring buckets of icy water over really young kids.