Toddler stamped on spider

[Pugaboo]

I'm probably being ridiculous but...

The other day we were leaving the house and there was a spider outside our door. DS (20 mo) saw it and immediately stamped on it and killed it. I was surprised and a little bit upset tbh - I'm not a big fan on spiders but don't believe in killing any creatures unnecessarily and although I know he's probably too young to get it I told him that we don't stamp on insects on purpose.

AIBU to think this is learned behaviour, and not just something he randomly did? He never stamps on anything usually (except puddles).

He's practising to be my husband....
If they're near enough to stamp on they're near enough to run up your leg (when you aren't looking)

I think your reading way too much into this, let it go and give it no more time!

Rent the toddler out to people who are scared of them £5 per spider will have enough to fund uni :)

Poor parenting, obviously.

Twenty-months old is way too young to understand about killing and death.
You were right to explain to you that he should do this but who knows if it was learnt behaviour or just an idea that entered his head. My one-year-old dgd likes to stamp on everything, including the cat's tail.

2yo DD2 does this too. I'm forever marvelling at nature's small miracles and pointing them out to her in my best mum coo-ey voice. She invariably comes over, watches transfixed for a minute, says "hello spider" and then stamps the shit out of the poor little fucker.

Can I borrow him?! We have invasion of the hairy 8 legged fuckers this week and could do with a brave stamper

Um.... aren't those eight legged freaky fuckers supposed to be stamped on? I kill every one of them I see.

Haha good idea Piper

I think I'm just slightly freaked out by the whole kids who kill animals go on to murder people thing. I'm not sure if that's even true...

DS hangs out with an older boy a lot and loves to copy him, I'm just wondering if it's that or if it's something toddlers just do.

We have giant house spiders and those freaky zebra striped ones with bodies the size of maltesers in the garden shudder

I think the animal killing children who go on to be cold blooded murderers are much older than 20 months.
At this stage I don't think you need to worry.

But no you shouldn't kill them! They eat the nasty bugs (apparently)

I think I'm just slightly freaked out by the whole kids who kill animals go on to murder people thing. I'm not sure if that's even true

It's true, but I'd worry more when he starts decapitating roadkill. Stampling on spiders? not so much

More seriously, I would object too, I don't like killing spiders (though I squash ants), but I wouldn't worry about where he learned it. Just explain it to him.

Awww, he wouldn't know what would happen to the spider.

I think it's more that some adults who torture and kill have practiced their torture and killing on animals as a child, rather than children who hurt animals go on to offend as an adult IYSWIM.

Is there something in you mentioning him copying the older lad? Is this something you feel like he'd do?

A spider is a nasty bug though (OK not zoologically a bug but IMO spiders are way nastier than flies)

I vaccuum up spiders, but haven't moved on to kittens and puppies (yet!)

You're being over dramatic, how many ants do you walk on and does that bother you.

My 20 month old tells all creatures and animals to go away and is quite demonstrative too. I'm not entirely sure where he got this from, he's very touchy about bees and flies. I certainly wouldn't put it past him to terminate a spider.

btw all spiders in the house get the shoe. Maybe my ds spotted us bringing down the curtains on one. Butterflies, daddy long legs, moths etc get a second chance in the outside, but spiders no. They'll just crawl into some crack if I don't get rid.

He understands. The only good spider is a stone dead spider. Trewfact.

There is a subtle but important difference between children who hurt or kill animals because they are not aware that animals have feelings, and children who torture and kill animals out of sadism.

When he is older you can read him Charlotte's Web and he will never kill another spider again.

The older boy is lovely but is into swords and guns and baddies and playfights at the moment, DS keeps trying to find toys in his box to use as swords and trying to push me over shouting "PUSH!" and stuff so all pretty harmless if slightly more boisterous than usual. I was more concerned I was inadvertently raising a psychopathic killer ;)

Shocked how many cold blooded spider killers there are among you! :catsbumface:

He would have got into doing that stuff anyway op (swords and pushing) at nursery if not before.

It used to upset me when dd did this, because ds never did it, but she soon grew out of it and marvels at bugs alongside me now :)

I expect you shall wake up tomorrow with a horses head on your pillow

Don't worry, OP ! (Unless you are a Bhuddist fearing expulsion)

Killing spiders and insects does not indicate a future serial killer.
The danger signs are when someone kills or tortures in order to enjoy the suffering of the animal, so this would usually mean small mammals or birds.

Perfectly normal for kids and adults to kill creepy crawlies - his future DP may well be grateful he does so.