Kids can drive you crazy. But they can also be the source of the funniest, most absurd mishaps. They're still learning about this thing called life, so their silliness is not so much irritating as it's amusing. Children operate according to their own logic which shall never seem reasonable to adults. But that's where the charm comes from!
This time, we've got a selection of kids acting silly and weird. Whether it's thinking dandruff is snow or being mad that poop doesn't come out in one piece – children can have some real pearls of 'kid wisdom.' Let's be gracious and remember to laugh with them and not at them. However dumb their actions may seem.
#1 Y’all, I Can’t Stop Laughing
Image credits: mattcoyney
#2 Uno Reverse Card Not Needed
Image credits: nofilterblonde
#3 Remote-Control Bathroom Break
Image credits: luhluh7991
When we hear of children acting silly, we probably don't think of anything serious. Just like the antics in these pictures – getting their tongues stuck to an icy pole, being rubbish at hide-and-seek, or leaving all the apples in a bowl with bite marks. But can silly behavior be an alarm for a bigger problem?
Experts say there's absolutely nothing wrong with children acting silly. They're immature, therefore they're acting immature, it’s totally appropriate for their age. Parenting coach Meghan Leaghy writes for The Washington Post that the reason behind kids' silliness during social interactions can be panic.
#4 Namaste
Image credits: kindofsquishy
#5 Navigation
Image credits: gregoceallaigh
#6 I Took Him Out Shopping For His Birthday, Told Him He Could Get Anything He Wanted And He Picked Soap
Image credits: sonicshawty
"When young children don't feel comfortable," Leaghy writes, "their brain begins to panic." The silliness that ensues is not a conscious decision. Kids are simply too young to express that they feel uncomfortable in new social situations. The parenting coach writes that then the "panicked brain distracts itself with complete silliness."
If a child starts acting silly when someone introduces them to a grownup, parents shouldn't push them to make eye contact or say 'hello.' Leaghy advises parents to assume the social niceties instead for their kids. It's okay to do all the talking and let the child stand behind a parent's leg. That doesn't mean they'll grow up to be a social ingrate. Their social skills are simply on their way.
#7 This Means War
Image credits: OctopusCaveman
#8 I Didn’t Know People Actually Did This
Image credits: CapetainTrippy
#9 Took The Snack Pack Away From My Daughter So We Could Get A Nice Picture
Image credits: shewantstheicepick
Responsive Classroom lists three other reasons kids act silly. It's either for the fun of it, to feel like they belong, or to gain a sense of importance. Acting silly and being playful is just part of childhood and kids can be doing it simply to have fun. It also helps them to connect to those around them. "A shared moment of laughter can lead to close friendships," development professionals write.
#10 Round 1, Fight
Image credits: natwrotewhat
#11 Bye
Image credits: danieljoness
#12 That’s Not How It Works
It's also true that acting silly can make you the center of everybody's attention. And that might be a reason why some kids do it. Child development experts claim that silly behavior is the strongest in first, third, and fifth grades. That's the years when they experience intensive social growth.
#13 Yoga Is A Great Way To Start The Day
Image credits: ThisPaul
#14 She's Crying Because Her Brother Proudly Announced The Size Of A Turd He Laid, But Flushed It Before She Could See It
Image credits: T0BYs_Grundle
#15 A Picture Of Me When I Was 9 Or 10. God I Was So Cringe
Image credits: MELO_DETH_999
Boredom can be another factor. "Boredom, lack of choice and the inability to move the body will turn a 'well-behaved' child into a 'silly' child, and fast," Meghan Leaghy writes in one of her blog posts.
She concludes that parents should encourage the silly child to belong to the class in a productive way, not a silly way. Some strategies can be giving the child more jobs in the classroom, allowing them movement breaks and appointing some time when they can act silly.
#16 To Be Fair, I Also Hate This World
Image credits: a_lolbrarian
#17 My Kid Was Playing Workshop While I Fixed The Garage Door Yesterday. Super Glad I Checked My Shoe Before Putting It On
Image credits: TummyPuppy
#18 Best. Trade. Ever
Image credits: KITTIESbeforeTITTIES
Can silly behavior be disruptive? Of course, especially in the classroom. These types of kids often get labeled 'the class clown.' The reason behind such behavior is not always seeking attention.
Understood writes that children might attempt to cover up things like anxiety, bullying, trouble with focus or social skills. Low self-esteem and stressful situations at home can also be reasons.
#19 Before She Could Read
Image credits: Damonigus
#20 The First Thing He Does
Image credits: SmallSmoothRock
#21 Nice
Image credits: iandenning85
Hyperactive kids or those who have learning differences also often become class clowns. Sometimes, it might be related to ADHD. According to experts on Understood, "being funny, theatrical, and larger than life can be a natural benefit of ADHD for many kids. Playing the role of entertainer is a way to use a strength to make up for challenges."
#22 Hide And Seek In My Son’s Hospital Room
Image credits: thenewguy89
#23 Mother's Day
Image credits: ninth_revolution
#24 I Tried Turning On The TV And It Wouldn't Turn On. I Opened The Remote And I Found This
Image credits: GraceWRX
What should adults do when silly behavior goes out of hand? Board Certified Behavior Analyst Dr. Baker Wright, Ph.D., has some advice on her blog on what to do and not to do. One of the things that most definitely won't help is repeatedly saying 'Stop.' She says it will only result in the parent blowing a fuse, so it's better to redirect kids to do or talk about something else.
#25 Mad Because Poop Is Not In One Piece
Image credits: kylo_rens_mom
#26 Paper Clips Are Hard
Image credits: iamthevash
#27 Found My Camera On The Floor And Asked My Kid If He'd Been Fiddling With It. "No, Of Course Not Daddy"
Image credits: kilowhisky
Don't expect them to go from 100 to 0 in a second. When kids are running around and being silly, they won't halt immediately. Because this is likely a result of unorganized play, suggest a game with specific rules. This might make them more calm as it requires more mental focus.
#28 This Is Genius
Image credits: cat_beltane
#29 My Son Thinks He Is Hilarious - Told Him To Stack The Dishes In The Sink
Image credits: Darzin
#30 Ah Yes, How To Get A "Free" Cookie (I Work At A Coffee Shop)
Image credits: unfortunatelymade
If the child is at an age where it's possible to reason with them, try talking. "Kids sometimes need help understanding the consequences of their behavior," experts at Responsive Classroom write. "They may not see the effect their clowning around is having. Or they may feel embarrassed by their behavior, but not know what to do instead."
#31 Can We All Just Take A Moment To Appreciate How Awesome My Niece Is Hiding
#32 Tell Me You Have A Three-Year-Old Without Telling Me You Have A Three-Year-Old
Image credits: Lost-Cateran
#33 My Neighbor's Kid Was Tasked With Bringing My Mom Some Chocolates
Image credits: leonilaa
#34 A Guy's PS4 Was Ruined After His 6-Year-Old Son Wanted To "Play A Nice Dog Game" He Found In The Garage
Image credits: john4845
#35 We're Playing Hide-And-Seek
Image credits: SubliminalScream
#36 My 8-Year-Old Niece Changed Her Roblox Display Name To "Poopfart" And Couldn’t Change It
Image credits: randomredditgirlie
#37 I'm Babysitting My 3-Year-Old Brother. We Decided To Play Hide And Seek. This Was His Hiding Spot. I Washed The Dishes And Folded My Clothes While Loudly Asking Were He Was. Everyone Won
Image credits: PheonixGalaxy
#38 Who This Kid Trying To Fool
#39 My 5-Year-Old Refused To Eat His Fritter Because “It Looks Like A Baby Dragon”. He Wanted Me To Take A Photo And Share It With The World, So Here You Go
Image credits: Redditaurus-Rex
#40 Why Does My Phone Say It’s Wet? Introducing, My Son
Image credits: Brettuss
#41 This Is Our 4-Year-Old Niece's Hiding Place. My Wife On The Left Is The Seeker
Image credits: reddit.com
#42 My Two-Year-Old: "I Want The Choclate Banana"
Image credits: gazman_dev
#43 What A Preamble
Image credits: RedPandaCombatLeague
#44 Ok, But I've Done That Though
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#45 My Kid Took A Bite Out Of The Pie And Filled The Hole With Potatoes To Hide The Evidence
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#46 Trying To Eat A Cracker
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#47 5-Year-Old Is Inventing New Pokémon With Legos And Named This One “Boner”
Image credits: milsurpfarts
#48 Get These Notifications At Work From My 4-Year-Old
Image credits: Stt022
#49 My Son Playing Hide-And-Seek At My Parents' House
Image credits: ohKeithMC
#50 Appreciate Him
Image credits: Nxtt_jod
