Hey parents, you don't need to make your kids cry for views

"Showing your kid random mug shots on Facetime and saying their new teacher is calling - while filming them cry - seems unnecessary. You'll make them cry for plenty of other reasons in life, just by doing your job. That's probably enough."  

Do you actually want them to go to school, or not? Photo: iStock

Years ago, I played the "best prank ever" on my kid.

He was about seven, and I walked in on him drawing... using those little IKEA pencils that are supplied for free.

I gasped and said, "They're asking everyone who's stolen a pencil to return it, it's on the news today."

My son was horrified. Mortified. Terrified. He was a "robber" and the IKEA cops would soon be out to get him. 

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"Epic parenting moment - not"

I quickly told him I was joking, but the 'damage' had been done and he was scarred for life - never using one in-store again, let alone nicking one.

As a self-described comic genius, it was an epic parenting moment (not).

If only I had filmed it and posted it online, everyone would know how clever and hilarious I was... except my kid, of course. He would hate me.

I know this for sure because on the couple of occasions I've mentioned my 'epic prank' since then, he has flashbacks and basically ends up cowering in the corner. 

That's a red flag, you guys.

RELATED: Controversial Grinch Christmas photo prank

"EMOTIONAL DAAAMMMAAGE"

Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration, but I have actually seen the effect that the naysayers on TikTok are warning us about when it comes to viral pranks on kids to see if they will cry.

Just imagine how my kid would feel if I did have footage and the whole world could watch his meltdown about IKEA pencils on repeat?

It's one thing to prank your kids; quite another to make them cry for clicks. As the viral TikTok saying goes, all you're doing is giving them "Emotional Daaammmaage".

Whether it's cracking an egg against a little forehead with force, making a loud noise and scaring them into believing they've been hurt, or throwing a slice of cheese at their face, is it  really worth it?

Because this is the thing, I am 100 percent sure none of us need to deliberately go out of our way to humilate and traumatise our children on social media. I reckon we will do enough of it in real life anyway, just trying to do our job as parents.

And that's probably enough.

Trolling 'new teachers' on TikTok

The most recent example of parents getting their kicks out of their kids' reactions involves finding random mugshots, and using them to pretend that the child's new teacher is calling.

It's as appalling as it sounds. The mugshots look super scary to a young child, because I guess people who've just been arrested don't tend to look their cheerful best.

They're most likely at a very low point in life; but just because they look 'different' doesn't mean they don't deserve some sort of empathy and respect.

But seriously, what a thing to teach a young child - how to judge someone and their worth based on their appearance.

And what a way to set them up for a new school year.

Do you actually want them to go to school, or not? Image: TikTok

"Erosion of trust"

Look, I get that trolling your kids can be one of the perks of the job, if done carefully. I know from personal experience that even just calling airpods "ear pods" in front of a teenager's friends is guaranteed embarrassment - but at your own expense.

And there's the difference. If you do something that makes a child feel unsafe, or unsure, especially about your presence, and you think that they 'get the joke' so it's a good idea to post it online, it might be worth considering what an expert says.

Melbourne paediatrician Dr Trupti Prasad told Kidspot, "The odd prank might not traumatise the child, but done repeatedly, and with a purpose to provide comedy by humiliation with a surprise, there will certainly be an erosion of trust."

And there's nothing funny about losing even a small bit of trust from your kid.

Originally published as Hey parents, you don't need to make your kids cry for views