Kids do some pretty strange things as they get used to the way the world works. It takes a while for them to figure out what should and shouldn't go in their mouths, for example.
No two kids are the same, either. Some can't seem to stand wearing clothes, others want to wear all of their clothes at once.
The strange things we did as kids are always good for a laugh (and often a healthy dose of cringe), so why not share?
Reddit user u/jaronnn asked:
"What are some strange things you did as a kid?"
20. Aspiring Artist
For a short time as a four or five year old, I loved taking a blades of grass and making tiny sculptures for the insects.
19. Time For You Kibble
I would play cat with my little sister. I was roughly 6 or 7 and she was 2 to 3. Anyways, she was the cat and I would always convince her to eat cat food because I thought it was funny. Also, she is extremely smart nowadays and I tell her it's because of this. You're welcome. Lol
18. Aspiring Necromancer...Or Cleric?
Dad sold medical equipment. We had a gurney and a defib crash cart in the garage. Plenty of play time reviving the dead.
17. "The Great Migration"
"The Great Migration". All of my hundreds of plastic dinosaurs would slowly migrate from the family room, through the kitchen, dining room, and front hall into the living room, and back again. Naturally, they were determined to migrate in the middle of the walkway.
16. Every Family Needs A Jaguar
When my Aunt would babysit us, we would play "family", where my sister played a baby (she was like 5) and i would always, without fail, play a Jaguar. Because you know, all functioning households own a Jaguar. So i would meow and beg for pets while crawling atop the couches etc.
15. Mmm, Charcoal
When I was about 1-2 years old, I apparently used to take of all my clothes. That's not the strange thing. Lots of kids like to run around naked. The strange part is that I would then climb into the fireplace and eat charcoal.
My older siblings all love to remind me of it.
14. A Proper Send Off
I used to hold funerals for dead insects that I would find...
Did you give them names?
13. Just An Enterprising Salesperson
I used to sell Gummy Vitamins to the other kids in school as candy. I got in trouble from the teacher and they were confiscated.
12. Animals Are Awesome
When I had alone time I would go for walks in the woods. I loved nature and biology and read a lot if books about different animals. I would go out and try to find some. My family would kill any snake they found on property, we lived on a farm. I would find a snake and help it get to a better place of cover. Edge of the gully or stuff. I had caught every non venomous snake in Arkansas, and several venomous ones. I was kicked out of the cub scouts for catching a copperhead on a hike. I was told I was a liability. Three copperheads and one water moccasin are the venomous ones, the only snake to bite me was an rat snake as it was a full grown adult and very fast.
I have lots of fun stories from being out in nature. I didn't like being around people expect for my Granna and teachers as my direct parents were abusive. Animals and I just seem to get along. I have the fortune of rescuing a hummingbird trapped in our porch. It landed on a stick in my hand and we walked outside the enclosed porch had high ceiling and was basically lost trying to find the exit. Neighbors(about a quarter mile away) shot a mother fox whose pups needed a little longer looking after but were no longer nursing. Granna and I housed them in the old barn until adulthood and they left to find their own territories.
I was swimming once and was underwater(love to be underwater) and and water moccasin was just casually swimming parallel to me about 5 feet away. We had an understanding.
I was 8 and there was caves not far from relatives we were visiting near devils den campground. I went over to the campground and found some biology students that were studying the bats in the caves. I followed them and we got to observe the bats as they connect various photos and bat guano samples. They also explained the dangers that bats carry on then like rabies and the like. They were awesome. I am so fortunate that as a child so many random people were nice to me. I don't know if people could tell a child had a bad home life or they were just kind people. But they gave me a lot of good memories. Didn't plan to shed a tear this morning. I've had a fun life.
11. Whatever's Comfy.
I used to hold onto my mother's earlobe for comfort. Wtf. She told me when she noticed I stopped she was relieved and also kinda sad.
10. Just Suckin' Rocks
when we had tornado drills in school we would all go into the new tornado shelter under the cafeteria. It was dark and had really encrusted limestone gravel. I'd suck on the rocks because I liked the taste of the limestone dust/concretions. It was a rare event because we didn't have a lot of tornado drills.
Suckin rocks in the dark surrounded by hundreds of kids.
09. Wear All The Clothes
I used to put on somewhere between 5-10 pairs of shorts and go visit an elderly couple that lived a few houses down. Upon arriving, I'd get them to guess how many pairs they thought I was wearing. Then I took each pair off one-by-one (except for the last) to reveal the final count. They usually gave me powdered donuts afterwards. Then I'd be on my way.
8. Stuck On Repeat
For whatever reason, I always used to repeat things immediately after I said them but in a whisper.
"I'll have chicken tenders!"
I'll have chicken tenders
Years later, even my mom said it was really creepy.
7. Friendly Neighborhood Orb
You know how light reflects on the tile floor to create a glowing orb? I used to be best friends with that little guy till about 5th grade. When I'd see him in the school auditorium or in class I distinctly remember whispering "Hey buddy" or something like that. I kind of miss the times where you could just personify inanimate nonsense. I miss my light buddy.
6. Never Alone
I used to sleep with every single one of my plush toys on either side of me. Logically i would have to turn sides midnight so those on my back wouldn't get offended.
I did this too, but they also had specific assigned placement. By morning they would all be strewn all over my bedroom.
5. Teeth?!
My sister and I pretended to be teeth.
Please give us more details. I can't stand the suspense.
We pretended that we lived in the mouth of a boy named Johnny. Basically, we'd wrap a thick blanket around our legs (to represent the gums), and shout with excitement when Johnny brushed his teeth or drank milk, or scream in horror when he ate chocolate or other sugary foods.
No idea how this started. There are no dentists in our family...
4. Lucky That's Over
My mom told me I had a habit of lowering my pants in public. Just for the kicks of flashing my weenie I guess
I'm glad I have dropped that by now
3. Just A Little B&E
I used to break into my neighbours homes when I was 7 or 8 maybe. Never stole anything of value, just wandered around. Had a neighbour who had a massive house but didn't appear to live there. The stairs leading from the parking pad into the home was just surrounded by bars, I was able to squeeze through the bars to enter the home. A few other neighbours didn't lock their doors. I remember one instance of being in someone's home and walking around and found a box of cookies on the kitchen counter. They were sprinkle cookies, very delicious. I remember being upstairs and I heard someone in the shower. They came out before I could get down the stairs. I spent a long time trying to escape unseen.
2. The Stink Is Real
I'm the 2nd of 4 kids in a military family.
When I was still a preschooler, one day, my mother notices I stink. Not dirty, not sweaty, but full on rolled in garbage stink.
So I get yelled at for playing in the garbage and bathed and made to put on new clothes and a little while later I stink again.
So I get yelled at and bathed and made to put on new clothes and a little while later I stink again.
This went on until my mother had (the first of many) mini nervous breakdowns.
She took me to the doctor. She was crying and sobbing and explained the insanity of what was going on and begged him to find out what was wrong ... because even then I stank like garbage.
It took him a few minutes but he did sort it out.
I had been taking small bits of white bread from my sandwiches, rolling them into little balls and shoving them up my nose.
My sinuses were full of rotting bread.
He pulled out as much as he could, I sneezed out the rest over a couple of days and then I stopped stinking.
Side Note : I have no memory of this, only my mother telling the story every chance she gets.
1. Next Best Thing
There was moment in time where I carried around a porcelain cat statue in a basket because my friend had a stuffed animal cat and I didn't yet, so I found the next best thing.
What was your strangest habit as a kid?
