Children are incredibly imaginative creatures, but sometimes they utter phrases so bizarre and unexpected that even adults don’t know how to react.
The empty chair
“Grandma is sitting right there.”
Your toddler looks to an empty seat and declares that Grandma is sitting in it. They may even wave at the chair, smile, and start talking to Grandma. Toddlers like to express grief by using their imaginations and playing pretend. But if you’ve recently lost their grandmother, hearing your child act like she’s still here can give you the creeps.
The other family
“My real mommy lives in a different house.”
Kids may come up with stories about another set of parents, kids, a spouse, and where they used to live. Some children will tell you that you are not their real parents and become angry when you do not believe them. It can be very odd when your toddler tells you specific details about another house you have never been to.
The mirror mystery
“Why does the girl in the mirror keep watching me?”
Your child may start acting strangely around a mirror. They may tell you that there is another person staring back at them. Your child may say the reflection is another person or that it moves when no one is in the room.
How adults would feel if there was a stalker hiding in their reflection is terrifying. Toddlers are still learning about reflections. Mirror play can appear creepy with the right lighting or story involved.
The strange goodbye
“Will you miss me when I’m gone?”
It is shocking to hear your young child ask this question. Your heart sinks, and you become concerned when they also won’t explain further or give some bizarre response about going far away. Kids are curious about death, separation, and when someone leaves. Just because they ask these questions doesn’t mean it will happen.
A familiar stranger
“I knew you before I was born.”
Many parents will tell you about a time when their toddler suddenly claimed they remembered you from before they were born. Your toddler may say they saw you before they arrived or they knew what you looked like before they came out. Hearing this comes off weird when told matter-of-factly in the middle of a conversation.
The midnight warning
“Don’t go to sleep tonight.”
There are few things more terrifying than hearing your child shriek this at you from down the hallway right when you’re about to go to bed. Ask them what’s wrong, and they might say something bad is going to happen. Or they may refuse to explain their sudden interest in keeping you awake.
When said with a straight face and wide eyes, a regular conversation can turn into a horror movie quote.
The unexpected detail
“Why did you hide that box in the closet?”
A parent panics after their child brings up an object they thought they secretly hid. The child may ask what’s inside or already know what happened to it. Remember that kids are curious and notice much more than people give them credit for. They hear what you say, where you go, and can see objects you try to hide.
The strange drawing
“This is what happens to you tomorrow.”
Your child shows you a drawing they made of something terrifying. It could be a car crash they are involved in or someone dying in a hospital bed. When you ask them about their picture, they explain that this is what will happen tomorrow.
Parents cringe when their child says something like this with such confidence. Many children draw violent or shocking images they see in stories, from their nightmares, on TV, or something they simply imagined.
The family secret
“Why did Daddy say we’re not supposed to tell Mommy?”
One day at dinner, a child innocently asks this question, causing everyone at the table to go silent. When the mother questions them on what they mean, the child goes on to explain some conversation they heard or witnessed earlier in the day.
Kids sometimes do not know what information is meant to be private with adults. They repeat things they hear without thinking about what it may cause. One harmless question can quickly unravel a secret someone might have wanted to keep.
The forgotten memory
“Remember when you left me at the supermarket?”
A parent may be shocked when their child unexpectedly recounts an event that took place many years ago, when they were just learning to talk. They may remember what color the shopping cart was or what the store looked like.
They may remember how scared they felt. Toddlers have terrible memories, but they do remember bits and pieces of things adults think they’ve long ago forgotten.
A voice in the dark
“The lady tells me stories when everyone is sleeping.”
Picture your child telling you that someone comes into their bedroom every night to read them stories. Your child will probably show no sign of fear, which can make it that much weirder. Kids have dreams and visions while they’re sleeping, especially during the moments of falling asleep or waking up.
The familiar face
“That’s the man from my dreams.”
Flipping through an old family photo album, a child suddenly grabs your arm as they see someone they have never knowingly met before. They continue to claim that this person visits them in dreams or that they’ve spoken to them some day. It can feel extra creepy when the face they describe is a relative who died decades before the child was even conceived.
The old house
“I used to live here when I was big.”
Your family has just moved into a new house, but your young child suddenly tells you they know it very well. They may claim that they used to live there or have the bedroom across the hall. Maybe they tell you about other people who lived in the house before you moved in. It sends shivers down your spine when your child is serious about what they are saying.
The uncomfortable question
“What happens if I never wake up?”
Your child asks you this right as you’re about to lay them down for bed. They may proceed to ask if people will know they’re dead or if their parents will remember them when they die.
Kids are incredibly curious about death but don’t realize that their questions might sound disturbing to others. One normal conversation about bedtime can quickly escalate into a whole lot of questions that leave you lying awake while your child snores away.
The unsettling smile
“I like it when you pretend you’re happy.”
A parent is having a bad day, but doesn’t want their child to know. The child suddenly looks up and says this as they watch the adult smile. It can be creepy how they’ve caught you at something you didn’t realize they knew you were hiding. Kids can be shockingly perceptive to facial expressions, voices, and behavior that they do not fully understand.
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If someone feels creepy but you can’t explain why, research points to these 9 reasons
That feeling of ‘something’s off’ when you’re around certain people starts long before they do anything obviously strange, and it’s because our brains pick up a lot of odd details.
If someone feels creepy but you can’t explain why, research points to these 9 reasons
