I caught my six-year-old nephew ripping the legs off June bugs and then drowning them. Should I tell his dad?

Question

He's always seemed like such a nice kid, friendly and inquisitive. His eyes got this really cold gleam in them when I told him it was wrong to do such things. It was kind of scary. What should I do? I'd hate to get the kid into trouble or maybe create a wedge between me and my brother if he denies that his kid is capable of doing such things.

Answer 1

uhhh no not really or else.....

ill tell your dad of those "Games" you were playing with you friend

Answer 2

He is killing bugs? What kid doesnt? What adult doesnt? I think you are looking to much into it. He was probably cold because you were scolding him. If you start to seem him hurt things that are capable of communicating alot of pain, then you should get worried. I knew a little boy who caught a hurt gopher, and when his mom told him he couldnt keep it, he held it under water until it was dead. Now that gopher would of obviously been fighting back, that is a litlle more of an issue then a little boy killing bugs. Audlts kill bugs all the time. Is not a fly swater cruel then? When a kid can hurt something that can show him pain, and it doesnt phase him then there is a problem.

Answer 3

well. yea. if its that bad! lets hope the kid wont grow up to be a serial killer!

Answer 4

Mention it to him casually.

This is the kind of stuff that boys do.  Most of them go through a phase, and move on.  The ones that don't, need professional help.  But at 6 years old, this is normal.

We used to take a shovel full of a ant hill with red ants, and drop it on an ant hill of black ants and watch them fight.  I was a nice kid, and I'm still a nice man today.

Answer 5

You should just run it by your brother. Its not really that big of a deal but, you need to teach your nephew to not be cruel to insects or animals. My son (who is 5) likes to take bugs and put them in jars. (I dont like the bugs in my house) I tell him that those bugs have a mommy and the mommy is maybe wondering where they are. Sometimes he puts them back, sometimes he doesnt. This might sound wierd but, maybe your 6 year old nephew is wondering how the june bugs legs work, and his idea of getting a closer look is ripping the legs off.....drowning them....thats just mean....Maybe picking up a constructive toy where he can build something, take it apart and put it back together would keep him away from the insects.

Answer 6

i would say something

Answer 7

kids will be kids my brother useto eat ants yeah i know gross huh lol

Answer 8

I'd mention it.

Answer 9

Uhh... Of course you should tell! Woul you tell someone if he was a serial killer? I'd sure hope so. Telling his dad would make him stop, thus ending the June Bug murders.

Answer 10

you should tell him.

i dont think its that big of deal but just let him know.

Answer 11

no.

that's not horrible, one of my friends tried to stuff a cat in a toaster thinking the toaster was a toy when he was 2.

Answer 12

thats normal he is a kid, hes just wondering hats what boys do. if he does anything wierder id tell his dad.

Answer 13

I think it wouldn't hurt just to mention it but honestly it sounds like he is just being a little boy. We all kill spiders and bugs and hopefully none of us are serial killers. I know I'm not. I wouldn't look in to it that much.

Answer 14

Inform the mom if she's around. Dads usually dont see the connection to this behavior being wrong. alot of people chock it up to "boys being boys"......I think its okay if he did it once but stopped when you told him it was bad. If he got a cold gleam in his eye, thats a red flag.......what exactly is a cold gleam?

Answer 15

Your nephew needs to be taught that even insects can feel pain and it's cruel to do that to an insect.  Yes, you should tell his dad.  Six years of age is old enough to know right from wrong and the golden rule - treat others (even animals/insects) how you want to be treated.  If he gets away with cruelty to insects at six, imagine what he'll do next.  Don't fear getting the kid in trouble - he was wrong for what he did and you should tell his father.  That's the right thing to do, and I think you know that, you just want confirmation.  It's hard to rat on someone you love.  I can tell you love your nephew very much and you will be helping him in the long run to nip the problem in the bud now before it escalates.  

Those poor insects.  :-(

Answer 16

no its normal kids pull of barbies heads its normal for a kid to do it

Answer 17

Tell your brother what you saw. You don't have to use an accusatory tone.  It can be matter-of-fact and slightly concerned.  I wouldn't hesitate to tell my siblings if their kids were doing such things.  He may very well grow out of it - most do - but it doesn't hurt to keep an eye on him, and teach him about empathy.

Answer 18

Honestly I think telling his dad is a good idea. The younger he is when he learns that killing things is wrong, the better. Thats how it starts.. I think its better to confront the problem while he's young rather than wait till he's doing worse stuff at an older age.. I mean he's six, and that is old enough to know better. Just tell his parents about what he's been doing, but don't be offensive. They may get defensive, but even if they don't believe you, they will definitely watch him closer.

Good luck :]

Answer 19

That's how Jeffrey Dalmer started out.... TELL your brother, absolutely. The child is crying out and needs help. I'm not a psychiatrist but feel something is drastically wrong here.

6 year olds pet things, not take them apart.

Michael

Answer 20

Don't say anything.

Answer 21

No. He's just being a boy. I'm sure he will do a lot more than that when he gets older. As long as he isn't hurting like animals or something like that he fine, just a boy.

Answer 22

You have a moral obligation to inform his parent.

What he does about it is his responsibility.

But this is how sociopaths get started.

Answer 23

thats what inquisitive children do when their young... at least thats what i did... i prefered mice though. theres nothing wrong with me now. kids will be kids