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Recent viral trends on social media involving parents pranking their young children for comedic effect may be more problematic than funny, according to experts who emphasise the developmental nuances of children’s sense of humour.

Apparently there’s a big difference between a ‘joke’ and a ‘prank’ when it comes to what’s going on inside a kid’s brain. In fact, many young children may not possess the cognitive ability to understand what’s happening when it comes to the latter.

The #eggcrackchallenge, which involves cracking eggs unexpectedly on children’s heads, has stacked up staggering views on TikTok. As of this week, the hashtag boasts 75 million views on the platform and has sparked concern from leading childhood experts.

One contributing factor to children’s lack of amusement when it comes to practical jokes played on them is that this act can easily cross the line into bullying territory, as children are hold less power than the instigator. Humour that relies on “punching down” – targeting those with less power – often fails to resonate positively with those who are the butt of the joke.

Some parents are even ‘cracking’ back at the trend, showing the difference between a well-understood mutual giggle, and a confusing and sometimes scary invasion of space.

@niky.mamamd Replying to @leftistinflorida I think the whole thing is ridiculous but if there is one way to do it, this would be the way while respecting everyone’s decision to either allow or not allow for the egg to be cracked on their head. But respecting kids and not making them cry unfortunately does not make for viral video content which is more important to some people. #pediatrician #funmom #respectyourkids #eggchallenge ♬ Happiness – 冯强强

Rachel Melville-Thomas, a child psychotherapist and spokesperson for the Association of Child Psychotherapists, highlights the importance of shared laughter in creating social cohesion. For a prank to be perceived as funny by a child, they usually need to be capable of grasping the setup, so they can join in on the LOLs.

That being said, when it comes to pranks like egg cracking, this transition to a good ol’ communal joke is less likely, especially considering the physical violation involved that can potentially cause psychological damage.

“If you’re the victim of a prank [for it to be funny], you have to very quickly join in and go ‘Ah, that was such a clever prank’. It’s hard to see how that happens if you smack someone on the head.”

Paige Davis, a developmental psychologist, adds that children’s sense of absurdity, which allows them to appreciate humour, centres on the unexpected or out-of-place, which explains their appreciation for certain slapstick scenarios. Yet, pranks like egg cracking, which involve a violation of trust and physical discomfort, don’t necessarily align with this sense of absurdity.

“With a little person under five, you are the secure base. You are the secure place where you can always trust that that person will not harm you.”

Experts like Melville-Thomas stress that the child’s trust in their parent as a secure base is paramount, and pranks that violate this trust may have lasting effects.

Although parents who participate in such trends may not have necessarily damaged their relationships irreparably, it’s important to focus on repair and open communication in incidences where children are upset by a prank. As always, “It’s best to try to talk about it rather than pretend it never happened,” Melville-Thomas explains.

While some people may find pranks involving kids hilarious to watch in the moment, it’s important to consider the implications that can be far-reaching for our little ones.

Parents who aren’t taking it seriously – the egg is on your face.

[source:bbc]