Is this worrisome or normal boy behavior?

[SDFgirl]

I teach 3rd grade. Today I took my kids out for recess, and there were a bunch of caterpillars outside. The kids were having fun letting the caterpillars crawl on their hands and arms, etc.

As we are lining up to go in, I tell all the kids to put their little friends back in the grass. One of my students rushed up to one of the newly-freed caterpillars and squished it viciously with his foot. Then, he immediately starts to brag about it - "I killed it! I squished the caterpillar, ha ha!"

I felt my blood start to boil! I asked him why he did that and he said that he "just felt like it." We have lots of insects and animals in our room for science instruction and we've always talked about respect for living things, etc. He showed no remorse or understanding as to why it upset me and the other kids.

This really worried me. However, since I don't have kids of my own, I'm wondering - is this normal boyish behavior (meaning I'm too sensitive) or is it kinda worrisome? The other kids were very mad and angry. One kid even said it was "disturbing."

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

i don't know, i would say normal boy behaviour.

 

[mommasita]

Well, I think it is sadly, not just boys, but girls as well.

My son would never have done anything like this at that age, or at his 11 years he is now, but I have seen it done.

 

[RadioNate]

I would say normal boy behavior. I would talk to him about why it wasn't appropriate but I don't think it is terribly worrisome.

I can't tell you the amt of spiders, ants, worms and other bugs I squished as a child. Heck, you should see what happens to the scorpions that enter my house now.

 

[jimmalru80]

I'm old school and will most likely be royally flamed, but lets see if if I have this right. Third grade... Boy.... Bugs.... Squished. I know it's just me, but I would not get too worked up about it.

 

[SDFgirl]

I can't tell you the amt of spiders, ants, worms and other bugs I squished as a child. Heck, you should see what happens to the scorpions that enter my house now.

Okay, guess I'm too sensitive! I have killed bugs too, but only in my house. Not just for fun in their natural habitat. Then again, I was a vegetarian for many years...

 

[jbmom]

I think it's pretty normal behavior. I too would explain why it was inappropriate but would not be too concerned unless there were other signs of aggression.

 

[SDFgirl]

I'm old school and will most likely be royally flamed, but lets see if if I have this right. Third grade... Boy.... Bugs.... Squished. I know it's just me, but I would not get too worked up about it.

No flames from me, that's why I asked. I guess the part the bothered me was that he was so happy about it, and bragging. It seemed meaner than other little boys I deal with.

 

[Sherri]

I teach 3rd grade. Today I took my kids out for recess, and there were a bunch of caterpillars outside. The kids were having fun letting the caterpillars crawl on their hands and arms, etc.

As we are lining up to go in, I tell all the kids to put their little friends back in the grass. One of my students rushed up to one of the newly-freed caterpillars and squished it viciously with his foot. Then, he immediately starts to brag about it - "I killed it! I squished the caterpillar, ha ha!"

I felt my blood start to boil! I asked him why he did that and he said that he "just felt like it." We have lots of insects and animals in our room for science instruction and we've always talked about respect for living things, etc. He showed no remorse or understanding as to why it upset me and the other kids.

This really worried me. However, since I don't have kids of my own, I'm wondering - is this normal boyish behavior (meaning I'm too sensitive) or is it kinda worrisome? The other kids were very mad and angry. One kid even said it was "disturbing."

I would keep the classroom pets from him, obviously he is lacking good judgment and feelings towards animals.

 

[RitaZ.]

Well, I think it is sadly, not just boys, but girls as well..

I remember doing stuff like that when I was a child.

 

[RadioNate]

No flames from me, that's why I asked. I guess the part the bothered me was that he was so happy about it, and bragging. It seemed meaner than other little boys I deal with.

Could that have been a defense 'act.' That was my 1st thought. He was trying to be cool - maybe seeing an older sibling do something similar. When he got a bad reaction from you and the class he put up his defenses and acted like it was no big deal and that you all were 'weird' for being upset???

The kid may be a little mean but unless there are other signs of issues I wouldn't worry. For all intents and purposes he squished a bug, which is fairly common and socially accepted. Purposely drowning a kitten would definitely make me think twice but not this.

 

[Teacher03]

I would say it's normal....I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[Aidensmom]

Well, its pretty normal for us even as adults to step on bugs and squish them, he may not really see a catepillar as any different. Heck, I don't think anything of catching a mouse in a trap, and its something some people have had as pets, including myself.

I remember when we were 8 or 9, some of the kids would burn insects and catepillars with magnifying glasses in the sun, I don't think most people see these kind of creatures on the same level as some higher life forms.

 

[werty]

As we are lining up to go in, I tell all the kids to put their little friends back in the grass. One of my students rushed up to one of the newly-freed caterpillars and squished it viciously with his foot. Then, he immediately starts to brag about it - "I killed it! I squished the caterpillar, ha ha!"

I don't know if it's normal but my second grade daughter described this exact scenario about 3 weeks ago. I thought you must have been her teacher at first. Her class all found caterpillars then placed them all in a row when it was time to go in, then the boy stomped on them all. The boy was disciplined, but I don't recall how.

 

[LukenDC]

I suspect that it is normal boy behavior. I remember that during a fifth grade field trip to a rural field, one of the boys in my class was caught poking a lizard with a stick. The teacher made him write an essay about why torturing animals is cruel and he had to read it to the class.

 

[Cool-Beans]

This is absolutely normal boy behavior. Mine used to step on ants at every opportunity. I never actually saw them kill a wolley bear, but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that they did. They were in heaven after it rained and they could squish the worms and see their guts.

If every boy who killed bugs ended up a serial killer, there'd be nobody left in the country.

I don't know what normal girl behavior is. I know I used to bring worms into the house and give them "baths" in a dixie cup of water. They were so dirty! They needed baths! Mom thought it was gross to bring in worms but I didn't care. I was lending a hand to the poor, cleanliness-challenged worms. They needed me.

 

[LSchrow]

Could that have been a defense 'act.' That was my 1st thought. He was trying to be cool - maybe seeing an older sibling do something similar. When he got a bad reaction from you and the class he put up his defenses and acted like it was no big deal and that you all were 'weird' for being upset???

i thought exactly the same thing.

 

[poohandwendy]

Normal behavior. I don't see that as so much wanting to torture or harm an animal as much as attention seeking. He wanted a reaction from the other kids. (if I were to over analyze it even further, LOL, I would say he wanted to make the other kids upset- they were having fun and he wanted to disrupt it- possible jealousy issues with his peers)

He may have done the same thing with inanimate object in the same circumstances. I have seen kids do something destructive when the entire group is enjoying something and they can't stand it- so they do something to ruin the fun- break the toy or whatever. It's attention seeking. May of may not be a phase, who knows?

Now, if he was the type who had a fascination with inflicting pain on animals, even if no one was around, that would be a red flag to me.

But, what you describe is just a boy looking for all eyes on him, IMHO.

I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[daisyduck123]

1st grade teacher here , with a 3rd grade DS of my own:

most boys in that situation would NOT have squished the bug (esp. considering your class has animals & you've talked respect, etc.) but I don't think it's anything to send up any "red flags" about....some boys are just like that. (If, in the future, he exhibits even worse behavior, like talking about morbid things, then I might be concerned).

 

[LoraJ]

When I was young, my brother and I used to have salamander races. We'd dig them out from under rocks and race them. One of the boys in the neighborhood saw us doing this and came over and stomped over all of them killing them. I was horrified. I'm pretty sire the kid is in jail now. During his teen years, he used to walk around with a can of gasloine sniffing it.

I think it is normal to stomp on and kill bugs, but to do it after everyone was appreciating them and with such pride, seems a little off to me.