Thursday, December 15, 2011
Television Hey parents: Don't prank your kids Jimmy Kimmel-style
Posted by Curt Holman @Curt_Holman on Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 3:00 PM
I'll admit it: I laughed when I watched "Hey Jimmy Kimmel, I Gave My Kids a Terrible Present," the "Jimmy Kimmel Live" highlight reel of the talk show host's latest parental prank. Kimmel suggested that Moms and Dads give their children a chance to open an early Christmas present, and then videotape their reactions to gifts ranging from "inappropriate" to "garbage," and posts the clips on Youtube. Kids opening gift bags to reveal old hammers or half-eaten sandwiches? It's a funny concept. Nor was I above finding amusement at Kimmel's previous gag for parents, "I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy," which elicited even more tears of youthful despair.
At the risk of sounding like the guy who can't take a joke, I feel that someone should send a message to my fellow parents: DO NOT DO THIS TO YOUR CHILDREN. WHAT ARE YOU, CRAZY?
You'd think this would go without saying, but you shouldn't be a jerk to your kid unless you cannot avoid it. Parents have to play the bad guy all the time, whether it's enforcing a bed-time, correcting bad behavior or denying them something they want. Just being a parent means that an innocuous activity, like deciding between one or two scoops of ice cream, can turn into an epic battle of wills.
So why would you possibly want to play a cruel joke on a preschooler who lacks a sense of irony or proportion? Arguably Kimmel encourages victimless jokes — the kids ultimately get all all their Halloween candy and Christmas gifts in the end — but what kind of example does this set? That you can't trust Mom and Dad? That it's okay to toy with someone's feelings in the name of a prank — or to be on television? Don't mess with your sons or daughter's emotions, even if you're trying to teach them a lesson about greed or materialism.
Plus, most kids have little sense of proportion. Even if your kid dries the tears and finds the humor in the situation, they may think it's okay to prank you back, but with more unpleasant consequences. Imagine a follow-up, kid-driven prank along the lines of, "Hey Jimmy Kimmel, I Flushed My Parent's Car Keys Down the Toilet."
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