blind_otter Posted September 27, 2006 Posted September 27, 2006 I babysit in the afternoons. One child I regularly babysit (there are two that I see on a regular basis) is a young boy who draws really disturbing pictures. Mostly they are chaotic, war scenes. There is often fire as well. He draws people shooting each other, or stabbing each other, saying things like "DIE!" and "Be dead"....I have one in front of me right now that he was working on after school when I picked him up for his parents. Even looking at the picture right now gives me the creeps. What is up? Should I talk to his folks about this? Be forewarned that I doubt they would even think it's an issue. The two of them are pretty messed up and self centered.
bluechocolate Posted September 27, 2006 Posted September 27, 2006 I'd say it is definitely an issue. It could be something as simple as they allow him to watch whatever on telly, he must be getting those images from somewhere. If you think bringing it to the attention of his parents is fruitless, I think you should anyway. Just very casual like, "Have you seen these pictures X draws?", and leave them there in the open. Have you asked the kid why he draws this pictures & where he's getting his ideas from? Ask him to draw a happy picture & see what he comes up with.
hotgurl Posted September 27, 2006 Posted September 27, 2006 The first thing that poped into my head when i read your post was: I bet the parents let him watch movies that are too old for him. Like Pearl Harbor or Troy or any of thoose kinds of movies and he is just drawing that. I would bring it up casaully to the parents. And go from there.
bluetuesday Posted September 27, 2006 Posted September 27, 2006 i suppose it depends how young this boy is but in my experience (which is limited) small children draw unhappy pictures infrequently and when they do, it's a sign they are disturbed by something and want to tell you about it. my two year old nephew saw some images of the beslan school massacre (kids with blood on them basically) and it was all he would talk about. he kept making up stories where he'd got blood on him or where he'd seen people with blood on them. when he understood that blood came from cuts but that it could be cleaned away and your body would make new blood to replace it, he was okay and stopped mentioning it. so if he has seen something he doesn't understand (like a violent film), talking to him about the fact it's fake will help.
EnigmaXOXO Posted September 27, 2006 Posted September 27, 2006 I think I agree with the others, Otter. Particularly with the violent images of Iraq being shown on television on a daily basis. Perhaps his young mind is simply interpreting what he is seeing and hearing. Or even imitating what other kids his age are talking about in school. I'd encourage conversation by asking him in a benign and curious sort of way what his pictures were of. Maybe ask him what his feelings were and if there are any questions he might have. Now if he draws a picture of a noose around the babysitter's neck … I'd check the back of his head for the mark of the beast, then get the heck out of there! :laugh:
Guest Posted September 27, 2006 Posted September 27, 2006 He is being allowed excessive exposure to violent movies, TV shows, and/or video games. He's probably obsessed with soldier type combat. I was also as a kid, although I don't recall drawing ONLY war scenes.
tanbark813 Posted September 27, 2006 Posted September 27, 2006 Like bluetuesday said, I think it depends how young he is. If he's 5 it might be a problem. If he's 12 then it's probably nothing. I've been drawing all my life and most of my drawings are pretty disturbing and I turned out (relatively) okay.
alphamale Posted September 27, 2006 Posted September 27, 2006 tortured souls make the best artists...
penkitten Posted September 28, 2006 Posted September 28, 2006 Sounds like a lot of video games to me. to me too .
magichands Posted September 28, 2006 Posted September 28, 2006 Now if he draws a picture of a noose around the babysitter's neck … I'd check the back of his head for the mark of the beast, then get the heck out of there! I can't believe you think that is funny! Maybe he needs more appropriate reading material? http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail84.html Yeah, I know I'm wasting everyone's time. But this thread is too mature for my liking. How can innocence be corrupted so quickly??!!
Author blind_otter Posted September 28, 2006 Author Posted September 28, 2006 Well he's 9 almost 10. I'll ask him today when I pick him up from school to draw a happy picture. He'll probably say "yeah whatever" that's his favorite phrase. Man I cannot remember acting like a pre-teen when I was that age. I bet it is videogames. He lugs his playstation around with him everywhere, and plugs in to whatever TV is available and sits there for hours at at time. He also recently got another game system I have no idea, but he plays some game called "halo 2" on it. Actually I think he also watches movies that are too old for him. Every time I see him he re-enacts movies. He also does this with the other little girl I babysit. These kids act SO OLD for their age.
a4a Posted September 28, 2006 Posted September 28, 2006 Hell he is ten I don't think this is so weird. I mean kids play cowboys and shoot at each other, paintball.... I once drew a picture of a house on fire when I was a kid.... the stupid teacher called the school shrink on me :lmao: One of the houses in our neighborhood burned down, I just thought it was cool how a house could be there one day and gone the next. Really amazing to a kid, and I have yet to torch a home or really pursue a hobby as an arsonist. I also drew pictures of Godzilla vaporizing little trucks and buildings.... yeah so the F what. Does that mean I was a nutty kid?
EnigmaXOXO Posted September 28, 2006 Posted September 28, 2006 Does that mean I was a nutty kid? Don't know. We'd have to ask your parents. But one things for sure … you grew up into one helluva nutty adult. … And that's why we LIKE you!!
reneet Posted September 28, 2006 Posted September 28, 2006 Hell he is ten I don't think this is so weird. I mean kids play cowboys and shoot at each other, paintball.... I once drew a picture of a house on fire when I was a kid.... the stupid teacher called the school shrink on me :lmao: One of the houses in our neighborhood burned down, I just thought it was cool how a house could be there one day and gone the next. Really amazing to a kid, and I have yet to torch a home or really pursue a hobby as an arsonist. I also drew pictures of Godzilla vaporizing little trucks and buildings.... yeah so the F what. Does that mean I was a nutty kid? My 12 year old son (11 when this happened) was in 5 grade (last year) & was suspended for a drawing of a truck with fire coming out of the tail pipe. I don't think that was a big deal. The school explained it's 0 tolerance for terrorism. WHAT?
a4a Posted September 28, 2006 Posted September 28, 2006 My 12 year old son (11 when this happened) was in 5 grade (last year) & was suspended for a drawing of a truck with fire coming out of the tail pipe. I don't think that was a big deal. The school explained it's 0 tolerance for terrorism. WHAT? OMG that is pure retardation!!! Tell him not to draw a volcano they may accuse him of planning to build a lava explosion and flow terrorism machine. People need to get a friggin' life. Now if he is torturing the neighbors pets and lighting himself on fire worry..... otherwise kids are friggin kids with vivid imaginations.
reneet Posted September 28, 2006 Posted September 28, 2006 OMG that is pure retardation!!! Tell him not to draw a volcano they may accuse him of planning to build a lava explosion and flow terrorism machine. People need to get a friggin' life. Now if he is torturing the neighbors pets and lighting himself on fire worry..... otherwise kids are friggin kids with vivid imaginations. a4a I agree. He also said that someone made a nasty remark about a sweater he was wearing. He said he was so mad he could kill the other student. He said it to the other student & was suspended again for terroristic threats. WTF He just started 6th grade & so far so good.
hotgurl Posted September 28, 2006 Posted September 28, 2006 a4a I agree. He also said that someone made a nasty remark about a sweater he was wearing. He said he was so mad he could kill the other student. He said it to the other student & was suspended again for terroristic threats. WTF He just started 6th grade & so far so good. My daughter say stuff like this and we talked about the apporpriate way to express anger. She hasn't done it at school. But she would get suspended that have a no bullying policy and that would eb considered bullying. It's all hormones withher and they have a class abotu that in school. She hates it but it could help. about drawings. I do bet it is coming from the games & movies. Kids' are like little sponges.
norajane Posted September 28, 2006 Posted September 28, 2006 Well he's 9 almost 10. I'll ask him today when I pick him up from school to draw a happy picture. He'll probably say "yeah whatever" that's his favorite phrase. Man I cannot remember acting like a pre-teen when I was that age. I bet it is videogames. He lugs his playstation around with him everywhere, and plugs in to whatever TV is available and sits there for hours at at time. He also recently got another game system I have no idea, but he plays some game called "halo 2" on it. There you go. Halo 2 is an X Box system game. Have you seen the cover of Halo 2? Guy in wierd hazmat/flame retardent space suit holding two machine guns standing in front of apocalypse style flames with ruin all around him. Google Halo 2, or ask him to teach you to play it, or just watch him play - you'll see all those images he's drawing and more. Those games also come complete with phrases - DIE and BE DEAD and SUCKER!
alphamale Posted September 29, 2006 Posted September 29, 2006 He lugs his playstation around with him everywhere, and plugs in to whatever TV is available and sits there for hours at at time. next time the little squirt comes over you should hide your regular TV and dust of the old 13" Black & White that'll teach the little snot.
Art_Critic Posted September 29, 2006 Posted September 29, 2006 next time the little squirt comes over you should hide your regular TV and dust of the old 13" Black & White The one with the PONG game burnt into it
alphamale Posted September 29, 2006 Posted September 29, 2006 The one with the PONG game burnt into it yea...thats the one
penkitten Posted September 29, 2006 Posted September 29, 2006 yea...thats the one dude that tv is in my mothers shed...
Ariadne Posted September 29, 2006 Posted September 29, 2006 Hi, What is up? Should I talk to his folks about this? What's up is the parents suck. The kid is unhappy. Take him to feed the ducks, pet dogs, see the flowers, read him stories. Ariadne
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