Things We Were Scared of as Kids That Make No Sense
Childhood is filled with endless wonder, but also plenty of irrational fears. It’s amazing how a simple myth or strange belief could shape our sense of danger. We all have those memories of worrying about things that, as adults, we can only laugh at. So let’s take a fun stroll down memory lane and revisit 15 fears we had as kids that, in hindsight, make no sense at all.
The Bermuda Triangle Will Definitely Affect Your Life
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As a kid, the Bermuda Triangle was a big deal. Who didn’t think it was going to suck up a plane or boat from our lives at any given moment? It felt like every time you heard about it on the news, the next trip you took would be the one to get sucked into that mysterious void. Yet, here we are, still going on vacations with no incident.
The Mattress Tag Is A Capital Offense
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You remember that little warning on the mattress tag: “Do not remove under penalty of law.” As a child, that sentence held so much weight. You probably envisioned a SWAT team busting through your door if you dared snip it off. Today, we all know that the tag is there for manufacturing purposes and that no one is coming after you for tossing it.
A Plant Will Grow Inside You If You Swallow a Seed
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The fear of swallowing a watermelon seed was real. The thought of a little plant sprouting inside your stomach—slowly growing, taking over your insides—sounded terrifying. Thankfully, our bodies have no interest in turning into a garden, and swallowed seeds just pass right through, as they always have.
You’ll Be Stuck with a Ridiculous Face Forever
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How many times were you warned that pulling a funny face would make it “stay that way”? It was an early lesson in the world of consequences. In reality, making goofy faces has no permanent effect. Your eye muscles are quite flexible, so there’s no risk of permanently staring into oblivion. And yet, many kids spent hours trying to hold their eyes still, just in case they’d be cursed with an awkward expression.
Quicksand Will Be a Constant Problem
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Movies and TV shows in the ’80s and ’90s often featured quicksand. The idea that it could show up unexpectedly and swallow you whole was a real concern. As kids, it felt like it was a problem you’d encounter almost daily. As adults, we realize that quicksand is much less common than Hollywood led us to believe.
Silica Gel Will Poison You
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Those little silica gel packets found in food packages and new shoes? As a kid, they looked incredibly dangerous. The idea that eating one of those tiny beads could lead to instant death felt so believable. In reality, while you shouldn’t eat them, they aren’t immediately toxic—just a choking hazard.
You’ll Get Hit by a Meteor
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Meteor showers were enough to make any child feel like they were living in the path of impending doom. After all, meteors could fall anywhere at any time, right? Yet, the chances of being hit by one are so minuscule that it’s almost laughable now. Even after all these years, meteor anxiety still lingers in the back of some minds.
You Can’t Turn on the Car Light While Driving
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It’s hard to believe, but many of us were taught that flipping on the interior car light while driving would instantly cause the vehicle to crash. This myth seemed like a universal law of physics, and for some, it was an unspoken rule they never dared break. In reality, turning on the interior light has no effect on driving safety.
Booby Traps Are Everywhere
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We’ve all seen the movies where characters narrowly avoid hidden booby traps. As kids, we were sure that the world around us was filled with hidden dangers, from tripwires to pits with spikes. Most of us lived in suburban neighborhoods where booby traps were nonexistent. Still, many of us spent way too much time worrying about these “imminent” threats.
A Shark Lurks in the Deep End
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As if swimming wasn’t stressful enough, many of us were terrified of sharks lurking in the deep end of the pool. Even in chlorinated, shallow waters, the thought of a great white waiting below the surface made many of us hesitate. It didn’t matter that the likelihood of an ocean predator in a backyard pool was zero—our minds just ran wild with these irrational fears.
Someone’s Hiding Behind the Shower Curtain
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No matter how safe the house was, the bathroom always seemed like a vulnerable place. As kids, we were convinced that a bad guy or monster was waiting behind the shower curtain. Opening that curtain felt like an act of bravery—every single time.
Swallowing Gum Will Make It Stay in Your Stomach Forever
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We’ve all heard it: swallowing gum will make it stick around in your stomach for seven years. It felt like your insides would turn into a chewing gum museum. Of course, this is just a myth. Your body digests gum just like it does with any other non-digestible item, and it passes through your system in a few days.
The Moon Is Following You
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Have you ever had that weird feeling that the moon was following you while driving? As a kid, it was nearly impossible to shake the notion that the moon was somehow trailing your every move. Even as adults, we can’t completely escape that feeling.
Wet Hair Will Give You a Cold
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Grandma’s advice was clear: don’t go to bed with wet hair, or you’ll wake up with a stiff neck or a cold. This myth has been passed down for generations, yet there’s no scientific evidence to support it. Getting caught in the rain might make you feel a little chilly, but it’s germs that cause colds—not damp hair.