Four year old child tried to hang himself!
By rosedust82
@rosedust82 (2066)
Philippines
August 29, 2008 9:11am CST
Yes... You read it right. The son of my sister's friend tried to hang himself. You might be wondering what would move a child this young to actually do it. When I was told the reason, I was alarmed. Apparently, the child was watching one of his favorite cartoons-Tom and Jerry... and after watching a scene that had one of the characters (I failed to get which one) being hanged, the child decided to imitate one of his favorite characters. It's a good thing the maid saw what the child was attempting to do and stopped him just in time. Imagine the child was even smiling and telling the maid "Look at what I'm going to do!". Looks like the child did not even realize the extent of his "playing". It's a good thing the maid came in on time or it would have ended badly.
Makes me really worried about what kids are watching nowadays... I never thought a child would actually do something like that especially over a cartoon that I've always thought of as kid-friendly. I can just imagine how cartoons nowadays are made. There definitely is a lot more violence, anger and fighting in them....
Do you ever take notice of what kids are watching nowadays? Do you tell them not to imitate what the characters are doing? My sister doesn't let her son watch Spongebob because it (according to her) shows too much anger and bad habits that she doesn't want her son to copy. What are your thoughts on this? Should we start prohibiting cartoons to really young children?
7 people like this
27 responses
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
30 Aug 08
You should have seen the cartoons we watched when we were kids. It is a good thing that not many had television when we were young. Parents were forever telling kids when we went to the movies, not to do that. And then parents were watching the cartoons and telling the kids it was not real, it was a cartoon. We never worried about too much anger, we knew the bad guys wore black hats and the good guys wore white.
Still the same, there was always someone in the background. No one would leave their child to watch Tv all by himself. The parents made sure of that.
2 people like this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
Haha... The cartoons that I watched were similar to that in my days as well. Plus I distinctly remember watching Sesame Street more often than not. I usually had my nose under a book so didn't really had time to watch cartoons like normal kids.
@MissGia (955)
• United States
29 Aug 08
WOW!! I never would have thought a child would attempt such a thing just by watching Tom and Jerry. That is very scary to hear. I think all parents should urge to their children to NEVER imitate things that they see on T.V.
I'm very glad to hear that the maid caught the child before he got too far.
2 people like this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
It really is scary... I constantly tell my nephews now not to imitate what they're watching... I don't want them to get to this point. I'd probably be out of my mind if something would happen to any child regardless if they're mine or not.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
29 Aug 08
Makes me more worried about what the heck parents are teaching kids these days! Its not the cartoons' fault...if the parents don't teach them the most basic of dangers, then how do they expect the children to KNOW about them?
I grew up with all the old cartoons, tom and jerry, bugs bunny...but my Mom taught me "stoves are hot", "electricity sockets fry", "heights can hurt if you climb too high", "knives are sharp", and "hanging from your neck is bad".
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Yes, I agree. I watched all those cartoons, too...but somehow I learned not to jump down a hole or off a cliff, hit someone with a huge mallet, etc. I do have to say I am a little surprised there was a hanging in a Tom & Jerry cartoon, but then parents should also be aware what their kids are watching, so they can explain things to them. Or get some Sesame Street DVDs.
1 person likes this
@gem4678 (220)
• United States
30 Aug 08
Thank you very much I was thinking the same thing, this is pathetic and a classic case of parents not paying attention enough. I'm not saying that we aren't all guilty of that a little, but to the point that your child has access to what he would need in order to try this and thought it was a good idea is awful. Who hasn't watched Tom and Jerry thats one of the few cartoons that was on in my house a lot growing up as it was one of the few my dad actually enjoyed to. I don't understand these things, my parents never had to tell me when I was watching cartoons not to do these things, I already knew based on the common knowledge my parents had already taught me on safety from an extremely young age. WOW and we wonder why this type of thing is becoming the next generations excuse/ defense when they get into trouble.
1 person likes this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
Same thing that I was thinking... I was shocked to even hear about it. I was thinking what was the child feeling after the incident. It's a good thing my parents taught me the same things...
@cncoke (439)
• China
30 Aug 08
I was truely alarmed by the reading.That was terrible!.A child was four years old yet he wanted to hang himself by the scene of watching the cartoons.That was imitating.But she/he didn't know the consequence.So we must often make our children learn that the scene on the movie,cartoons,VCD,DVD...is not imitateable.They could just learn something good,full of education.
2 people like this
@EnslinPorter (1718)
• Philippines
29 Aug 08
Oh my, Tom & Jerry had that? I love that cartoon when I was a child. The most common things I saw there were just lots of fighting. But hanging? Hanna Barbera took a wrong turn with that, tsk...tsk...tsk...
I don't know what else to do if cartoons themselves have turned anti-kid-friendly. Maybe the really young children can be allowed to watch the educational type of children's shows first like Dora, Sesame street, and the like. If a child turns 7, maybe he/she is "old enough" to watch the other cartoons. But still, maybe parental guidance is needed whatever the child is watching.
1 person likes this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
That was my reaction as well. I used to watch that when I was a kid. Although looking back, I'd have to say that the show that I watched the most was Sesame Street. Mr. Rogers as well. 
Sigh. Those were the days. At least they were educational and less, well, violent.
Sigh. Those were the days. At least they were educational and less, well, violent.@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
30 Aug 08
This is an excellent point. I don't remember watching anything other than PBS kids shows (Sesame Street, Romper Room, Mr. Rogers, etc.) and also the Magic Garden on a local channel, until I was probably 6 or so. Then I was allowed to watch cartoons, but with only one TV, my mom ALWAYS knew what we were watching. Even if she was in the kitchen or something, she could hear what was going on. I think that is not the case anymore, and that is part of the problem. I speak generally as I do not know the situation with this family. But the age of 4 is too young to watch TV unsupervised.
1 person likes this
@pedestrain (137)
• Singapore
29 Aug 08
woot. thats sad yet unbelivable.
i thought child below 5 would not really tbe mature enough to understand emotions.
their EQ couldnt be high enough. it is my first time i heard this.
@pedestrain (137)
• Singapore
6 Sep 08
That was quite profound. I guessed i understand. I think the child was performing a common "copycat" act.
@cyberfluf (4996)
• Netherlands
29 Aug 08
I don't think cartoons have to be harmfull when watched with a parent or guardian. If you are right beside the child you can explain that what the character is doing can really hurt you and you should never try it yourself, that it hurts a lot or what more that will be understandable for a 4-year-old.
Parents should be very aware of what children are watching and never let them watch certain shows alone, ever. Some or better not to be watched at all.
@cyberfluf (4996)
• Netherlands
5 Sep 08
Very much agreed, or make sure you have proper care while you are not around; that would be the least!
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
True... If there is parental guidance while a child is watching, I don't think that kids will stray. Unfortunately, both parents are working so there really wasn't much guidance in the first place.
1 person likes this
@oreed8 (77)
• United States
29 Aug 08
omg this story could be in da news...I never hear abou a 4 year old. trying to hang himself..this story gaves me da chills because my nephew is 5 years old and loves spiderman and does everything like spiderman this story well make me pay more attention
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
You should pay more attention to your nephew's wants... You know how kids can be at times especially if the character is someone that they really love or admire. I hope he doesn't try sticking to a wall or something. 
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
29 Aug 08
hi rosedust I am way past the time when my kids were little but I basically taught them about lifes dangers such as dont touch a lit burner, dont run out in front of cars, dont jump off steep things, just the basic things all parents should teach their kids and yes they watched cartoons and they did not try to kill themselves. parents should parent.
1 person likes this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
Hi Hatley,
I know... I've heard so much about you. Parents should be parents. Unfortunately, with the times that we have now, most parents are off making a living, thus they're not able to really sit down and teach the kids what they need to know.
Parents should be parents. Unfortunately, with the times that we have now, most parents are off making a living, thus they're not able to really sit down and teach the kids what they need to know.
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
29 Aug 08
There is a sadness here that is undeniable.
How a child could think of something like this shows a lack of parental care that is astounding.
Parental care takes children away from this type of activity.
The lack of it can be disastrous.
1 person likes this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
True. It made me sad to hear this and I'm hoping that when I do have a child, I will be able to be there most of the time to guide him/her.
@syankee525 (6261)
• United States
29 Aug 08
yeah that is sad.. i explain to my kids when they were younger whats real and what's not real. things they see on tv are make belive.
1 person likes this
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
That's something that should be checked with kids. Thanks for sharing!
@darlene06 (284)
• Philippines
29 Aug 08
yeah, cartoons nowadays are very violent.. parents and guardians must always look after their kids while watching television because of this. I have a nephew and a niece and everyone in the family makes sure that what they are watching doesn't introduce violence.. we should always be cautious in what children are watching because they are more active these days and they easily absorb what they are watching or even just hearing.. It's good if they get the right values but it comes to the worst situation if they don't get the right ones.
@rosedust82 (2066)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
I agree with you on this completely. I just hope that kids will be able to get the right values regardless of what the cartoon is... or else, things like this can happen.
@trishasantos (1297)
• Philippines
30 Aug 08
I am not sure bout this but does Tom and Jerry have "Parental Guidance" written below or above it when it is shown? If there is none, I think parents should be present when their kids are watching. And explain to them that they cant do whatever they see on tv. Parents supervision is a MUST.
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
30 Aug 08
oh my God! that is what bad media can do to the kids. i hope people will be more sensitive next time as to check all the details before they show something like that. can you go to your tv regulatory board so you can have them checked that cartoon that was shown.
1 person likes this
@fedge098 (1330)
• Philippines
30 Aug 08
There is still nothing with wrong with cartoons. It's just they should be watched with parents or guardians around. That's why there are the words "Parental Guidance" in the screen of the television. To ensure that everything that's being watched by the kids are explained to them by the older ones. These two words are without meaning if the parents or guardians to not exhibit what these are suppose to mean.
1 person likes this
@laila675 (528)
• United Arab Emirates
30 Aug 08
parental guidance is always a must, as we never know what they understand about everything. even if they are only ages 2+ or even less. if it's possible not to let the children watch tv's alone it's the best thing i guess. i myself is worried too as i have my first daughter and this days childrens minds matures so fast.
1 person likes this
@shreya2436 (145)
• India
30 Aug 08
Dear rosedust, It is strange to learn that how a four year old can do so. It is really unbelievable. I am shocked to know the impact of watching just cartoons. If this is the response of such a little boy to the cartoons then what will happen when they will see some other channels later on.We shouls think seriously about this any try to advise young children not to immitate TV characters
