My Son Killed a Baby Bird What Should I Do?

It is perfectly normal for young children to experiment with other living things, in this case it happened to be a baby bird. I believe you did the right thing by explaining that what he did was wrong. I would say that this is just a stage and he will grow out of it. :)

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It is perfectly normal for young children to experiment with other living things, in this case it happened to be a baby bird. I believe you did the right thing by explaining that what he did was wrong. I would say that this is just a stage and he will grow out of it. :)

I understand what you are concerned about, but those concerns are more appropriate for older kids. Your son doesn't understand what he did or what happened. When he asks about the bird, just say the bird went bye bye. There's no need to say more.

Of course you want to prevent this from happening again. The best thing you can do is remind him to be gentle. You don't need to do anything right now. But if he's ever at a friend's house or has a chance to hold a puppy or a kitten, just be by his side and say, "Be gentle. Gentle," and demonstrate. He'll catch on, but it's something that needs to be shown and supervised.

S., when I was about seven or so, we had a couple hamsters. One day, I was outside with my hamster, standing up and holding it, when it peed on me. Upset, I dropped little Clyde onto the ground. Apparently, he broke his leg and died shortly after.

I always felt bad about it, and my mom made it clear that, while it was an accident, we have to treat smaller animals with greater care than bigger ones. I don't know much you can do with your son, being that he's at a much younger cognitive age. If he asks, you can reply that "the bird is dead, honey" and move the conversation along. He's not really of an age that he can understand what exactly happened and feel a sense of remorse, you know? Death is still pretty unreal to kids at that age-- I mean, he's not even three. If it were me, I'd try to move on from the death and exercise good caution in the future. There's not much else you can do at this point.

"Hands are for helping, not hurting."

Let this be your mantra, over and over with him. Every single time he hits or is too rough with anything or anybody.

Daycare taught me this. They said it to all their children. Rome isn't built in a day with kids. They have to develop into learning to be gentle. And it's up to you to teach him. If he is not gentle, you remove him from who or what he isn't being gentle with and put him by himself as a time out.

I wouldn't have let him bury the bird, like Chacha said... And I would not just gloss over by saying "the bird went bye-bye". I would say firmly that we do not hurt animals. It's like making the point that he can't run across the street or touch a stove.

You really do need to make sure that your child doesn't hurt animals. I don't mean to imply that you have a bad child. I am telling you this because bad people sometimes start out hurting animals when they are young. Perhaps they don't have parents who care, or perhaps the parents just hide their heads in the sand where their kids are concerned. Don't be one of those parents. If you see behavior that concerns you, talk to the pediatrician and ask for help.

Sorry, but I disagree with the poster who said to have him take karate...

You prefer responses that focus on your son and what he needs. Okay - he did NOT need to be forced to help you bury the bird. He is too young to understand the finer points of life/death. It was action/reaction - the bird scared him and he lashed out. Just keep a closer eye on your son with small animals or human babies etc, until he is a bit older.

I think its stupid that you had him help you bury the bird. Hes 2, hes not going to understand what happened. Now he has even more questions. You should have had a vet or wildlife expert take the bird. Who knows what kinds of diseases that thing had.

Btw I find it really disturbing that he took a rock and killed the bird. Get your kid enrolled in karate or something.

He's just little so he doesn't understand what happened. He doesn't know that hitting something to get it off of him caused the bird to die. I wouldn't harp on it or take it to mean he's going to grown up to be a serial killer. It was something that happened and you move on.

In the future when he's around small creatures take great care to show him how he can handle the creature and do it under adult supervision only. He'll learn kindness and being gentle from watching you.

when a birds baby is not going to make it to adult hood the parents decide on letting that baby go. (survival of the fittest) since the momma bird tossed the baby out 2x you should of let nature take its course. its hard to see an innocent baby bird die but its natural and normal.

as for your son let it go. tell him baby bird is gone and move on. don't dwell on it don't try explaining things in length.
when he asks tell him its gone and change the subject. its likely he will not remember this when he gets older.

welcome to mamapedia.

It's great that you want to help - but sometimes? you need to let nature take its course. The mama bird knew something wasn't right with her baby - she did what nature does - takes care of business.

Your son? Sorry - he needs to know that his hands are NOT for hitting. Has he been violent with any other animals? If so - I'd find an early prevention counselor to help him figure out what he's doing isn't right.

You need to tell and SHOW HIM HOW to handle and NEVER allow him alone with animals. Sorry. Sucks - but true.

Next time nature throws something like this at you? Let nature be.