13 Random Rules Adults Used to Make Up for No Reason
Growing up meant following a bunch of strange rules that didn’t always make sense, but questioning them wasn’t really an option. Adults had a way of making up rules that felt official, even when they had no real purpose. Looking back, many of those “because I said so” moments now seem more funny than logical.
- Tricia Quitales
- 4 min read
Every generation of kids has faced rules that seemed completely random, passed down with no clear reason behind them. Adults often enforced these rules with confidence, even if they were based more on tradition than truth. From dining table dos and don’ts to odd bedtime expectations, these made-up rules were part of everyday life. Here are 13 strange rules adults used to make up, even though nobody really knew why.
1. No Swimming After Eating for 30 Minutes
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The kids were told to wait half an hour before jumping back into the pool. Supposedly, it would prevent stomach cramps or even drowning. Science says that rule had no real basis, but it sure ruined pool parties.
2. Don’t Sit Too Close to the TV
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Parents swore it would ruin your eyesight forever if you sat too close to the screen. In reality, it just made them nervous or annoyed. Turns out, the TV distance didn’t matter much at all.
3. Turn the Light Off or You’ll Attract Bugs
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Leaving a light on at night was blamed for every moth or mosquito in the house. Adults made it sound like insects had radar for bedroom lamps. The truth is, bugs go where they want, light or not.
4. You Can’t Go Outside If Your Hair’s Wet
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A wet head was apparently a straight path to getting sick. The weather didn’t even have to be cold for this rule to show up. Getting a cold from wet hair isn’t really how colds work, but try telling that to Grandma.
5. No Shoes on the Furniture
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Even spotless shoes were forbidden from touching the couch. Adults acted like furniture would crumble under the weight of a sneaker. It was more about manners, but the rule came off like a law.
6. You Can’t Eat Dessert Unless You Finish Dinner
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Whether you were full or not, dessert was a reward you had to earn. It didn’t matter if you hated peas or weren’t even hungry. The clean plate club had strong opinions on dessert rights.
7. You’ll Go Cross-Eyed If You Keep Doing That
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Making funny faces or crossing your eyes was strictly policed. Adults warned that your face might stay like that forever. Spoiler: it never did, but the fear was real.
8. No Singing at the Table
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Singing during meals was somehow seen as the ultimate offense. It was said to be rude, distracting, or just “not what we do.” Nobody ever explained why the dining room required silence.
9. Don’t Open the Fridge Just to Look
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Adults acted like each peek into the fridge cost a fortune. You had to know exactly what you wanted before opening that door; it almost seemed like browsing was a fridge felony.
10. You Can’t Have Cereal for Dinner
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Cereal at night was treated like a sign of poor choices or total chaos. Adults believed dinner had to be hot and homemade. However, cereal is fast, easy, and honestly pretty great at any hour.
11. You Can’t Watch Cartoons Before Homework
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TV after school felt like a crime if you hadn’t opened your backpack yet. Adults insisted you had to earn your fun with math problems first. Somehow, a 22-minute cartoon became a huge debate.
12. Keep Quiet During Thunderstorms
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Thunderstorms weren’t just loud, they were treated like something sacred. Adults would turn off the TV, hush the room, and stare out the window. Talking during lightning felt like breaking some ancient rule.
13. You Can’t Wear White After Labor Day
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Fashion rules were taken seriously, even for kids. Wearing white in the fall was treated like a style emergency. Most children had no idea what Labor Day even was, let alone why it affected clothes.