17 Childhood Rumors You Thought Were True (and Some Still Might Be)

When we were young, we used to be warned by weird and inexplicable rumors that seemed to account for our world in otherworldly terms. From the urban legend that gum would remain in our stomachs for a few years if we swallowed it to the assumption that handling a baby bird would get its mother to leave it behind, we passed these legends like sacred gossip. Though most of them have been dispelled by science, they continue to be a part of our youth tradition, evoking memories of innocence, fear, and awe.

1. Seven years to digest swallowed gum

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As children, they were warned not to swallow gum because it would be in their stomachs for years and hurt them. The concept was that the gum, being indigestible, would just sit in the digestive tract. What actually happens is that gum does not digest completely but also moves through the body as any other food.  

2. If you crack your knuckles, you’ll develop arthritis

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Most were taught to believe that cracking their knuckles would lead to arthritis, due to harming the joints. They were informed that the cracking sound was due to air bubbles rupturing in the synovial fluid, resulting in injury over time. Despite this, research has found no direct relationship between cracking knuckles and getting arthritis.

3. You can develop a rash from touching toads

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The belief that a toad might spread warts through touching was an enduring childhood urban legend. Some thought the bumps on the toad’s skin would transfer the warts onto human hands. In reality, warts are due to a virus, and toads do not carry that virus, although certain toads excrete toxins that may irritate the skin.

4. The ice cream truck is just for good kids

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For years, kids thought the ice cream truck would only make a stop if they were good, as if there was some sort of mystical link between being good and ice cream. Rumors indicated that only the “good kids” would be able to hear the truck’s music and receive an opportunity to purchase. As it happens, the truck stops at scheduled stops, independent of how well anyone has behaved.

5. You can get a cold by going outdoors with wet hair

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Many people were instructed that going outside with wet hair in cold weather would result in catching a cold. Parents said the wetness would chill the body too much and compromise the immune system. Nevertheless, colds are brought about by viruses, not the weather or wet hair, although inclement weather would make a person more vulnerable to illness.  

6. If you make a face and the wind changes, it will stay that way

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Some children used to believe that if they were to make a funny or angry face and the wind changed direction abruptly, their face would forever be stuck in that shape. It was a frequent warning to deter grimacing or sulking. Naturally, this is all a myth, and regardless of the direction of the wind, your face will relax back to its original shape.

7. You may become pregnant if you sit on a public toilet seat

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This one produced a great deal of terror among young women, who were told that sitting down on a public toilet seat could lead to an unplanned pregnancy. The rumor was especially entrenched in schools, where many believed the germs on the seat were somehow magical and could bring about pregnancy. The reality is that pregnancy can only happen when sperm fertilize an egg, and sitting down on a toilet seat won’t accomplish that.

8. A dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s

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Many people have claimed that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s because dogs clean themselves and are always happy and healthy. Perhaps this myth existed because people felt that dogs’ saliva would heal. Still, dog mouths contain a full complement of bacteria, and a dog’s mouth is no cleaner than a human’s.

9. If you sleep with wet hair, you’ll get pneumonia

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Numerous children were instructed that sleeping with wet hair would lead to pneumonia, which frightened them on cold nights. Well-intentioned parents frequently shared this myth because they were afraid that getting cold would lead to infection. Although getting cold may make you more susceptible to viruses, pneumonia is caused by viruses or bacteria, not just wet hair.

10. The ‘five-second rule’ keeps bacteria from adhering

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When they were children, they believed that if food dropped to the ground but was immediately cleaned up within a five-second frame, it could still be eaten. The principle was that bacteria wouldn’t have enough time to get a hold within that timeframe. In fact, bacteria can jump onto food in zero seconds, even if it has been on the floor for a certain amount of time.  

11. Carrots enhance your dark vision

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This myth was frequently used to tell children to eat their vegetables, especially carrots. The myth was based on WWII propaganda when the British asserted that eating carrots allowed pilots to see in the dark. Carrots are rich in vitamin A but do not possess the magical power to enhance vision in the dark.

12. If you swallow a seed, a tree will grow inside you

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Children were frequently instructed that swallowing seeds of fruits could lead to a tree growing within their stomach. This was one of the most popular myths when consuming fruits such as watermelon or apples. In reality, the seeds merely go through the digestive system without germinating or harming anyone.

13. You can obtain a permanent scar from shaving

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Others were led to believe shaving, particularly during puberty, would scar the skin for life or increase hair thickness. Such a rumor had the tendency to deter kids from attempting a first shave. Shaving, though, may result in temporary cuts, but it does not stop hair from growing thicker or leaving scars permanently.

14. If you handle a baby bird, it will be forsaken by its mother

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This myth was told to discourage kids from bothering baby birds they happened to see outdoors, that being in contact with them would drive the mother to reject them. It was believed that the mother bird could pick up a human touch’s odor and spurn the chick. Most birds possess a very poor sense of smell, though; contacting the bird won’t result in abandonment most of the time.

15. Sugar is hyperactive to kids

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Most thought that consuming sugar would make children wild with energy and act uncontrollably. This myth picked up steam during the holidays when children would eat large amounts of candy. Although sugar gives one a quick boost of energy, research has revealed that it does not directly lead to hyperactivity, but the thrill of consuming candy can induce such behavior.

16. You can’t swim after eating

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Another popular myth was that swimming within a short period of eating could lead to cramps and even drowning. The theory was that the body would divert blood towards digestion, cut off blood flow to the muscles, making swimming risky. In reality, although consuming too much before swimming may leave you feeling uneasy, it’s unlikely to end in serious cramps or lethal circumstances.

17. If you cross your eyes, they’ll stay that way

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One of the most common childhood warnings was that if you crossed your eyes too long, they would become stuck that way forever. Being afraid of looking cross-eyed forever was enough to scare children from doing it. In fact, eye muscles are powerful enough to move the eyes back to normal even if crossed briefly.

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• childhood
• Myths
• rumors
• weird beliefs