“Three Months And Counting Without Them Noticing”: 14 Times Adults Played Epic Pranks On Parents

When I see some of the pranks kids play on their parents, I am more than a little relieved that my son is only five years old. His idea of a prank is “when you give someone a fright, Mama.” Oh, if he only knew. 

Nowadays, some people spend a fortune pulling off the perfect prank. There are even those making millions pranking others. I’ve come across videos of kids covering their parents' entire kitchen in peanut butter, creating a fake news broadcast convincing their folks there’s a nuclear attack, smashing expensive televisions, faking parental affairs, and more. I’ll take a “little” fright over that stuff. Any day…

Not everyone is brave enough to push their parents to the edge. But for those who are Bored Panda has compiled a list of some of the best times adult children refused to grow up, pranked their parents, and made it out alive. We also spoke to an expert about the science behind practical jokes.

14 PHOTOS

#1 Mom Was Worried About My Trip To Detroit, So I Sent Her This Picture

In 1974, panic erupted in the sleepy town of Sitka, Alaska. Once just a big piece of ice, it’s since melted and is now home to just over 8,000 people. Accessible only by air and sea, the place is relatively drama-free. But on this particular morning, emergency services were inundated with calls from panicked residents. 

They’d woken to a plume of black smoke rising from the Mt Edgecumbe volcano, which lies about 16 miles away. The volcano was considered dormant, having last spewed lava more than 4,000 years ago. So it’s only natural, people would be freaking out.

As they continued to frantically alert firefighters and police, the Coast Guard sent out a helicopter to investigate. But when the pilot hovered over the crater, he noticed something strange. Where was the lava? Upon closer inspection, he saw a huge pile of charred black tires. And then, the words APRIL FOOL spray-painted boldly across the snow next to them.

Proof that some people will, quite literally, go to great heights to pull off a good prank.

#2 That’s The Most Evil Thing I Can Imagine

The epic practical joke was the work of a local prankster, Oliver “Porky” Bickar. He’d spent three years planning his prank, collecting hundreds of old tires, gallons of kerosene, and other equipment. Bickar enlisted the help of a helicopter pilot and some friends. They flew to the volcano, did the deed, and casually left.

While he did make international news, “Porky” didn’t get into trouble for his shenanigans because he’d informed the police of his plans beforehand. He’d just forgotten to let the Coast Guard know. Oops!

And once the town realized they’d been tricked, most people erupted into laughter.

#3 I Got My Grandma A New Apron For Her 90th Birthday. This Was The Moment She Realized What Was On It

#4 My Dad Fell Off A 10-foot Ladder And Dropped Through The Ceiling. I Was Walking By And Caught Him. This Was The Tile He Went Through, And Now His Christmas Present Is Finished

As "Porky" proved, a well-played prank can elicit feelings of panic, fear, irritation and even anger in the moment but we will often look back on them afterwards and have a good giggle.

“Pranks can seed inside jokes that friends and groups share and remember forever. They are frequently part of reminiscing, and when recalled decades later, participants are likely to be amused and laugh all over again,” wrote Dr. Kathleen Pike, a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Global Mental Health WHO Collaborating Centre at Columbia University.

#5 For My Holiday Card, I Photoshopped Myself As My Own Awkward Family. Yes, Every Person Is Me

#6 I’m Pretty Sure My Mom Will Never Again Ask My Help With Putting Away The Nativity Scene

Dr. Joseph Polimeni is an internationally recognized expert in the science of humor. In an exclusive interview with Bored Panda, he said people have probably been pranking each other for tens of thousands of years. 

“Pranks are a form of humor. The proposed cognitive structure of humor can be nicely demonstrated in most pranks. Humor requires two disparate views of one social situation, with at least one view containing a social violation,” he said. 

“So, for example, my children, during their grade school years, once planted a plastic mouse in a cupboard to scare their mother. This scenario created two social views of one situation: 1) the perception that a real mouse was in the cupboard and 2) there was just a piece of plastic in the cupboard. The social violation pertains to an attempt to unnecessarily scare another person.” 

#7 My Parents Haven't Noticed

#8 I Saw This Apron While Shopping, And Decided To Do A Remake Of My Mother’s Favorite Picture For Christmas. Taken 23 Years Apart

#9 The Dad Energy Is Strong In This One

I asked Polimeni what possessed people to pull someone else’s leg. “The possible psychological motivations to invent a prank are varied and unique to each prank. Many pranks could be a gentle reminder that the target of the prank is not as socially powerful as they may portray,” he said. “Humor is often used as a playful way to broach potentially contentious social problems between people. Sometimes a prank is completely innocent and simply a gesture of friendship, solely reflecting a willingness to play.”

Many psychologists agree that practical jokes are a subtle form of “play-fighting” and research shows we tend to prank those we are closest to. 

Pike explains it this way: “Pranks are an investment in a relationship and pulling off a good prank takes planning, imagination, and effort.”

#10 My Brother Replaced A Picture Of Jesus At My Parents' House With A Picture Of Obi-Wan Kenobi As Portrayed By Ewan McGregor. Three Months And Counting Without Them Noticing

#11 My Mom Wanted A Nice Picture Of Me And My Sister For Mother's Day. Well, She's Getting These Instead

#12 Jokingly Sent My Mom A Cutout Of Myself While I'm Studying Abroad. She Seems To Be Entertaining Herself With It

Pike believes practical jokes can be beneficial to families. “When done well, practical jokes connect people and promote a sense of closeness in the relationship," she explained. "When pranks make us laugh together, we are likely to report elevated levels of affection and bonding for one another. The shared moments of surprise and laughter create environments that build trust, break down barriers, and promote teamwork.”

And while we don’t need to be as elaborate as “Porky” and take years to plan them, there are plenty of hilarious and harmless pranks to pull on the people you love.

#13 My Parents Are Retiring And Want To Travel Full Time. My Brother Sent Them This Suitcase For Christmas

#14 I Work In Wastewater Treatment. My Parents Wanted A Picture For Their Christmas Cards