There’s a funny thing about Caillou (the bald-headed little boy that is the main character of the Caillou cartoon) kids love him and parents …well let’s face it, parents usually hate him. But one thing both parents and kids can agree on is wondering: why the heck is Caillou bald?
Longtime blog reader Jazzlenne requested a story on the topic of Caillou and since we’re doing a lot of urban legends this week I figured we’d look into the biggest urban legend surrounding the show, which centers around the mystery of why Caillou is bald.
His parents and sister all noticeably have lots of fluffy hair, yet he doesn’t seem to have a single hair on his own head. This has lead to widespread urban legends that there’s a hidden story to the show and that Caillou is bald because he has cancer. There are even many parents that won’t let their kids watch Caillou because they don’t want them watching a show about a kid with cancer.
But what is the hidden story, and is there actually any truth to it?
THE CAILLOU URBAN LEGEND
The most popular Caillou urban legend tells the story of a boy named Caillou who has cancer and is going through treatments that have made him bald.
The reason his parents let him get his way all the time (even if he’s being whiny or bratty) is because they know he’s ill and they just can’t bear to tell him “no”.
Even though he’s young, Caillou is aware of his condition and tries to cope with the situation by using one of the strongest tools a child has: his imagination. You see, he’s not sure if he’ll be able to actually grow up so he uses his imagination to go on adventures and experience all the different things he could be.
Some very dark versions of the Caillou urban legend say he’s already died, and that’s why the grandmother is the one telling stories about his life. She tells the stories to keep the memory of her grandson alive.
No matter which version of the Caillou urban legend you hear though it always centers on him having cancer.
WHY IS CAILLOU BALD?
So is there any truth to this theory of Caillou having cancer? The people involved with the show and the book are very insistent that no, Caillou doesn’t have cancer. In fact reading through their writings about it they seem downright defensive about the topic, often making it the first thing they mention about the show.
They say the reason Caillou is bald is because in the books he was at the age when kids don’t have hair yet, and when they made the cartoon they wanted him to look the same as in the books –right down to the very bald head. But they had no idea what a huge controversy that decision would start up amongst both parents and kids.
THE ‘CAILLOU HAS CANCER’ CONTROVERSY
Sometimes the story is changed and people from the show will say that Caillou is bald to “represent all kids”. That explanation sounds pretty forced and more like the show is trying to put a positive spin on the Caillou baldness controversy that has caused many parents to ban their kids from watching Caillou.
As for me, I say if kids can’t stop imagining Caillou is bald because he has cancer and still want to watch the show then fine. It’s kind of like I hope no parents out there would keep their kids from playing with another child simply because the other child had cancer.
Around the world a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes, and even though it’s an urban legend, ‘Caillou with cancer’ represents the plight of many kids out there. Who knows, some kids with cancer might even look up to Caillou and find comfort in the show, never realizing that the idea of Caillou having cancer is such a controversial thing…
I love caillou my daughter has cancer and loves that her and him have no hair. I believe the show is great and positive no matter what the real story is. And whatever parent is against their child watching for that reason is immature and should be ashamed of themselves!!!
Hi Daisy,
Yeah I was pretty shocked to hear that some parents out there are that way about Caillou possibly having cancer, it’s hard for me to understand why people would choose to act like that :(. Maybe some of them will come across your comment and realize how deeply harmful their decision is.
My heart goes out to your daughter, I’m glad that Caillou is such a positive force in her life and that she has a very caring mother to look out for her!
I think caillou is very shiny sensitive four year old if you ask me
I agree with you daisy. I really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really agree with you
so true
Its not just cancer, a lot of people are quick to make sad and irational decisions plainly out of sterotype, fear or ignorance. Commonly racism and sexism but also modern controversies such as Islamophobia and homosexuality
Hi Alex,
That’s true. I was extra shocked however to hear that people discriminate against those with cancer, it was a whole new thing to me that’s for sure.
To be fair Islamaphobia is rooted in current events and the teachings of the Koran itself. That is far different from an irrational fear of children with cancer. To even attempt to compare the two shows the ignorance that exists among us. I’ve never cared for Caillou because I have enough tantrums from my children not to need another one projected into my home. I actually always wondered if he was developmentally challenged because of his behavior and his parents response to it. However, despite the fact that I dislike the whining I don’t force my children to watch something else I simply ask them if it’s ok with them to change it. The reason is simple. I will correct my childrens behavior regardless and they have to learn that everyone does not have the same rules and standards. Some parents will buy their child a toy to stop bad behavior, I will not buy a toy if they aren’t behaving. If I do it will sit on a shelf until they have been bahaving well for a while. They will always see children who whine to get their way but at least Caillou has imagination and empathy, which is more than I can say for far too many people these days.
Hi I heard that some parents don’t like them to watch him because he’s so whiny. However I kind of agree with that because their child could grow up to be whiny.
Hi Darwin,
Yes I think that most people who don’t let their kids watch Caillou do it because they feel he’s too whiny or bratty.
Darwin,
I watched caillou when I was little and I leaned a valuable lesson about no discrimination about anybody, therefore he’s not just whiny he’s a teacher, he also taught me to not always play with toys and use imagination
Not a creep but the first caillou died in 2001 because of a car accident
this is technically correct and I’m a 10-year-old kid who is praying for this “new” Caillou is not dead
I watched this show when I Was maybe 5 or 3 years old and me and my cousin watch it every day but a kid having cancer is very sad and Depressed because he was scared of his life and that why his grandma told some stories in all the seasons to pray for her grandson God bless him
is your daughter better
The reason parents hate caillou is because he whines and cries about everything. Not because he could have cancer. (I’m not laughing at cancer) I even read an article about it and it said,”Parents hate caillou because he sucks at everything and when he can’t do something, he cries about it. They say that the show is making their children more whiney.” This is the reason some parents ban caillou.
In the old shows he was. And many viewers got offended because it reminded them of themselves when they would act up as a child. It’s actually a technique that’s purposely used to shame the viewers into not being like that. It makes the viewer uncomfortable, especially when they realize that’s exactly how they looked and sounded when they were bad.
I think Caillou is dead and the show (and book) is just stories about him.
True… I love that show. And i let my kids watch it too. Im sorry. About your daughter. God bless her ..
Hi daisy,
I send you love and prayer for your daughter, I’m a 12 year old girl aware of this problem, my brother has cancer, I’ve seen him suffer so much. It is very shocking to know that some parents won’t let there kids watch for the simple fact that an urban legend says he has cancer, even if he did actually have cancer and it was well known in the show why would this matter, if anything this should be adressed, those parents look at cancer like it is some form of mutation, when really it’s a very very bad Disease that should not be looked at like the people with it are scary monsters, you would be shocked at how much hate my brother does receive for having cancer, it’s horrible.
Best wishes, Cheyenne
I love caillou and its a great shown i never visioned him as a child with cancer. smh ppl make nothing outta something great cartoon all three of my kids loved it . just let it be he is a bald headed lil boy its normal i think if he had hair he wouldnt look right. Just my opinion
Dear Daisy,
I hope that ur daughter can get better u are in my family’s prayers. Your an inspiration. I absolutely love Caillou and it might be immature but im 13. Have a wonderful day. May god be with u.
Some parents don’t let children watch the show because of the fact he can be a snotty child and doesn’t actually act like they would want their own child too. He throws tantrums which some parents wouldn’t want, and or, except their child to do.
I I agree it’s not fair that only just because he’s in a bad condition he should not be watching his check his cartoon because it would keep us so many good memories that we would have a life and chance that kids wouldn’t have so thank you Daisy
I saw one punch man on here
Lol please save me from I used to caillou on my cellphone
Hoplfully your daughter gets better
I hope it went well with your daughter.
I beat my battle with cancer when I was very young I was diagnosed when I was 2 and won my battle when I was 8 I loved the show it was always my comfort place knowing that I wasn’t the only kid out there with cancer I relapsed when I was 10 and I’m currently fighting for my life
Makenzie
God bless you and you are in my prayers keep fighting you can beat this!❤️
im very very sorry to here that
When I was growing up, my mom never let me watch Caillou just because she thought he set a bad example because he was always getting his way. But when I would watch it I loved it. I was young at the time but as I got older my mom let me watch him more. I am pretty sure she just didn’t want me watching it so young.
Or he could of had alopecia. Alopecia is when at an young age you have little or no hair as you get older it might not grow back at all
I hate people who say that because Caillou has cancer. But there is also another story to it people just may not want to let their kid watch Caillou because he is really whiny and I don’t want my kid to be as whiny as Caillou always arguing with his parents.
Keep fighting
yes your right i agree to what you said i hope your daughter is ok or feeling well.It said in the begginig that it said his parents and his sister didnt like him thats pretty rude of them but he seems like a good kid to all people well some i think.
As a child (I’m now 16) my parents would never let me watch the show. It had nothing to do with if he had cancer or not. Heck, my moms are GAY!! What right do they have to discriminate against some cancer kid. They donate to cancer every year. They just couldn’t stand the whining and moaning of the show, and thought it would be inappropriate to have me see a kid get his way. I’m sorry to hear about your daughter. Glad she is well. I do just wish they would cut back on the whining.
An age of which a child does not have hair? That’s kinda stupid, tbh. I had hair when I was child, however I wasn’t born with it. My two brothers were. So I can’t really believe an age when a child does not have hair.
Hi Francesca,
The original Caillou in the books was a nine month old baby so it makes some sense, but he’s four years old in the cartoon series so they should have realized the baldness would make people wonder after a while. Especially since his whole family obviously has ample amounts of hair on their heads no matter what their age.
Personally I wish the spokespeople for the show Caillou would stop with the “he’s bald to represent all children” nonsense.
Growing up myself, I never grew hair until I was 6 years old. Doctors still do not know why, so for all we know he could’ve been a child like me.
Which helped a lot since I was teased for being the bald girl, and many parents asked to move their kids out of my class because they thought I had cancer as well.
Elizabeth,
Although I’m not a fan of Caillou because of his whininess and the parents giving him whatever he wants. I feel as though if the reason Caillou is bald is because he has cancer is fantastic!! It’s showing children that with or without cancer all kids are the same and enjoy the same hobbies! Now if inly the writers would cut the whininess of the bit out they would probably have double the out of ratings (you wouldn’t believe how many parents don’t let their children watch the show because of that! Now for parents asking that their child be in a different classroom because they thought you had cancer is downright disgusting. That makes me sick to my stomach the ignorance of some people!! Cancer is not contagious and that’s so petty. Those parents should downright be ashamed of themselves and embarassed! I hope that you learned from that experience and didn’t let it get you down just because some people are ignorant and an embarrassment to themselves, their families, & their community! When I read that last line my jaw immediately dropped to the ground! You are so strong for dealing with that and I applaud you!
lets keep this going
See, we say things like that but chances are we have made a disgusting comment ourselves at least once, out of ignorance, let it be rasicm or discrimination or generalisation.
I know that he was bald to be a unique character, but the intro is annoying. I don’t know how the parents deal with him. But the urban legend is true, the whining could be a sign of cancer, he hates his sister! There parents don’t care about his sister. The sister has a better future the Caliou. And nobody has no idea why they don’t color the whole image.
I dont understand why they would move there kid out of your class. If their child didn’t have hair they would have not appreciated it if other parents did not want to put their child
In the same class as him/her because they were bald.
I was born with a complete full head of hair, the nurses at the hospital assumed I was a baby girl.I have had long hair throughout my life.
I’ve known at least four people that I can remember who’ve been pretty much bald or didn’t have very much hair until about two and a half years old. Two of which were identical twin boys…and boy do they have hair hair now as almost three and a half year olds. An older sibling girl who was bald until about two but much taller than her younger sister who was skinny and petite but had lots of hair at her sister’s age. Another group of siblings one older and younger that the younger was bald a little after the age of two years old. My point is that young and old children can be bald for quite awhile but that you shouldn’t assume that it’s due to a disease or such like cancer.
Having cancer is a struggle itself NOT just for the individual but for the family and community.
Many of the people that have the horrible conditions out there on this planet are the most wonderfully sweet and humble people that a person can possibly meet even compared to all of us with hair or whatever other part of us beings that we can have or not have…
There is even a growing population that does baldness on purpose just as it seems like there’s a trend to be grey headed….
Hi! To think that some people are obsessed with covering their hair they have. Truly one values what we have when we lose it, and that’s when we want it most. But someone who covers it, then not value it, so this person do not mind losing the hair. I deduce then, enjoy what you have, and care of it. Simply does not give to it more value than it has, and do not suffer so much for having lost it hair in case. Then that would be a nice education for our children.
The problem with cancer was many years before, with the feared of the doctors authorities because they believed it could spread, even some doctors had recommended not to touch a person with cancer. So many parents let their children not to approach children with cancer. That is very sad. But it can be understood, if it is fear, not discrimination….But if it is not true, maybe we can find another urban legend in this. Respect to the cancer is not contagious as some believe. And we can discover a tabu.
Hi Lizbeth :),
You make some good points. Personally I suspect that a lot of the reasons behind parents not letting their kids watch Caillou due to the possible cancer connection is because they’d rather not have to deal with the difficult questions that are bound to come up while the kids watch the show.
Questions such as “what happens when we die?”, “why does God let kids get cancer?”, “will I get cancer?” and that kind of thing. These are hard questions no matter what, but especially hard when your child is looking to you for the answers. But if the child is at the point where they know about cancer (enough to think Caillou is bald because of it) then it’s better for the parents to address these facts of life and give guidance than to leave the child on their own and adrift.
Even worse would be if/when a child figures out that they’ve been banned from watching the show because “Caillou has cancer”. What kind of lesson is that teaching them, to avoid kids with cancer :/. Like you were saying, in the old days some people used to be fearful that cancer was contagious, but it turns out that the only contagious danger in this case comes from discrimination against those who are ill.
That’s so sad why would anyone write a story about a bald kid that has cancer .
Hi Allana,
I think it’s really important to have stories like that out there, even if the topic of kids with cancer is a difficult thing to talk about. There’s a lot of kids that have cancer in the world, why shouldn’t they have their stories told? If anything I’d say that they need stories to help them more than most kids out there.
What ever plus I think he doesn’t have cancer just because he is bald or not
True dat
Allana,
Why is it so sad?
My daughter was diagnosed with cancer at 9 months old and later passed away in my arms at age 2yo. I think it’s a subject ppl and especially children SHOULD be aware of. (If Calliou is even based on this)
Suzy,
So sorry that happened :( my heart goes out to you!
Sorry but one of his best friends in his rediculous playschool had diabetes and they actually made a good show of explaining the condition and her insulin pump. If he was sick I think they would have expanded and made it a point of relevance in the show. It’s just a bad show based off the books where he was an infant and wanted that they wanted him to stand out for the TV adaption of the book. Most parents would say it’s not the model way one would act to situations, with siblings, and with self control.
Maybe so other children with cancer can look up to him.
Hi the reason i dont let my son watch caillou its because the way the parents let him do whatever he wants even after he whines and that’s not something you want to show a child to do. Not everything works like that. My son started imitating everything caillou would do and I didn’t like that when I would pay attention to caillou my son would act like that and I would wonder why then I saw why. Very horrible show for children that have a brain of a sponge who absorb everything and a really bad behave child like caillou is a big nono
Hi Yesenia,
Yeah from what I’ve read Calliou’s behavior is a big complaint from many parents about the show. Honestly I can understand why parents would ban their kids from the show for that reason, but the whole banning kids based on him possibly having cancer is definitely messed up. Hopefully your son will forget about acting like Caillou and start to emulate another more well behaved character X).
I love Caillou and wtf screew those people that don’t like him and just to think that people make fun of other people that don’t have hair on their heads what if they have cancer. I just want to let Daisy know that she has all her support she needs with her daughter and good luck she will survive
Hi Paige,
Yeah it’s pretty sad that some people would even want to make fun of someone for not having hair.
I’m Bob.
Hi Bob.
Dude are you like obsessed with caillou or something??? you have replied to every comment on this blog about caillou! Get a life!!
Hi Liam,
Um, this is my blog…anitasnotebook.com <---I am Anita and this is my notebook. So hell yeah I'm going to reply to all the comments I possibly can, because I appreciate when people leave me comments here.
Haha! She told u! Lol. Thanks for your time and effort, Anita.
Thanks Tia :).
Yesenia
I agree with u!
My 4yo son has been watching Calliou for only about 2months and his ways are getting to resemble Calliou a lot lately!!!! Driving me crazy!