Would you ever tell off someone else’s child?

110 replies

Ellaalltheway · 14/08/2025 09:23

If the child was doing something dangerous or spiteful that was affecting your child? Parents nowhere to be seen and not intervening.

Have you ever been in one of those situations out and about where another child is doing something spiteful/annoying such repeatedly pushing in a queue, bothering your child or taking their stuff, or even doing something dangerous.

Like for example I was at the park and a small child was going round with a big tree branch whacking all of the play equipment while it was being used. Or another time my child was taking their turn on something and another child tried to physically take it off them.

Do you speak up and ask the child not to do it?

Yanbu - you would speak up
Yabu - say nothing

OP posts:

NaughtyTortieOwner00 · 14/08/2025 09:40

There are ways of telling off without appearing to do so - perfected that a lot at toddler groups - distraction or gentle no we don't do that and distraction or sometime just going and standing nearby.

I did once open my front door on a bad morning to find a child swimg on a tilted forsale sign in our garden and just shoute oi - that was all I did. Child climbed down and said sorry. Then mother got to bottom of garden tried to make out I was fussing about gravel being kicked and tried to have a go at me - she got short shrift but worst reaction I ever got.

Having not seen her before saw her around loads next months -- she had no control was banned from the corner shop as he boys destroyed things. DH saw sign get knocked over by kids swinging on it - boy had a bump and mother tried to drag sign up drive mainly I think as DH was stood arms crosssed watching from window- I didn't see but assume it was same family - woman looked extremely sheepish.

Comedycook · 14/08/2025 09:40

I wouldn't reprimand in a strict way or raise my voice or be stern...I might say in a calm kind voice something like 'no hitting thank you" or "let's be kind please" depending on what was happening.

Ineedaweeinpeace · 14/08/2025 09:40

Yes of course. I had 6 kids including my two at a soft play and one decided when it was time to come out to run off … I gave them 2 mins then went in. They saw me coming and scarpered but .. well I caught up. They knew I knew and were told don’t do that you’re making it unsafe for everyone. Told their mum who agreed not OK!

Kibble19 · 14/08/2025 09:38

Katemax82 · 14/08/2025 09:36

In a que at legoland my 7 year old autistic don kept prodding a woman in front of us ankle with his foot. I held him.back and kept him by my side telling him absolutely pack it in. When the ride stopped I turned away from him for a few seconds to see if we would be getting on the ride and he did it again..the woman turned round and gave him such an angry glare even I disappeared up my own arse almost. If she had said something I wouldn't have blamed her. And I didn't take him on any more rides after that

“Disappeared up my own arse” 😂

Haven’t heard that for years. Will definitely aim to use it more often.

Kibble19 · 14/08/2025 09:37

Yes, without hesitation.

If you don’t parent your child, someone else will. Not a chance in this world would I stay silent while some brat hurts mine because the parent is busy doing something else.

Katemax82 · 14/08/2025 09:36

KarmenPQZ · 14/08/2025 09:35

I would keep it to a pleasant ‘no thank you not safe’ as I took (snatched) the tree branch. Or a ‘go find your adult now please’ if they were bothering me. Or ‘no thank you not nice’ if they were pushing.

SatsumaDog · 14/08/2025 09:34

Absolutely and I have done in the past. If a child is being nasty or violent towards my child then I’ll say something, whether their parent is standing there or not.

nomas · 14/08/2025 09:33

Yes, happily.

FluffyWabbit · 14/08/2025 09:32

Yes, with no apologies.

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