We were at a tiny funfair in a park, pretty busy. As we were waiting for DC to get on ride, a man next to me suddenly started yelling at his son who was around 6 or 7, and not doing anything wrong as far as I could tell, just waiting in line.
Anyway, dad suddenly shouted loudly, 'fucking get here now, or I'll knock your fucking teeth down your fucking throat.' Little boy does as he's told, looking resigned and scared.
At that point, DC were being ushered onto ride and I had to go through gate to stand on the other side of the barrier and sit with them through the ride. I spent the ride time trying to decide what to do (DH was elsewhere with another DC).
When ride was finished, I looked around for the family, but couldn't see them. I think I wanted the chance to just say quietly to the boy that he could call the NSPCC or Childline or something if his dad shouted at him too much, but no idea how I could have done that.
I'm still upset by the thought that I did nothing, I had to follow DC into ride area (they had gone ahead of me). I'm still turning it over in my mind, what should I do this situation? The boy hadn't been hit, but he was being threatened in an aggressive way. The other people around visibly looked away, no one challenged the dad. But then essentially, he'd just shouted at his son. He might well have said 'I was only joking' if anyone pulled him up on it.
I know parents shout, but this was a threat of violence, and it aimed at a very little boy. Is it any different to 'stop it or i'll smack you? (not something I'd say myself, but it happens)' but cranked up several notches?
Is it right to intervene or just accept that it's a shit way of parenting, but not breaking any laws?
AIBU to feel as though I missed the chance to help the little boy? If I hadn't had to run after DC, I'm still not sure what I would have done, but I would have done something. Should I have called the police, even if just to scare the dad and curb him being such a bully? But by the time I could, the family seemed to have left.
What would you have done?