To tell off another child at soft play?

[Embarrassedatsoftplay]

I saw a 5/6 year old repeatedly slapping my DD who's 2 years in the 0-3 area of soft play. I ran over immediately saying 'hey!' As she kept slapping her. I picked up dd who had been pummelled to the floor by other child and had red on one cheek and scratch marks, turned around, couldn't see parent and said 'you don't hit another child like' that in a shocked/raised (not shouting voice). I realise my panic transferred into the voice and I feel awful I didn't deal with it in calm and collected way, and just pick her up and find member of staff to deal with parent (who was in corner with headphones on, on phone facing away from soft play). This is first time I've seen DD be hit like this and I can see scratch marks on neck and arm but face has returned to normal colour. I know you're not meant to tell other people's kids of and I'm shaking/feeling awful.

Bigmouth, I know! That's why I said I once saw a good episode...

I used to LOVE super nanny, until I actually had a child that is!!

...a Dad I hadn't seen buried under the balls sat up and said "I don't know what I've done but I won't do it again, promise".

That's awesome, babybythesea. I guess you have a good "no-nonsense" attitude.

I like to think mine is fairly effective. It seemed to work when a kid took a ride-on tractor into the play frame and threw it down the big slide, missing my 3yr old nephew's head by inches. That was the first and only time I've told someone else's child off. His enormous dad came storming over. I braced myself for a confrontation but he apologised to me and DN, gave his boy a rollicking and frog-marched him out then and there.

I have a well-cultivated no nonsense attitude, yes!

I teach, but have never worked in a school. I have spent 20 years teaching in visitor attraction/educational type places, where you see the kids for a few hours, or a day at most. And they have to know from the outset that you are fun, and want them to have great time, but that there are certain rules that we all follow, mainly to keep them safe in situations where they, and sometimes their teachers, don't know the place. So I'm used to asking for (implicitly, by my face and tone), and getting, respect from kids I don't know and will never see again. It's useful when random children in soft play are causing problems!

And I should admit to being a bit uncomfortable at first, as I didn't know he was there. And then I thought, would I have said that even if I'd known he was? And yes, I would have done, so I figure I hadn't done anything I should have been ashamed of!

Kitten you are setting your son up to be bitterly disappointed in life . You can't just do what you like
Agree 100 % with BigMouth it helps no one

twoforthepriceofone22 - that was what I was worried about, that by being a bit hysterical in how I said it I could have scared the child. I really didn't intend to and I was at a loss of words of what to say. My natural reaction would have been to pick DD up and just walking away but I didn't feel that was right. I'm worried I cocked up and I should have handled it better. I just couldn't believe she was repeatedly hitting DD.

Honestly I think you're fine, shouldn't have been hitting another child anyway. Try not to worry!!

Kitten
I'd pay good money for a ringside seat at your pfb's first playtime at school.
All the dc, apart from your own will have learnt manners and how to share and take turns. Not to mention how to use playground equipment safely and effectively.
Your dc will become the child that everyone hates because of your lack of parenting.
Up to you, but not anything I'd have wished on my dc

OP YANBU.

As for the slide issue, well I am pretty 'free spirited' myself, in fact my kids don't go to school our nursery. They have no rules in play with their own toys and boy do they use their imagination to learn and explore through play. However at soft play or the park they know slides are for sliding down, in fact my 6 year old would quite have happily informed you of this and probably taken you and shown you the soft play rules as they are usually on display somewhere.

You handled it amazingly well! It's horrible when your kids get hurt.

That kid was old enough to know better. I'd be mortified if my 4 yo did that to a younger child! Awful! Hope your lo (and you!) are ok