As I was walking home from work this evening (in Reading town centre, just after dark so about half four) I was aware of a small boy aged about four walking along on his own and seemingly happy to be walking on his own. However I couldn't easily identify who his 'responsible adult' was. There was a lady with a smaller child further ahead by a good 10 meters but I could see she wasn't looking back and I couldn't see any other adult looking out for the lad from behind him. He was (to my mind) too close to the edge of the pavement so I walked along side to prevent him walking into the road whilst looking to see who was in charge of him. I walked along side the lad up to where the pavement stopped, where a road crosses into the main train station - I saw the lady ahead glance over her shoulder before crossing with the small girl, but she certainly didn't wait for the boy who just followed and crossed the road on his own (following other adults doing the same). I caught up with the lady ahead (leaving the boy to follow on behind - he really did seem quite happy to be on his own) and asked if the lad was with her, which he was...but I wasn't sure what the right thing to do next was.
AIBU to point out that he was walking close to a busy road on his own, or to point out that he had just walked out into a road to cross on his own?
I felt uncomfortable 'shadowing' a small boy, I know my intentions were for the boys safety, but anyone watching me maybe wouldn't have known or assumed that.
Is it my place to say anything, or having identified the mother and checked she was with the lad do I say nothing further?
The way I dealt with it was to reasonably loudly, but cheerfully ask whether he was with her and having been confirmed to say that I was just checking as he appeared to be on his own.
But I was conscious that I could have been seen to be shaming the mum for not paying what I considered to be due attention.
How would any other parent feel at being questioned/approached in such a situation?
BTW, I'm a mid 40s male (relevant only in as much as how one reacts differently when approached by someone of a different age/gender).