Just back from the afternoon school run. In the playground, my DS (5) was playing with a ball while we waited for my DD (9) to come out of her class. My other DD (7) was sitting next to me. I was watching DS play with the ball when a girl from DD's class went over to him and was talking to him. I saw him shake his head and then she tried to take the ball from him. I glanced around for the childminder who collects this girl but couldn't see her. So, I walked the few steps over to where they were both tugging on the ball and asked her not to do that and pointed out that there were other balls she could play with. Didn't raise my voice, girl didn't seem particularly bothered, just walked off. I went back to waiting on the bench with DD while DS carried on playing with the ball. Five minutes later, childminder responsible for the girl comes over with her. Girl has been crying. Childminder tells me the little girl has told her I have shouted at her. I explained to the childminder what had happened, childminder then says that little girl says my DS threw the ball at her and tells me I have no right to speak to another child in the playground. I explain that I had been watching my DS and saw the girl go up to him so I know he didn't throw the ball at her. Childminder still insists that he did. I explain again that as I was watching, I know for a fact that he didn't, and perhaps she should actually be watching the children she is paid to look after. Childminder then calls me rude and says I "need help". AIBU to a) have asked the girl not to take the ball from my DS and b) expect the childminder to actually be nearby the children in her care?!
For background (may or may not be relevant), childminder is often with the mother of a boy who has in the past bullied my DD (7) which the school are aware of and have dealt with by meeting with the boys mother. DD (7) told me after all this happened that the girl who tried to take the ball from my DS today has been making fun of DD today, regarding a birth mark she has. I wasn't aware of this when the incident happened so it didn't affect my reaction to the incident with my DS.