Small boy smashed a bottle playing out...

[SmashingKids]

We live in a nice area. Not niace, but nice enough. The kids play well together.

We’ve had a new family move in and I think they are a bit more relaxed about behaviour than some of the other parents would be. It has been ‘drama’ ever since.

Recently, the new boy (less than 6years old) had found a glass bottle and was throwing it around until it eventually hit the pavement instead of the grass, and of course, it smashed. I seen this from my window, but naively assumed it was a plastic bottle until it smashed.

I sent him home to tell his mum what he did and ask for help to clean it up. He disappeared, but the glass remained there for the rest of the evening.

I was telling DH and we disagreed about my duty of care.

I wanted to give him a dustpan and bucket to clear it himself, but restrained myself from doing so, for fear of him hurting himself on broken glass.

DH said that if he was big enough to smash bottles, he was big enough to clean up his mess.

Who is right? Me or DH?

I think I’d have just cleaned it up myself.

I think you did the right thing, and would have had the same feelings- but imagine the trouble if you had given him the cleaning stuff and hed cut himself- not worth the hassle.

His parents should have been up to clean it pronto, but the real question is why is a small child playing with a glass bottle?

He’s a little boy. Would you be happy if someone gave your child a dustpan and brush to clean up broken glass?!

A child or pet could get hurt!

His parents should’ve cleared it up, though.

If his house is very close to yours I would have gone and let them know at the time.
I'd think it's likely the boy went home and didn't say anything to avoid getting in trouble.

Definitely wouldn't tell or let a child clear up glass at that age.

Bubblesandsquarks no they aren’t close enough for that I would have had to gather up the kids and lock the house to do that.

I think you might be right that he didn’t mention it because they didn’t come up and clean it.

Someone did overnight, (but I have my suspicions who it was) and I know that as I went out to do it the next morning once the kids where in school. There were only a few shards left that I was able to see and lift in the daylight.

CaptainCabinets I agree, it would have been terrible if he was hurt - that’s why I didn’t do that, even though I would have liked to.

i'm that you think a 6 year old (or any child tbh) is going to go home and say 'i did something you're going to be mad at me for, and can you come and help me do something i don't want to?'

Do you have kids, OP?

If not, perhaps hold off.

Yes, probably quite naive. Didn’t see him again for the rest of the evening though so maybe he got some food for thought!

I wouldn’t expect a 6-year-old to clean up broken glass. I think you’re being a bit odd about this. I guess you recall the other stuff and that is clouding your judgment.

I disagreed with DH? I’m fairly sure he wouldn’t have actually presented a child with a dustpan either.

I wouldn't even allow my 10 year old to clean broken glass, it's so easy to cut yourself even as an adult. He shouldn't have been playing with it but he is 6 and without adult supervision 6 year olds won't always see the danger. I would have cleaned it up myself to ensure no one else got hurt.

Completely unacceptable, rough behaviour and the fact he thinks it's ok to do this indicates bad rather than "relaxed" parenting IMO. I'd be keeping your DC well clear of this family.

You have no duty of care. What are you talking about?

Do you think he was really going to go home and tell his parents?

@CalF123

Haha. Love it!

You wanted to give a child younger than 6 a dustpan and brush to clean up broken glass? Your dh thinks if he’s big enough to break glass he’s big enough to clean it up? My 18 month old could break a glass in a second if not watched, maybe I’ll let him and then just give him a brush to clean up. Seriously, what are you thinking. I’m guessing you’re not parents yet! If you are, I’m worried....

Although I wouldn’t be letting my less than 6 year old play on a pavement unsupervised either.

Getting a 6 year old to clean up broken glass is the wrong way to teach them a lesson.

.You have no duty of care. What are you talking about?

OP would have out herself in the position of having a duty of care if she'd given the child a dustpan and brush and told him to clear up. A duty of care arises when someone carries out an act which can foreseeably cause harm to others - that's why we are liable for negligence that causes foreseeable harm whilst driving, for instance. Hence OP was right and her DP was wrong.

People are reading that the op didn't and disagreed with her oh that said she should have done, right?

No, I think there is something odd about the way the OP presented the story. As if she doesn't really like the family.

If it happened in my neighborhood, I'd have been worried about the boy being hurt and cleaned it up myself to make sure no one else got hurt. I can't imagine just leaving broken glass on the street all evening. I can't imagine considering giving a 6-year-old a dustpan to clean it up himself.

The whole story is really odd.

Good on the person who cleaned it up.