Screaming and swearing at a toddler?

[thereareflowersinmygarden]

Is this abuse?

I'm not a perfect parent by any means but I do wonder at my next door neighbor.

One toddler, two adults. Day in, day out screaming at her, every name under the sun. Both adults at once.

They sound really, really angry. It's shrill and positively scary to me as an adult.

I have a child the same age and cannot understand this behaviour. They slap her too- which should be illegal but isn't in this crap country.

ABIU to judge this? I'd report them but don't fancy getting a brick through my window.

seriously?

Report it ffs

You know what you must do

Genuinely wondered if I was being precious. There was a thread a couple of days ago where it was pointed out that slapping a child was not illegal. I've always judged the behaviour next door but finding out the above has made me doubt my judgement.

If slapping is ok, is my neighbors behaviour ok too? Genuinely confused! Seriously!

You're asking if you're being unreasonable? Seriously?

Yes. I'm also on the spectrum. Apologies for dripfeed. Genuinely not sure.

Any chance you can report this anonymously?

Yes, seriously!

Stop posting and report. And this country isn’t crap just some people in it are.

Smacking is not illegal, no, but especially coupled with aggressive shouting and intimidation it’s abuse.

It’s about the bigger picture and context.

It’s distasteful and upsetting to witness someone who chooses to employ smacking as a regular discipline method but it doesn’t frighten you. That should be your trigger for seeking advice from professionals.

Ring the nspcc and be prepared to engage with whoever you need to do that this poor child is helped. You’ve noticed and you have the power to help, please don’t walk away.

Don’t let the thought these people will intimidate you put you off - you can deal with that if it happens. This child has no way out. Does it help to think of it as sharing some of the load of this child’s fear?

Can you do it anonymously? Otherwise will wait as we're moving and do it then. Have my own family to consider

Oh and a country is only as good as the people in it, that includes you.

As I stated in the other thread, I smack my children as a form of discipline. The situation you have described is clearly abuse though! Please report it.

Yes it's always anonymous, could come from anywhere, your details will be kept anonymous and private. If they are screaming and slapping children I would hear that just walking by. And I would report it.

Terrible things could happen to children in the delay, they need help now.

Your family are not in any danger though, this toddler could be... she is certainly being damaged! Why would you wait?

Ring nspca now.
Even in doubt let the right people know and they’ll investigate

And yes it’s anonymous

Why? No one will go round and say it was Mrs bloggs at number 7 who rang us and you can certainly be anonymous as far as they are concerned.

If you’re moving anyway you can ride out any general suspicion they want to throw around, with the assistance of the police if needed.

Don’t let it drag out, that child could be being abused in ways you have no notion of or they could be reedemable as a family and be in their way to much calmer times.

Please take a few recordings.

Have I read this before on here? It’s giving me deja vu for some reason?

Think of that small child and phone social services. They don't disclose who told them.

Poor parenting for sure. Probably not illegal. I probably wouldn't contact social services but that's because they actually have any resources to help people who are doing a bad job but aren't at the level of taking the child away. Most likely the parents would be told off, monitored vaguely adding to family stress, and then left to it again. Not sure it would be that helpful. I'm a cynic though... In my work, I have seen appalling abuse, which is fully known and acknowledged by SS and parents (drugs, not feeding, alcoholism etc) not result in any action and other times when perfectly good enough parents have their children taken away. It's all rather alarming up close. I'd be more likely to offer to babysit.

Babysit? You're crazy

Could you please tell someone ruse in RL then to report it as you don’t seem to have the will to do so then op?

When you say slapping do you mean round the face or back of the hand?