3 year old left

[PrettyIndigo]

Unsupervised in the park. I was in our local park today when I saw a little girl I recognise from DDs nursery class. I had a quick look around for her mum as I was going to go and say hello, as we often do have a quick chat if we ever bump into each other. However her mum was nowhere to be seen. I assumed she must be with another family member/ family friend or something and didn't think much of it. Until about 15 mins later when her dad approached the fence and called her over, asked if she was ok, and then I watched him walk off up the hill, and sat down at the top with his mates. It was a good distance away from the park, and theres no way he would have been able to see or hear if she was in trouble. What if she had ran off, or fell and hurt herself or something? Would you tell her mum that her dad has left her unsupervised or just stay out of it? There has been many times my 3 year old has tried to do a runner, nearly fell off the climbing frame etc. I can't imagine leaving her for 2 minutes let alone 15 ! If it were me I'd want to know, my DH says stay out of it.

YABU = dont say anything
YANBU = tell her mum

That’s totally unacceptable and clear safeguarding issue to leave a child so young unsupervised in a park, but in terms of mentioning it, how well do you know the mum? Are she and the dad together?

I'd say something in a "gosh mine would have run off " kind of way. Or perhaps tell nursery instead.

If you could see him from the park then he could see her.

Not ideal, but its up to him.

Maybe telling the nursery would be easier/less confrontational unless you know the mum really well?

Are they together do you know?

I would tell the nursery staff as they can pass the report on anonymously as a safe guarding concern.

OP said he wouldn’t be able to see her from where he was

Raise with the nursery if you feel uncomfortable / not close enough with mum; they could raise it without mentioning who alerted them

Yes they are together

There's no way he could have a good view of her as the park is surrounded by a high hedge which blocks half of the park from view, also theres a skate park directly in front of the park which stops you seeing in. I've been up that grass hill plenty times and you definitely can't see much

OP said he wouldn’t be able to see her from where he was

But op could see where he went and who he was sitting with, how could she see that if he couldn't see the park?

I think I will do that @procrastinator8 , thanks

Definitely a safeguarding issue. Raise it with nursery. There may be other issues and this could be relevant.