Threats of violence from 7 year old

[Cornishbelle]

My dc has been bullied by another child who is in their friendship group for several months now. Mostly put downs and nasty words, occasionally the odd shove or pinch

Recently though the verbal bullying has increased and has included a threat to "murder" my child, and two weeks later, to blind my child with acid.

This is someone who was previously a fairly close friend and as such my child has had a hard time understanding what has changed. They have become very anxious and we've had to get the school involved a couple of times. The latest threats have not been raised with the school as for various reasons some distance will be between the two children come September

Even tried to speak to the parents who despite previously saying they are always open to discussion about this sort of thing basically blanked me and my partner.

Would you take any further action or just ride the school year out and see how it goes next year?

The language used by the other child is extremely concerning, I think you really do need to raise this with the school. A lot can happen in the next few weeks of term.

I'd ask the police for advice.
Call 101.

I would be reporting things to school, as and when they happen.

Yes, of course you must raise this. Staff need to look out for your child, and they should also deal with this as a safeguarding concern for the other child. Clearly they are learning to deliver threats like this somewhere.

What???

You have to raise that with the school. It’s a massive safeguarding concern because it’s not normal for a 7YO to be exposed to that sort of stuff.

you have to report this to your school safeguarding lead ASAP
this child needs help

Absolutely report to the school. The other child is either repeating threats they've heard at home or has totally unsuitable online viewing. I'd be very concerned about domestic violence in their home.

DC needs to smack them in the mouth after the next shove/pinch/threat.

Yes report this formally to school. I've reported a bullying problem very formally and the school did respond quite well to be fair.

It's important to put the details in writing, so in an email. Details of every incident as briefly as possible.

You can add that you've spoken to parents yet you are conscious of potential to escalate so are formally reporting.

Can school please advise how they will deal with/ respond to this. And ensure you ask for that response.

No need for sorry's. It's the right thing to do for everyone.

... And when the violent child hits yours back twice as hard, and now your kid doesn't have a leg to stand on either metaphorically or literally??

As others have said, this is a safeguarding issue and must be reported to school.

I had something similar with my DS when he was in Yr4. A friend in the group was belittling my son, it went on for a whole year, school were useless. During the summer holidays my son spoke about this boy every day even when we were on holiday, it was so sad to realise the torment my poor DS was in. I did speak to the mother, who was a friend, and she denied her DS would behave in such a way. It finally stopped in September of the new school year when my DS punched the bully. That punch took a lot of coaching and a promise I would stick up for him if he got into trouble at school, which he didn’t.

Take further action. I was a child at school and my parents did nothing because it was verbal and we had no proof.

be prepared to have to pull him out of school. This ex close friend may be having a rough time, but he’s threatened to kill your son.

the school should intervene and offer both your son and this other boy support if he needs it (he could be being bullied or abused himself) but until then you need to keep kicking their arse.

If your son hits him, your son will be the one to be punished.

This! ⬆️ Report every time- especially THIS which is VERY concerning - its a huge leap from a snarky put down or a sneaky shove in the class line!!

@pharmer

Nah. Everyone wants to pick on the kid who won't fight back. When they realise DC will, it changes things. I don't make the rules. Its the time-honoured method of dealing with bullies.

Unhelpful.

Oh please! So you want the police to get involved in playground fall outs as your first reaction ?? 🤔

Couldn’t you find a current thread to get judgy about?

Yes report it and don't let it be brushed under the carpet. This child is making very serious threats, and that in itself is a safeguarding issue as where have they learned all that?

I'd report to the school & to social services .. a 7 year old threatening to blind someone with acid & murder them is deeply concerning !

I feel for the police and OP. Terrible advice.

Get in touch with the police, who will then tell Social Services, who will then investigate why a 7 year old is saying such disturbing things and make the parents either clamp down on the media they're exposing their child to - or the people.

Agreed.

In the first year of secondary school a bigger boy used to bully my friend. In the end I snapped, called it out and ended up having a fist fight with him. I came off worse, but he never said a bad word to either of us again. In fact, he used to act like we were best mates.

@Cornishbelle - if this is still going on, take your son to martial arts to learn how to properly kick and punch. Practice in your garden or home everyday between lessons. Get him to a stage where he can drop the little cunt with a hard kick to the side of the knee.