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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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8 replies

mrsGlowworm · 11/02/2026 03:15

My DS10 has gone to the same after school club for years. There is a person who oversees the kids (I’ll call him John). John also helps out at school sometimes, but I don’t know him beyond saying hello at pick up. DS came home uncharacteristically quiet tonight and then broke down in floods of tears tonight. He told me some things which concern me. I’m in two minds whether to raise w the club leader or leave it, in case I’m overreacting / John is vindictive.

so the kids use a two story building and playground for asc, higher years on the upper floor. DS couldn’t find a free chair near his friends to sit and read, so he picked up a chair to move it and accidentally dropped the chair. John ran up to see what the issue was and accused DS of throwing the chair. DS (and his friends) explained that he was moving but John insisted it must have been thrown. A couple of the girls agreed it had been thrown (just causing drama). However it would be really out of character for my DS to throw a chair - he’s a really quiet, helpful little boy, he’s never had so much as a warning for poor behaviour.

John then told the entire ASC that they would have to all go out in the rain and no one could be indoors due to DS. This meant DS was completely ostracised. DS started crying as he went downstairs. John then told him he couldn’t play football in the playground with the others until he ‘sorted himself out’

am I being unreasonable, or does this seem a strangely aggressive way to react to an accidentally dropped chair? DS is so upset and doesn’t want to go back to ASC. After some probing, he mentioned John sometimes condones rough games in the playground, or tells kids off for crying if they fall over/ get hurt. I’d like to say something to the ASC leader but if John is so reactive, I don’t want him to start picking on DS. I work full time and need ASC for wrap around, DS can’t walk himself home yet (difficult route home)

OP posts:
MissingSockDetective · 11/02/2026 04:01

I think you have no idea what actually happened and it is therefore worth talking to the club to get all sides of the story. I'd not decide what to think until I had all the information.

FairKoala · 11/02/2026 04:28

I wouldn’t be sending a child back. Any one who you think is vindictive and behaves like this, I would be steering my child to an alternative activity

Xnz2022 · 11/02/2026 04:28

Either he is very unreasonable or you aren't being told the full story by your son/other kids..

I used to work in kids club places and the stories they told their parents were rarely entirely true. We had cameras and parents were frequently quite shocked when they saw their kid that they trusted entirely had "remembered wrongly".

So if it were me I would go in and meet/communicate to get to the bottom of it, but I would do so with an open mind, that the truth is most likely somewhere in between.

Bearbookagainandagain · 11/02/2026 05:56

You need to talk to the club to understand what happened. Even if he had thrown the chair, it seems like an extreme reaction to send all the kids out in the rain...

mrsGlowworm · 11/02/2026 06:59

Fair enough, I will definitely talk to the club. I know I can’t know the whole story as yet, but my son is now in Yr 6 and it would be so unusual for him to be throwing chairs or lying about it - we literally had parents evening last night and his teacher mentioned how calm and well behaved he is, if anything they’re trying to get him to speak up more! He’s never violent or destructive at home either, and I know he had taken in a new book to asc that he was desperate to read.

OP posts:
GottaCatchSomeOfEm · 11/02/2026 07:04

Is John the only adult? I'm surprised the children were left upstairs with no adult supervision. Is that typical?

Mimicking · 11/02/2026 07:13

This is a tricky one because we want our children to know we will advocate for them when needed, but there is always a chance your child's perception of what happened is different to the facts.

I had a situation with an adult at school (or rather, DC did). I took it to the head because of the nature of the way my DC told me. It was an organic conversation rather than the usual how was your day/tales about the school. I explained what DC had told me and asked that it was investigated. DC appeared relieved when I acted, and the adult has not been mentioned in a negative light since.

If I was in your shoes, I'd ask for it to be looked into. Stick to the facts of what your DS told you. I'm not sure I'd mention the other stuff because you said you probed. Children can feel under pressure to say what they think you want to hear when quizzed. I'm not saying DS isn't being honest, but the other stuff isn't what he was upset about, and until now, I get the impression your son has been quite happy during ASC.

Sometimessmiling · 11/02/2026 18:30

mrsGlowworm · 11/02/2026 06:59

Fair enough, I will definitely talk to the club. I know I can’t know the whole story as yet, but my son is now in Yr 6 and it would be so unusual for him to be throwing chairs or lying about it - we literally had parents evening last night and his teacher mentioned how calm and well behaved he is, if anything they’re trying to get him to speak up more! He’s never violent or destructive at home either, and I know he had taken in a new book to asc that he was desperate to read.

Sounds like overkill even if he did throw a chair a big overreaction. Go in listen to what they have to say but be firm

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