Older child hit toddler dd at party - wwyd?

[Pantheon]

My dd is nearly 2. At a friend's party recently, an older girl of about 6 deliberately hit her quite hard on the arm. I was right there to see this - the girl looked at me as she did it. I obviously comforted my dd but do you find the parents in this situation? If my dd had hit another child, I would want to know so that I could tell her to apologise/remove her etc. A toddler hitting another toddler is one thing imo but this was a much older child. So wwyd?

I would have called the child out and then would have spoken to the parents.

Not ok at all.

Nothing much. Comfort my 2yo and move her away from the 6yo, remind the 6yo (kindly) that it’s not ok to hit, especially people who are smaller/younger than you. Does the 6yo have a younger sibling?

There’s going to be a lot of hitting in your child’s life, including by your DD.

As this happened recently, I would do nothing now. However, I would have comforted my child, removed my child from the situation and reminded the 6yr old that my daughter is much smaller and to play kindly.

I’d have made sure the parents heard by shouting at the child in my loudest teacher voice and making her cry. It’s a bit late now though.

I’ll likely get flamed but my instinct would have been to remove dd and probably have spent several moments fantasising about drop kicking the bully kid out of the nearest window and trying to work out if their mother looks the type to actually correct the behaviour or if it’s familial ...It would also depend which of my kids it was- dd1 I’d have let get on with it because she always stood her ground but dd2 is a gentle soul and would be so confused someone had hurt her. If her reaction had been genuine distress I’d have certainly spoken with the parents

I comforted dd and removed her from the situation. I didn't know the child or who her parents were/where in the room they were, I think it would have been different if I had. Also she is a gentle soul and was understandably upset.

Thanks for your replies so far - food for thought if it happens again.

As the parent of a huge 3 yo I would also remember that looks can be a bit deceiving sometimes! She might have been younger than six! But yeah I'm generally happy to deal with stuff if other parents tell me about it, not that I miss much! As pps have said it will happen alot, not really worth still worrying about!

I’d have made sure the parents heard by shouting at the child in my loudest teacher voice and making her cry

Delightful 🙄

I would have had a firm, but reasonable word with the child involved and left it at that.

This happened at a playground to my two year old recently. I said that wasn’t kind and they were much bigger than him. The child said sorry but my child was doing x,y,z (not relevant and not hitting but was annoying them). I said she was forgiven and to please use kind hands and come and tell me if there was a problem. The child in question then (spontaneously and rather unexpectedly!) launches into a hug, which made me think this little one was in need of some more hugs in her life.

It’s easy when you have a toddler to think 6yrs is a grand old age, they are still learning. So I would always comment but I keep in mind that this is just one moment in their life! Calling them a bully is unhelpful.

I’d have made sure the parents heard by shouting at the child in my loudest teacher voice and making her cry.

I sincerely hope you are not actually a teacher