We live on a large estate where my 9 year old has been playing in the street for the past couple of years. He doesn’t go to the same school as the children on the street but one of his friends introduced him to a new friend who lives round the corner.
They all play together and my son gets so much happiness from being out playing. They mostly just play games/football.
The new friend is the youngest in his family with an older sibling. I’ve noticed this boy acts much older than my son and his friend. He has a phone and he doesn’t make much conversation with us.
A few things have happened over the last few months which I have been concerned about but haven’t acted upon.
My son has a watch he can use to keep in touch with me but this boy sent him a video calling his mum a bitch and hopefully prentending that his mum was with him. In reality I’m sure his mym wasn’t there.
He also has a YouTube channel and the videos and way too mature. Last night he posted a video with another child’s photo saying he is going to fight this boy on a certain date with threats.
I was genuinely shocked and I don’t want my child playing with him anymore. Do I stop him going out altogether? This will make him very upset and I’m conflicted but how can I leave this little boy out whilst allowing my child out but not to play with him.
Do I raise it with his parents? I have the video on my phone as I wasn’t sure if he would delete it. It is 100% cyber bullying and at 9 I don’t want my son exposed or involved in it.