First time witnessing my child getting pushed over continuously by another child..

[Littlemumbird92]

So I’ve experienced my first mum anger towards an unknown child in a play area.
It was supposed to be a nice day and play time for my daughter, myself and my auntie met up for a coffee while she played and we sat close by to watch her. As we were chatting I saw my daughter being followed by another girl around her age, suddenly she pushed my daughter over, fortunately she got right back up and like a trooper ignored the girl and went on her merry way.
This was on a higher floor lever so I stood up to see where they had got to. A couple of minutes later I see my daughter walking quite quickly where I had seen them before, her face was red and she looked about to cry. So comes the girl again and pushes my daughter once again.
By this point I’m filled with anger and yelling up to my day to come down. I go the the stairs at the back to meet her, as she comes down and sees me she looks so relieved and let’s her tears fall, the appears the girl again and pushed her! Right in front of me! My mouth and brain seemed to act without me; I found myself saying, “Excuse me but can you NOT push my daughter please?!”
Which I thought was quite pleasant and reasonable considering what was actually spinning around in my head.
My daughter ran to me and sobbed her heart out, she didn’t want to play anymore ad was too scared to go back in. A lovely mum overheard and offered to call her boys over so they would play with her and watch over her. But my daughter wasn’t having any of it. She was too scared.
Of course I gave her the encouragement speech to try and get her back on her feet. I sat for a while hoping to see which of the adults the girl went to, I wanted to find her parents. She didn’t budge from the play area and all the while stood staring at my daughter. We ended up leaving.

I just wondered if I handled it ok? Should I have done more? Obviously my priority was my daughter. But it boils my blood just remembering the girl pushing her and my daughter nearly in tears.
Later she mentioned that the girl had pushed her first, then asked to play, obviously from that experience she declined and went on to play by herself which led to the girl following her and pushing her some more. Apparently my daughter had asked her to stop but the girl continued.
It’s been creating a fire in my belly since.
I can’t understand how the parents didn’t see this either? I do remember a lone lady sat looking a bit sheepish when I collected my daughter after the ordeal.
Has everyone experienced this and how did you all handle this?
I can’t seem to get over it 😅

You handled it fine.
Your poor daughter. I think I would explain further to her that she doesn't have to play with anyone if she doesn't want to and reiterate boundaries. I'm on the other side of this in that my child can be the forceful one (Although never violent, just hyperactive in wanting to play 'there's a crocodile argh you must run with me').
There's a fine line between giving them space and trust and them abusing it. You don't want to helicopter either.
I'd try not to judge but reiterate it's not OK behaviour and you don't have to put up with it.
Don't feel bad about telling off another child either. It sounds like it was appropriate.

How old is she?

@Frazzle76 what nonsense is this, “try not to judge”? Judge away, this child was behaving in a very anti social way.

I would have picked up my child for a hug, and been firmer with the other girl and said, “no, you do NOT push people over. Go and find your mummy or daddy and tell them what you did.” Then I would follow child back to parent or carer and tell them what happened. If the child simply ran off, I would keep an eye out and try and nab her when she went to a parent later.

It isn’t acceptable to push and shove, there is no excuse for it. Child needs to be disciplined by parent, who is probably on phone or chatting and not doing any actual parenting at all here.

I think you were fine. This is hard but part of life, and the pushing gets rarer as they get older. The main thing is you gave her a way out and were kind when she was upset.

I would never engage the other parent, personally, as it would be pointless. If they cared, they would already be doing something.

I can’t understand how the parents didn’t see this either? I do remember a lone lady sat looking a bit sheepish when I collected my daughter after the ordeal.

These types of parents never see or hear anything unfortunately! It's always the parents of poorly behaved children who 'miss it' when their cherubs are going around hurting everyone else.

You handled it fine.