Child threatened to kill DC with a knife

[AppleBerryCrumble]

DC is 7. A class mate child waved a knife at them today (at lunch) saying “I will kill you” multiple times and then “I WILL kill you one day”.

School told me there had been an incident with a knife at lunch and some horrible things had been said. They said DC would likely be upset. They said they were dealing with the other child.

DC seemed normal. When I asked if anything had happened today, the response was “how do you know?”. I then was then reluctantly told the story before DC went off to play.

Not sure what to do now! Perhaps nothing? Any advice?

I should add that DC said “I know it’s not true” before going to play. I asked that they tell me anything they are worried about.

The school are dealing with it. Just be sure to support your child with any consequent feelings /behaviour resulting from it.

I’m not interested in the other child, only my own btw.

This whole 'The school is dealing with it', is a bit bloody useless when your child has been threatened like this. Have you asked the school how they are going to deal with it and what reassurances they can make that your child isn't at risk?

@FourTeaFallOut

This whole 'The school is dealing with it', is a bit bloody useless when your child has been threatened like this. Have you asked the school how they are going to deal with it and what reassurances they can make that your child isn't at risk?

I do completely trust the school. I’m not concerned that there’s a threat to physical safety. I’m just worried about the psychological impact. DC is sensitive and hadn’t wanted to tell me.

My options are say nothing more unless it comes up/ I notice any worry or odd behaviour, or offer some kind of additional conversation/assurance. I just don’t know which is best.

I'd want backstory. Does knife waver have known issues, is he/she /it being excluded? Is there bullying of your dc going on the you're unaware of?

I can’t believe how calm you’re coming across after your child has been threatened with a knife. Is this usual for the area? No way my child would be going back in.

Do you mean a fellow seven year old waved their dinner knife and said “I will kill you” or an older pupil threatened your 7yo with an illegally smuggled in weapon?

Not saying the first is fine but they are two quite different scenarios….

I know there are behavioural issues, yes. Don’t know about exclusion but I’d guess no (and I wouldn’t push for it). No bullying of DC- very popular in fact. DC says they stood up to child after a few of them were physically pushed.

I’m not going to get hysterical about the incident itself. I’m just not sure if and/or how to talk to DC about it beyond the chat we’ve already had.

Did the child have a knife?

@FidoRido

Do you mean a fellow seven year old waved their dinner knife and said “I will kill you” or an older pupil threatened your 7yo with an illegally smuggled in weapon?

Not saying the first is fine but they are two quite different scenarios….

The former. If it were the latter, I probably would be hysterical!

I agree, they are very different. That’s why my focus is just on making sure DC is okay and not worrying about a threat to physical safety.

It was a lunch knife.

Having just gone down a rabbit hole when Amazon Prime kindly recommended I may like to watch a film about Venables and Thompson, I think I'd be moving far away from that horrible child!

But then I do have a worst case sort of thinking. Are the child's parents involved?

@AppleBerryCrumble

It was a lunch knife.

What is a lunch knife?

A knife that kids use to eat their school lunch 🙄

I think in terms of how you handle your child’s response, be led by them. They don’t seem too bothered so I would just be keeping an eye on them, not badgering them about how they feel etc.

I’d be going much harder on the school - they’ll not tell you anything about what steps they are taking with the other child but I’d be writing an email asking what steps they were taking to keep your child safe given this direct and violent threat against them. Alongside that, I’d want a system in place to ensure you get a call from the head to alert you if there is any further incident and equally you want an open line to them if you call with any concerns. My school put this in place for me and DS when he was being targeted by a classmate.

@kitcat15

A knife that kids use to eat their school lunch 🙄

So a silver knife?

@AppleBerryCrumble

I know there are behavioural issues, yes. Don’t know about exclusion but I’d guess no (and I wouldn’t push for it). No bullying of DC- very popular in fact. DC says they stood up to child after a few of them were physically pushed.

I’m not going to get hysterical about the incident itself. I’m just not sure if and/or how to talk to DC about it beyond the chat we’ve already had.

Be led by them. Is he the type of kid who will hide and bottle up things and pretend he's fine? Or will he come to you when needed?

He SEEMS fairly unfazed , which is not a bad thing and even to be expected depending on his emotional maturity and strength, but you know him best.

Just remind him he can tell you anything or if he doesn't want to talk he can draw for you, remind him of any trusted adults at school he can talk to and keep an eye on him(nightmares,becoming withdrawn or afraid,asking questions about death,knife crime,the incident etc)

I don't think you're taking the incident seriously enough.

FgS The school have informed the OP and are dealing with it. Why on earth does the OP need to do anything. Kids do and say stupid things all the time. Some of the suggested responses on here are utterly batshit.

@Pumperthepumper I assume a butter/blunt knife

@cansu

FgS The school have informed the OP and are dealing with it. Why on earth does the OP need to do anything. Kids do and say stupid things all the time. Some of the suggested responses on here are utterly batshit.

Completely agree.