How would you handle this parenting situation?

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I'm interested to know how others would handle this...

You're out at a visitor attraction. Your 5 year old starts balancing along a low perimeter marking made of wood and starts falling into the exhibit. You grab them to stop them a) hurting themselves b) damaging the exhibit. They start screaming at you 'You hurt me deliberately'.

You explain why you grabbed them and that you didn't mean to hurt them. They continue to shout 'you hurt me deliberately'.

How would others handle this?

I took DD's hand and led her out and she continued shouting this the whole time. I feel as though I could have handled this better but I'm not sure how. I was surprised and a bit bewildered as I can't think when we last had something like this happen. behaviour wise. I'm also concerned that if people took her words seriously that someone would feel the need to report me in case I was in fact hurting her deliberately.

I would say "no I didn't DD, I had to grab you to stop you falling. I am sorry if I hurt you" once, and then ignore her until she stops.

My children have done this. It's embarrassing in a public place. I've left them with the other parent to calm down and walked off for a bit. Or just ignored them once I've done my best to explain and calm them when I've been on my own.

Both my children are autistic so sensitive to touch, and may struggle to understand other people's intentions at times, so they're not being rude or naughty as such.

A short firm explanation in a stern voice if necessary then ignore. If they really keep going on would probably say we’d have to leave as they’re not listening.

i wouldn’t worry about being reported.

Id have just done the same as you and perhaps thrown in a threat: "if you carrying on lying i am taking you home"

I’d completely ignore them and march them out with a face like thunder holding their hand very tightly. They would get very little attention from me until they behaved. Then I would briefly and sternly explain how they had disappointed me. Actions speak louder than words in these situations.

I would state very firmly what actually happened:

No, DD I had to remove you from the wooden ledge because you were about to fall. I'm sorry if it hurt but being safe is more important. Walking on ledges is dangerous. We don't do dangerous things.

I would also take her away from whatever we were doing and only return once she had agreed to behave.

If she's prone to doing things like this, a '' hold Mummy's hand'' rule may help. 5 year old's can be a bit like monkey's - they'll climb anything!

Wow, this happened to me. I tell her no I didn’t I was saving you, how about the next I leave you to fall. And then she whimpers for a bit and that’s it. Kids will test you limits, it’s our job as parent to set the boundaries and yelling at a parents is way up on the list.

Such a hideous situation for you….my son once screeched in a taxi that ‘you always hit me!!!’ When I tried to stop him from jumping out into a busy road. I was equally horrified like you. No idea what else we can do???

I'd probably tell them to pack it in or we're going home, unless I thought it had actually hurt, in which case I would say I was trying to stop them falling.

I would tell her to stop shouting at me right now or we would be going home.