supporting 6yo DD after being 'attacked'

[bejeezus]

This I suspect should probably be in the parenting section, but I value yous opinion, and you are more in number/more prolific!

Whilst we were in a small supermarket maybe 4 months ago, a crazy old lady decided to launch an attack on my dd, saying that my dd had kicked her. She was very very aggressive and was threatening physical harm. I wasnt too worried about that side of it as I could have over powered her easily if needs be, but I did have to physically hold her to prevent her walloping my dd. She was very venomous had had quite evil rheumy looking eyes. I was left with the feeling of some evil witch out of a fairytale.

My dd was really really upset and scared by it. Now, some months after it happened she is still really nervous when we are out and about; she doesnt like people she doesnt know walking behind us, especially if they are walking fast. she also doesnt like parked cars, especially dark coloured cars or vans. Her reactions seem to be escalating rather than improving.

I stay calm and explain that she was very unlucky to have met such a nasty women, but most people are not like that and she will probably never meet such a loon again. I dont seem to be able to allay her fears though. Im scared its going to develop into agrophobia or something.

Any ideas

take to gp and refer to play therapist to work thru her fears . maybe only few sessions needed.
but seeking profrssional help may be the answer here .

Your poor dd! I don't know the answer but hoping someone with experience of this will come along soon!

thanks, it was horrid. the staff and security had to intervene...and lots of other shoppers stopped to help, and we were spirited away to the staff room so it was quite memorable!

ok...ill try the GP for playtherapy...good idea

does anyone have experience of play therapy? what heppens? how it works? is it successful?

Horrible! Not overflowing with advice here either, but does her school know, or would you worry that telling them might escalate it all somehow? If they're switched on, there might be someone there she can confide in? Perhaps she feels she can't get it all out for fear of worrying you? Little children can worry so much about that sort of thing.

i told her teacher the day after it happened as she was so tearful about it. But maybe Ill speak to them again

I second the therapy idea. Does the school have a counsellor?

my friend's daughter had therapy following death of a sibling and fears around death. it has really helped.

make appt with gp you dont need to take dd with you to discuss options and what is available in your area. art therpay/play therapy use play or art to get child to express theirfears and work thru them
also look up music therapy locally .

Thanks all, for posting. Spoke to dds class teacher after school. They have an art therapist and a play therapist so she is going to talk to them and the head to see what's best.

I think therapy would definitely help her. In the mean time could you talk about it with her but focus on all the people that came to help and how the world us generally full of kind helpfull people and not crazy ladies!

We do talk about it quite a lot. Unfortunately 1 of the people that came to help became quite rude and aggressive himself, threatened a member of staff and also had to be escorted off the premises!! It was really bizarre

But yes good idea- I could point out useful/kind people when I can. She's pretty astute though, she quite often acknowleges if someone has been kind or helpful. And also we live in an inner city area and there ARE some dodgy characters around, I can't pretend they don't exist, there are quite a lot of crazies around!

Maybe I need to draw more attention to the 'unsavouries' so she learns that they are mostly harmless!!

I think that's a really good idea hereigo that might meet her sense of justice. She asks a lot about whether the police will find her. I think it would make her feel a lot safer. Thanks

Do you think I should go as far as to get some one to leave a voicemail or just tell her I spoke to the police officer/shop person?