Do you tell off other people's kids? Post Reply

[Furzedown Dad]

Some parents will take offence, but they are the kind of parents that would take offence anyway.

I don't agree with this, actually. If one of my kids was misbehaving and disturbing people I would be a lot more receptive to someone (politely) speaking to me and asking me to try and calm them down than with them addressing my kids directly.

Part of that is the defensive mechanism that's present for most parents I suppose - right or wrong, you're always going to want to defend your family. But it's also a question of effectiveness too. Most children have been told to a greater or lesser degree not to talk to strangers - so being stern with a child you don't know might frighten or upset them, which in turn could upset the parents.

Course, that all assumes a "normal" situation of kids being noisy, or invading another family's personal space or something similar. If it's a question of safety then I think you just do whatever's quickest, which probably isn't finding a child's parents before you speak to them.

[lizvernell]

Yup, I am of the opinion that "it takes a village to raise a child". Obviously one should discipline within reason. I would not like it if someone shouted at my kids etc but I believe that if they are being disruptive, littering, swearing, hurting someone emotionally or physically (I hope non of this will ever happen) I would like someone else to intervene and rectify the situation. I think that more unity in parenting would help build a stronger and respectful society. Saying that, I and I imagine others could misinterpret intervention as a criticism on parenting capabilities which could end in disaster.