Is it ever okay.....

[ChristmasElf]

Most kids that misbehave in public have NO discipline at home, that is why they act like they do. I would not hesitate to say anything to someone else's child especially if they are causing grief to mine or bothering me.
Too bad, so sad if the other parent doesn't like it either.
Discipline your own kids, so I won't have to do it for you.

 

[mommaU4]

Thanks for the good input. It sounds like everyone pretty much agrees to speak up and say something to the offending kids, but not to wait around for a thank-you card from the parents!

 

[DisneyDotty]

Yep yep yep! Totally agree with most of the posters here, although I just remarked to my friend the other day that I'm tired of yelling at other people's children. The trouble with parents nowadays.....
Anyway, I often tell other moms in the neighborhood to feel free to correct my children at any time, and to please let me know if they have needed to be corrected! Wish more parents felt this way. (And by "correct", I mean to give 'em an earful, not a swat.)
It does indeed take a village to raise a child...
To the OP--I would have complained to management, too. Twelve and thirteen year olds are too big for the play areas. Shame on mom and dad for letting them play there.

 

[ElizK]

Yep, I have done it. But I have also been chewed up and spit out by a mother who didn't care what her rotten kid was doing, only cared that someone had reprimanded her. (I said, "Ya'll, don't do that." to the kids. That's all.)

I would never touch someone else's child, but will step in and say something if I think the situation warrants.

 

[Linnie The Pooh]

I think you should say something. My theory on it is if the parents aren't going to disclipline their child, I will. If it's done appropriately.

I have a spec needs child and was waiting in Toys R Us for them to bring something out of the back. DS was about 4 at the time and this little girl was on one of those rides where you pay 50 cents and ride with Elmo in the boat or whatever for a few mins. He started to wander over there and I kept my eye on him. He was about 20 feet away from the ride when the girl's dad started to SCREAM at my son to get away-I immediately ran over there. He had just wanted to watch her was all-he wasn't even close to her or wasn't trying to get on the ride or anything at all-just standing there. As soon as he saw me approach, he calmed down and was using this real sweet voice to my son saying, "It's my little girl's turn right now, see, then when she's done you can ride blah blah blah."

I went beserk and told the jerk that my son has special needs and he was just watching the girl-"I heard you scream at my son and it was totally uncalled for!!!" etc. He walked away from me. Right then, my package came from the back so I grabbed it and followed the guy out of the store yelling at him about how rude he is and insensitive he was.

To look at my son you'd never know he's special needs, but good grief-who screams at kids like that??? I was PO'd and do admit, I lost control. But I'm very protective of my kids and especially my son who doesn't understand things like other kids.

If my son had done something wrong and I didn't get after him for it, I can understand a parent jumping in, but not the way he did-it still shocks me to remember how he screamed at my son like that.

 

[worm761]

i completely agree that it takes a village to raise a child. and if my son is misbehaving and i am not there to correct him..please, feel free. he knows he has to listen to grown ups.
i have done this twice. gotten different reactions both times. once was in walmart. had my neice, nephew and son with me. i am not used to so many kids. i heard a kid playing with the kodak picture maker. and said HEY! don't play with that! then figured out real quick it wasn't my nephew doing it. i apologized to the parent but he said don't worry, he shouldn't have been touching it anyway. the other time was at mcdonald's. i was managing there and saw a little boy about 3 or 4 yrs old walk out the door that led into my drive thru. an order had just been handed out. which meant a car was about to take off. i ran out the door and grabbed the little boy by the back of his shirt just as he was about to step in front of a moving car. the mother flipped out, yelling at me touching her kid. she was in the sound proof playland reading a paper. this child followed another family out of the playland. she never even noticed he was gone until i returned him to her.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

It does indeed take a village to raise a child...

That's just what I was going to say. I have spoken up and told kids not to do something, or told them to stop certain behavior. There have also been times when I know friends of mine have had to correct my kids in situations where I wasn't around. That's ok by me.