My son's school had an open house for last school year. He was going into kindergarten, so the did it to familiarize the children with the school and their teachers. Anyway, the kids were allowed to play with the alphabet puzzles while the teachers talked to the parents. There was this little boy who was being the biggest bully to my son. He kept on trying to steal the pieces of the puzzleDarien had. So, in order to prevent him from stealing the pieces,Darien gathers up the pieces he was playing with and lays on them. Anyway, it made this boy mad and the boy punched my son in the back. My mouth dropped open, but before I could utter a word, the boy's father gathered him up and fussed at him. In no way, shape, or form was the boy made to apologize to my son, however. I was pissed because that's what I would have made Darien do. I was seeing red. I was about to have a word with the guy (who happened to be a cub scout leader) about his son's behavior, but my husband stopped me. He told me that it was not our place on how the man disciplined his son. Even if we intervened, it would not change the way the man raised his son and he would more than likely do it again. It's our job to teach our son right from wrong and the proper way to react to something like that.

The funny thing was, after the boy hit Darien, Darien turned around and looked at him like he was stupid and kept on playing with the puzzle. We asked him if he hurt him, and Darien simplily replied,"No. I kind of tickled, though."

That lady was so out of line. Ugh.

I would never find it my place to discipline a child that is not my own. If the child were hurting my child in anyway, I would definatly say something to the child, try to findthe parents and inform them... and hopefully they would take it from there.

I would hope other parents would do the same if it were my child being bad.

I knowquite a few parents blieve in spanking, so what if another parent spanked my child? That would NOT fly with me at all. It is one thing to verbally discipline a child, but physically is so out of the question when it is not your child.

I would have leaned into her face and using the same voice she used on my daughter said "That was RUDE."

there is a taco joint here w/a three story tall play gym. the bottom part is for the smaller kids but, the big kids have to go through that part to get to the upper floors (really poorly designed) i don't let Elliot play in there any more becauser, i was constantly scolding other kids for knocking him down on purpos and just being down right mean to him.

i think in your case it was un called for but, not all the time.

Quoting Kai aka Deuce's Mommy:“ I would have leaned into her face and using the same voice she used on my daughter said "That was RUDE."”

lol I would have loved to see the look on that woman's face!

Quoting luv my 4 chix:“ Okay I had my 22 month old with me at the hospital the other day and we were in the waiting room with ... [snip!] ... you all ever speak to or dicipline a strangers child like that? I know I never would but I just want to hear from you all.”

OOooppss I voted befor i read. haha . I thought the question was going to be do you think its right to discipline your own child. SORRY.

No! I would never ever discipline a strangers child.

I wouldnt do what she did because your daughter didnt do anything "mean" at all and you did apologize. I would however tell someones kid on the play ground if the parents didnt do anything that they did something mean. I wouldnt get on to them like the lady you dealt with but I would say something. I have gotten onto peoples kids before and told a boy who threw a rock at my son that what he did was mean and if he couldnt play nice he wouldnt play with my son. Most the time if I would like to "say" something to the kid I wont but instead will turn my bad to them and explain to MY kid why what the other one did was wrong and that they were "bad".

I don't think it's ever okay to discipline someone else's child. Even if they hit, bite, whatever.. Take that up with the parent, disciplining THEIR child is THEIR job.

I would've been pissed..I never would discipline anyone's child unless the parent wasn't there...I would probably raise my voice a tad to get them to stop doing what they are doing if the parents were being ridiculous and not notiving their childs behavior. If somebody else would try to discipline Jake, I would be mad as hell...

One time Jacob kept going to play with the door knob at this place we were at..I kept removing him each time becaise I didn't want someone to come in from the other side of the door and knock Jacob down. Well when I was removing him, this guy swings the door so hard and it was instinctual for me to getangry lol..I know it was dumb but I seriously felt kinda mad at that guy and muttered..."jerk" as he walked by lol

I would never act so rude if the parent was right there apologizing, especially when the poor girl was just trying to give a hug.

But what pisses me off is when parents just sit on their ass and watch their hoodlum children hit other kids etc. I always step in and say "Don't hit, That's rude. Keep hands to yourself" etc. I generally say it loud enough so the parents can hear. I hate people who can't control their children.

Quoting Melinda.:“ I don't think it's ever okay to discipline someone else's child. Even if they hit, bite, whatever.. Take that up with the parent, disciplining THEIR child is THEIR job.”

Then you start a big huge fight because you are telling someone how to raise their kid. I dont deal with the parents because the parents dont handle being told something was wrong as well as a kid does. You end up in a fight and set a bad example in the long run because inyour kidseyes you started it by going after the parent. Someone tells me how to handle my kid then you can bet they would be starting a big argument.

Quoting Cowgirl47429:“ Then you start a big huge fight because you are telling someone how to raise their kid. I dont deal ... [snip!] ... it by going after the parent. Someone tells me how to handle my kid then you can bet they would be starting a big argument.”

So you choosing to discipline someone else's child is a good example? Sorry, but if anyone EVER hits, yells, anything at my child, there will be a fight no matter what. That is MY kid, noone elses. I don't care what the circumstances are, it is never okay to discipline someone else's child. If it is that big a deal to you, then you need to quietly pull the parent aside and ask them politely to take care of their child.

I don't think that NEVER is a good word to use here because until we've been faced with all situations we can't say that.
I was on a ferry boat one time and a mother had two of her children (6-8ish) with her in the playroom along with my one year old son and I. The one child was an absolute hellion. He would slap his mother, push and hit other children yell and scream at everyone including his mother, swear, etc. His mother (obviously exhausted) would sometimes try to give him time outs but he just hit her and ran up to play and she gave in. She would talk to him about his behaviour and he would ignore her. So when he started kicking and pushing my one year old and completely ignoring his mother (I gave her a chance). She gave up and he continued. So I very calmly but sternly and without even raising my voice told him that it was in no uncertain terms ok at all for him to lay a hand, foot, or any other part of his body on any of the other children in this room and that he should be ashamed of himself for picking on a baby when he is so obviously bigger than him. I told him that he would not continue to touch my child. (no threat, just left him wondering what would happen if he did ) I believe that the shock of an adult who was a complete stanger deciding to address his behaviour was enough for him to calm down somewhat.

Quoting Cowgirl47429:“ Then you start a big huge fight because you are telling someone how to raise their kid. I dont deal ... [snip!] ... it by going after the parent. Someone tells me how to handle my kid then you can bet they would be starting a big argument.”

i think (tell me if i'm wrong, melinda) that what melinda meant is that she would inform the parent of the offending behavior. i don't think she meant that she would tell the parent how to deal with it, just that it happened.

Quoting bittermelon:“ i think (tell me if i'm wrong, melinda) that what melinda meant is that she would inform the parent ... [snip!] ... of the offending behavior. i don't think she meant that she would tell the parent how to deal with it, just that it happened.”

Haha, yes. I would never yell or hit another person's child. Calming asking the offender to stop biting is not discipline... I am talking about yelling, screaming, spanking.