Do you step in when another kid is feeling sad or upset?

[Anonymous]

Sure - if I see a kid upset I'll ask what's wrong. If they won't tell me, I usually tell their parent or the adult in charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 6. I sometimes witness kids being mean to another kid or a child that I don’t know well is visibly upset.

Do you just MYOB or try to help?

At our last Girl Scouts meeting, there was a girl who was visibly upset and crying. Some of the girls in our troop are not nice and I am sure they said or did something to her. I asked her if she was ok and she just looked sad and said nothing. Other times I see kids actively excluding another child. I correct my child immediately but my child is not the instigator.

My children are younger (5 and 2) but I step in if I see kids being unsafe even if my kid isn’t involved, especially if one child is younger or smaller. If I see a child is visibly upset and their parent is not around I will also ask them if they need help/what I can do. It’s just instinct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends. If their parent is there, I look to them to intervene. In the case you described, the parent might not have been there. It’s fine to ask, “Hey Larla, what’s going on?” If she doesn’t answer, you can just say something like ,”Okay. Let me or Ms Jones know if we can help. Why don’t you join us over here.”

If I’m right there and witness some mean behavior, I call it out. But then again, I’m a teacher and have no issue doing that. 😬 “I heard that, and it wasn’t kind. Try again in a kind way.” Or something like that. And then when she rephrases, respond with a simple, “Excellent.” Move on.

Op here. I did ask her if she was ok and to join. I checked on her twice but she was crying in the corner. Not sure if I should have done more.

You did fine. Sometimes 6 year olds just have big feelings.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. I would ask the sad/hurt kid if they were ok / if they want help / if their parent is nearby - whatever is appropriate for the situation. If they don’t want help, I give them space.

If I actually witness and hear kids being unkind I may say something neutral like “Everybody on here?” That’s usually enough to let them know I am watching and to knock it off. If I know the kids by name I may say “Larlo Smith, I think you know better”. It would have to be something significant for me to intervene with a specific punishment or calling a parent unless it is an activity where I am the adult leader/coach. If I am in charge, I make it clear that all participants are to feel welcome and included.