Pediatrician Grandma Offers Advice: When Should You Intervene with Another Parent's Child?

"Pediatrician Grandma" Addresses Parenting Dilemma: Disciplining Other Children A popular online personality, known as "Pediatrician Grandma," recently tackled a sensitive parenting question in her latest video: the appropriate course of action when faced with another parent's child misbehaving, particularly if it impacts one's own child. The discussion was prompted by a viewer who described a situation at a public park where her child was being bullied by another child, with no supervising adult present. The "Pediatrician Grandma" emphasized that while physical intervention with another person's child is never advisable, parents have a primary responsibility to protect their own children. Her advice included stepping in verbally to address the misbehavior, such as reminding children about sharing or taking turns in a public space. If verbal cues are insufficient or the situation escalates, she recommended removing one's own child from the environment to ensure their safety and well-being. Following such an incident, she suggested a calm discussion with the child to reassure them that their behavior was not the cause of the problem, but rather the other child's inappropriate actions. She also noted a shift in societal norms, where collective discipline by community members was once common, but today, direct intervention with another's child is generally discouraged, making these situations more complex for parents. The video provides practical guidance for navigating these challenging interpersonal dynamics in public settings.

NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

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NBC Boston

Is it ever OK to discipline someone else's child? A pediatrician weighs in

Is it ever acceptable to discipline someone else’s child — especially if your kid is at risk for harm?