A friend boasting online About hitting HIS child – what Should I Do?
QMy husband’s friend recently boasted online about taking a belt to his son to teach him to sleep through the night – the child is two. I think I should call the police or someone about this and my mum, who I showed the post to and is a nursery nurse, agreed. What on earth do you teach any child, let alone a two-year-old, by hitting them? My husband agreed with me and spoke to him – but he says it was only a cloth belt, and won’t budge from thinking he did the right thing. If I report him, he might know who did it. But he comes to all our social gatherings – I don’t think I can be in the same room with him.
Suzie says
AYou’re right – if a child can’t sleep at night, they might need help to establish a bedtime routine or to have their night fears dealt with. The last thing they need is a beating – and yes, smacking tends to escalate, as it seldom has the desired result. I don’t see why this man has to assume it’s you reporting him – he made this post asserting his behaviour to a wide audience. Take a screenshot, then contact the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). They’d prefer to be sent on a wild goose chase than let one child suffer. Visit nspcc.org.uk or call the helpline on 0808 800 5000 for advice.