Childs play

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We have a small children’s play area in our apartment. Just a couple of swings, slides, the spring ducks & a merry go round. Next to a small grass lawn. Most kids come down to play. I usually pick up lil P around 6.30pm from the day care and by then it’s too late to take her to the park. On some days that I reach early I make it a point to interact with most kids in the block. Now there are kids of different temperaments there. Some kids like Lil P n her friend Shlok are very soft by nature. They don’t like being pushed around. or getting dirty. Some kids are downright rude and bossy. Some are too excited when they see a younger kid around and want to pet, hug and hold. I usually have an eye on Lil P whenever she’s outside the house.. Most times I don’t interfere unless she starts fighting, crying or might hurt herself.

Now there are these 2 girls (twins) and a boy.. All aged around 7 years about whom I’m really concerned. One, they are really rude. Most times pushing the small kids, fighting, kicking with each other, and using abusive languages. Second, they have lately started pulling at each other’s skirts, shorts, shirts revealing a lot more than what kids their age shud be. .. and I find that really disgusting. The girls’ mother is never around to monitor. Once during their play session of falling on top of each other. n pulling off skirts n pants.. I scolded them and threatened to complain to their mother. The kids, walked away at that. But one of the mothers said. They are small. What will they understand? Its just child’s play.

I’m not sure.. I don’t think one should wait till girls or boys mature to tell them abt what is right behavior n what is wrong. It shud be told to them in bits n pieces rt from maybe when they are 2.. I try to tell Lil p (in the form of stories) .. Don’t go with strangers.. Don’t eat chocolates without asking my permission.. Don’t take off ur clothes in public.. n she understands a few things. In this age when u can’t trust even school bus drivers isn’t it necessary to tell ur kid what is the right and what is wrong.. Maybe I’m over protective. Maybe I’m seeing too much into that episode, but to me the kids’ play did not look like child’s play at all. I did let the mother know abt the behavior in the park.. The boy’s mother started monitoring. But there was no change in the girls’ behavior. The mother is not too fond of me either. But I can’t just be a bystander. I try not to differentiate between my child and another’s child.

How would you have reacted??