WWYD - Playgroup "bully"

OSUx2

We go to a weekly playgroup and there is one boy that has really become a bit of a bully.  He is 2, parents both work so it is the sitter (who is mom's cousin) that brings him.  He has always been one to shove other kids (and he is bigger that any other kid in the group) and take toys but it is getting much worse.  This past week he bit a kid, poked DD in the eye, and knocked several others down.  All the other moms tried to tell the sitter that maybe she needed to remove the kid and leave but she didn't.  I don't want to leave the group but it isn't as enjoyable as it used to b/c I have to worry about DD getting hurt by this kid.  I don't feel comfortable talking to the mom about it so I'm not really sure what I can do. 

I did laugh though when he got bit at the petting zoo over the weekend by 2 different animals.  I know it is mean but karma is a b!tch and he was probably poking the animals anyway so he most likely deserved it.

Temp38995750004016

Umm, I told someone at the DOG park they need to put their dog on a leash until he chills or just go play by themselves. I'm sure I'll have no problem doing the same thing when my kid gets poked in the eye. = )  It would be different if it was just a one time deal or he just took one toy away from another kid, but he sounds like a real brat.

rayskit10

Listen, it takes a village. Someone needs to talk to the kids mom b/c it's a disservice to HIM that he is not learning right from wrong. He will have trouble making friends, probably get in trouble in school and other problems. Good behavior is as much a benefit to the child as it is to the rest of us. Talk to the mom. If she is a bitchonwheels, avoid him but she might be surprised depending on what the sitter does/doesn't tell her.

kat.in.the.hat

I had a situation like this, and the mom was aware of the behavior, but didn't do anything to correct it.  And in this case, all the child's behavior was focused on Marion.

I just simply tried to physically distance Marion from this child, even if it meant picking her up to get her away from him.  Some of the other moms were aware of this and also tried to keep them apart if I wasn't able to get there quick enough.

Luckily, our problem was resolved without me saying anything, but in your situation, I think what I'd end up doing would be picking up A and saying, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to let her get hurt, so we're going to go home now.

Nanner

rayskit10:

Listen, it takes a village. Someone needs to talk to the kids mom b/c it's a disservice to HIM that he is not learning right from wrong. He will have trouble making friends, probably get in trouble in school and other problems. Good behavior is as much a benefit to the child as it is to the rest of us. Talk to the mom. If she is a bitchonwheels, avoid him but she might be surprised depending on what the sitter does/doesn't tell her.

Totally agree with this.  The mom must be told.  How else can the behavior change, if the sitter won't do anything about it?  Most parents will want to do something, and if she doesn't, then at least you know you tried.

There's a kid in Hannah's gymnastics class that is a total bully.  He pushes her down almost every week.  One time they were having fun on the trampoline after class, and he pushed her down three times before the mother actively did anything.  The first time, it was "Oliver, don't push."  The second time, she just kept saying, "Oliver, come off the trampoline.  Oliver.  Oliver.  Oliver..."  She didn't go physically get him until the 3rd time.  The gymnastics teacher has even had to put him in time out a few times, and the mother does nothing.  So annoying.  But you know, it's not the kid's fault.  The mother isn't even giving him a chance to learn how to behave.