Is it okay to correct someone else's kid?

Question

So, a few months ago I was at McDonald's with my daughter. She was playing in the play zone and there were a couple of other kids there, probably about 2 and 4 years old. They were playing on their own while the parents were out at the counter getting food. While watching my daughter, the older of the 2 kids got a plastic bag and put it over their brother's head. I just got up and took the bag off of his head and explained to them that we don't play like that because it's dangerous then threw the bag out. I didnt mention it to the parents because I didnt want to cause a fuss, but was this the correct way to handle this?

Accepted Answer

I think you should have mentioned it to their parents

Answer

That's what I would have done except that I would have told the parents.

Answer

Yes that’s perfectly fine. I’ve corrected other people’s children a few times. I make sure to always lighten my voice and say things gently. I would have said something to the parents so they could try pay more attention to their kids the next time

Answer

I think it’s appropriate since it was dangerous. I may have mentioned it to the parents in a “I don’t mean to overstep my boundaries but this seemed dangerous..” kind of way

Answer

Like others have said, safety first. If they were playing dangerously I would have helped first, then told the parents. 
Recently I was at a bounce place and had put a quarter in a massage chair machine. My son was hiding BEHIND it and playing with me, while a girl came and sat in it. My son began to cry because this was a part of our game, and his mom kind of tapped my son and went “it’s her turn now, would you like a turn later?” 
She didn’t know the preceding circumstance and that I had paid for him to sit in the stupid thing, but I felt it was not her place to correct my son’s crying. She was “over parenting” the situation and I was very annoyed. I think you can address issues to the parent, and let them correct in a way that is consistent with their own usual methods. If my son had a plastic bag over his head though, definitely all the above is out the window.

Answer

Yes. Sometimes I appreciate it, like when one child misbehaves at a park and I miss it because I'm tending to my other child. If my child is doing something dangerous, I definitely would like someone to stop him or her and let me know what happened.

Answer

In that case I think it was necessary. I don't think I'd be able to see something like that and not put a stop to it for the sake of that child's well-being

Answer

Certain circumstances yes I will intervene. For instance I was in the parking lot of Burger King and a small group of 8-11 year olds walked out and one of them threw his cup on the ground. Garbage can was literally 2 feet away. I yelled out the window “pick that up, we don’t litter!”. If my kid did something like that or something dangerous I would hope someone else would say something if I hadn’t seen it. A lot of times I have to bite my tongue in public if I see kids acting out bc I never know if a parent would appreciate it or yell at me and tell me to mind my business 🤷🏻‍♀️

Answer

Generally I would say it’s not another persons place however, that was a real safety issue so I think you were right to take the bag off them. I also think your approach or explaining that it’s dangerous in a nice way is the right one if you ever have to get involved with another person’s child. I don’t think it’s ever ok to shout or punish but what you did is different :) x

Answer

If I knew who their parents were then I’d let hem know first. If I couldn’t tell who their parents were then I’d go over to them too. I’ve corrected other peoples kids when they were physical with my toddler.

Is it okay to correct someone else's kid?

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