Not sure where to post.. what do you do when older kids are mean to your 3yr old??

[simplygreen]

Well mamas we were at the park today, and my son who is a very big almost 3yr old was trying to play with three other kids that were at least 8, 6, maybe 5? or older, but anyways he kept following them aroung trying to mimic what they did, and trying to talk to them.. I tried to re-direct him to another area of the park, but they were the only other kids there. Anyways them seemed to ignore him, but he did not mind, then he walked over to the one older boy and was telling him all about his sister who's name is Cienna. The boy thought he was talking about Santa, and began to tease him, well no big deal they continued to go up and down slides etc. Then the eldest gril comes up to my son and pushes him down on the ground and the all get around him in a circle won;t let him stand back up and start picking on him!!! What the f>>>!!! this my little boy.. so I walk over to the play ground equitment and telll the big bullies that's now how we should treat people, and that he is only 3yrs old! The big kids all just kind of wallk way, and I'm able to redirect my son to a new area. Mean while the parents are sitting in the car acting as if nothing is happening. The kids finally got to the car and leave.. on the way I can still here them mumbling mockings to my son, and as they get in the car I hear the dad ask if I yelled at them... but the parents don't get out they just pull away!

Is this how I'm suppose to handle this? My son was not shook up by it, I just explained to him that sometimes older kids just don't know how to paly with younger kids! And we went back to playing at the park. I do not always want to intervine but I'm trying to teach my son to be gentle, loving human. He is only 3!! So how do you handle issues @ the park?

[eko_mom]

Intervene. Intervene. Intervene. If we don't teach kids how to treat one another, who will? Sounds like the parents of the other kids haven't taught their kids how to treat others and you are.

[lilith1]

Wow, that's serious.
If the kids were the age you described I would expect them to know that this is just plain wrong. And I would have probably sought the attention of their parents after the fact. What you described goes well beyond the "he won't let me use the slide" thing. I think you handled that very calm, my respect!

And yes, intervene. I do. I am the parent, I protect and teach. My 18 month old likes to do the same thing, I watch him like a hawk, redirect him to more age appropriate activities. Sometimes though I feel like older kids have a hard time sharing the equipment with younger ones.
However, I see this as an excellent opportunity to learn for all involved parties.