Parenting: How would you handle this?

Question

I already know my answer--I just want to see what others would say. :-)

If you were on a crowded sidewalk/in a mall (for example) and your child wasn't watching where he/she was going and bumped into another person----What would be your reaction/What would you do?

Answer 1

Smile at the person, say sorry and tell my child to say "excuse me."

Answer 2

Depends on the age of the kiddo. If your talking a young kids (say 5 and under) you smile and apologize, take your baby by the hand and remind him/her that they have to watch out for other people.
6 to 10 - have them apologize and tell them to stay with you
10 and up - they should have it figured out.

Stuff happens - ya know? Most people take it very well, but every once in awhile you get a very difficult person - just diffuse and protect your baby from the mean old man (or lady)

:)

Answer 3

Depends on how old the child is- young I would ask the child to applogize and tell him/her to watch where they are going If the child is old enough to understand what they have done- then I would ask my child what do you say, then I would ask why were you not paying attention to where you were going- if child then stated I don't know -- I would take the child hand until they could refocus and state why they felt they didn't have to pay attention or until we left the mall.

Answer 4

This happens to me ALL THE TIME! My oldest watches his feet when he walks, so he is constantly bumping into people. I make him stop and apologize or say "excuse me" to the other person. If it's a quick passing or if the person gives me "a look", I'll apologize. But if the person is rude to me or my son, I usually just walk on because if I say something it won't be nice!! :-)

Answer 5

Say "I'm sorry" to the person your child bumped into, show a smile and take the child away.

Answer 6

Have my child apologize to the person and inform my child that he/she needs to watch where they are going after we have walked away from the person that he/she bumped.

Answer 7

I would pull himout of the way gently and apologize to the person and excuse us. Then I'd explain to my child that he needs to pay attention to where he's going and that the next time he accidentally bumps into someone, he needs to say "Excuse me" or "I'm sorry" right away.

Answer 8

If the child is old enough to be walking on his/her own, then, hopefully, you have instilled the polite response from them to whomever they bumped--"Excuse me"...However, if in tow, via hand-held, then I would say the "Excuse me", since I am actually the leader of the bond, & use the experience to show my child the proper etiquette for the situation.

Answer 9

I wouldn't expect my child to say "oops sorry" so I would probably say it for them and then tell them (my child) to watch where they were going next time. But if they were older like maybe 8 or 9 I would probably make them say it because then they are old enough.

Answer 10

Reaction: oops, that was my fault for not paying attention to the child
What I would do: Apologize to the person for the unintentional bump