Is this child abuse?

Question

I just saw a 10 years old child working in my neighbor's backyard, he and his dad is doing pavement work for the drive way. This is not the first time I saw this child, he always worked in the yard afterschool hour or in the weekend. ( They're not related to my neighbor-white, they looked hispanic) It's kind of hot outside, about 90 degrees outside, however he and his dad always worked together, does this constitute as a child laborer or should I just leave them alone, since they're working for a living?

Answer 1

Not even close to child abuse.
The kid's helping his dad ....... and maybe getting some spending money too.
Would you report every kid you saw mowing the lawn or raking leaves?......I guess not.

Answer 2

Unless you have stronger grounds for interference, this is probably best left alone. Without a showing that this child was actually forced into labor, doing it unwillingly, or physically/emotionally/psychologically harmed from his experience, the detriments of reporting would definitely outweigh the advantages. There is a strong chance that reporting this as "child abuse" could end up with an investigation into the child's parents. If they are here illegally, that could get the parents deported and the family split up.

Answer 3

Seriously? I mean absolutely seriously from the bottom of my heart, an honest answer comes to mind ( instinct ), stop peeking out your curtains and concern yourself with the going's on in your own back yard, I am at the top of the list when it comes to retaliation "BIG TIME" when child abuse is evident, but to jump on the bandwagon of a gossiping troublemaker, I refuse to do so, WTF, where have our parental rights gone??? off somewhere in the friggin wind??, if we stop and ponder, if only for a moment, at your retarded meaning of the word that is so often taken for granted,
ie: "FREEDOM", we would be onto you like $hit of a shovel, who are you to tell me to tell my children that it ain't right to be independent financially from the earliest age, here a valuable piece of info I will gladly share with one and all, Start the way you mean to go on, regardless. There are two way's to live this life UP or DOWN, it's your choice at the end of the day, so stop moaning and groaning and git your @$$ in gear and "GET "R" DONE"

Answer 4

Just leave them alone, some kids have to do work around the house. That doesn't constitute as child abuse as far as I'm concerned. Did he look sad and depressed?

At least he's not getting whipped or beaten.

Answer 5

It sounds like he is spending time with his Dad, and Dad is spending time with him. It might not be playing catch, but they are working together. That to me does not constitute child abuse, my Dad let me help him all the time. I think alot of parents shun their kids away from helping them because they consider them a bother. Lots of hispanic kids help their parents with work.

Answer 6

leave em alone. this kid will probably grow up to be something successfull since he is being made to work at an early age. working after school is a good thing, he stays outta trouble and he wont be in the newspaper later in life for trying to molest a dog like that other fu*k up on here.

Answer 7

Are you nuts! A child should help his parents! That's what wrong with this Country and people like you. I guess you just rather give your kids everything they want and then one day when they have no respect for mankind and get in trouble you will blame the other party!

Answer 8

Well, that depends on what counts as child labour. Technically, you're not getting paid to do chores, but is that child labour?

I say don't bother him/them if the kid's being treated like a son in his work.

Answer 9

OK being British I dont know US law, but there seem to be two issues here, One is that if this child is getting paid in cash as a private individual and doing heavy work which is not suitable for a child. In Britain there are laws with regards to competency and this includes physical strength (taking into account that this is a child, not strong as a fully grown man) If this is a child who is a friend of the family's, he again is not suitable to do this type of work given his age in relation to health and safety if relatively unsupervised. i.e a child would not perhaps be inclined to wear or be aware of suitable protective clothing in the case of an accident. It sounds wholly irresponsible and usually something as common sensical as that would constitute that there would be state laws of some sort governing it. Could you not anonymously contact the local health and safety (not sure of the name in the US) as it would do no harm to err on the safe side on behalf of the child as if it turns out that you are incorrect, what harm have you done to check on the welfare and safety of a child?

Answer 10

This souds very sad for the little boy. Not much of a life for him. I would pursue it. Does he at least attend school? I think children can legally mow yards and that kind of thing, but helping to support a family just isn't something a 10 year old in america should doing.