The women spoke of their experiences recently at a play group gathering. They know concern isn t enough, but they re scared to interfere, said Fischer. Yet there are ways to intercede on behalf of a child, and you don t have to be afraid. Diffuse the situation Every parent has been there, says Gabor. Dealing with children can be frustrating.
Nobody has to be that unaware.
That s not necessarily true, says Fischer. While the media may raise awareness of what s appropriate or inappropriate in dealing with children, it doesn t always change people s everyday behavior. There are still a lot of parents who believe that hitting a child is a learning experience for that child, Fischer said. Others may realize that yelling or hitting him is not best, but they may not know how to deal with their frustration or anger. They may not know any other way.