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Witnessing Child Abuse
What Should You Do?
By Michele St. Martin
According to Doe, there is a way to offer help without attacking the parent. "'How could you treat your child like that?' would elicit a different reaction from 'It looks like you're having some difficulty. Is there anything I can do to help you out?'" she says. "Then follow through with specific ways you might help: offer to find groceries, entertain the child for five minutes, give the child a small treat to keep her occupied. A friend of ours always carries stickers and honey sticks in her purse for just this reason. The child is happier from this unexpected gift, and the parent is usually quite grateful."
Carolyn McHenry, a child protection manager in Hennepin County, Minn., partially agrees with Doe's suggestions. "It can be helpful to offer support," she says. "It can give the parent a moment to just step back, out of the immediate situation." However, in addition to supporting the parent, McHenry advises that you contact the police and perhaps the local social service agency that deals in child protection.
McHenry says that there is no rule of thumb about how a parent who hits their child in public acts in private. "Many parents slap hands and never go further – others do," she says. "In other words, slapping of hands as an example, in my experience, is not a significant indicator. Slapping around the head and face can be more cncerning. If a person witnesses an incident where a child is being harmed, left unattended, being hit in a way that could cause injuries, etc., and it is happening NOW, then in most jurisdictions, law enforcement is the correct action for immediate response." She suggests calling 911.