7 Year Old Being Harrassed By 15 Year Old Neighbors?

Question

My step daughter plays outside after school. For the past several weeks, there are a group of 15 year old boys that harrass her in regards to her shoes, coat, clothing, appearance. They tell her her clothes are ugly and tell her she's poor. I send them outside in play clothing and shoes. I'm not a name brand hound and love to save money. So what, if they are play clothes? I'm really upset and have tried to let it go but it's just terribly sad that they pick on a 7 year old girl like this. Is there anything I can do other than speak to their parents which will likely go no where?

Answer 1

Call the police, it won't hurt them to see what it's like to do something wrong then get a punishment. They are old enough that they should not be harassing people in general and especially young kids. They need this lesson. If they do it again call the police, if you do they'll learn a lesson and you might save them from doing it again and then going to jail.

Answer 2

What do their parents have to say about this?  I would personally videotape it and take it to their parents.  Ask them to handle their children.  If this don't work, call the police.   I would.

They have NO BUSINESS harassing a child of 7.

Answer 3

I feel bad for your step daughter. I went through the same thing as your daughter. I was harrassed when i was younger.  Talking to the parents will not help. The Best thing todo is to call the police and then get harassment charges filed. and maybe get a order to keep those boys a way. If they still bother her the next step might be is to call a lawer and maybe take those boys to court. To whatever it takes to keep your step daughter safe and happy.

I hope everything works out for your step daughter.

Answer 4

How horrible for your step daughter!.

If the parents won't listen are you brave enough to approach these boys and appeal to their better natures (?).

Keep your voice soft and tell them that she is only a little girl and would they please leave her alone? If things get heavy maybe you could suggest that you belive there is an antisocial behaviour type law could be called upon?

I really hope you find a way out of this.

Answer 5

You tell your husband to go to the group and pick the biggest one there and tell him that if he finds out that any of them are ever bothering her again he is coming after him regardless of who did it.  The biggest one will keep the others in line.  Believe me my father did that 30 years ago and those kids would cross over the other side of the street when they got to our house.  Even if they tell their parents what will they do take the side of a 15 year old boy harassing a little girl.  I don't think so.

Answer 6

Talk to the parents. That is all you can do.  You don't know that it won't go anywhere.  I would be absolutely appalled if a teenager picked on such a small child regarding ANYTHING, let alone clothing.  What kid of crappy kids are they raising?

We had neighbor boys that picked on my 3 year old brother.  I was 5 years younger than they were and beat the c**p out of them.  Their Mom (who wasn't the best of people) gave them a whooping when she found out that they were taunting a 3 year old and stealing his tricycle.

Answer 7

Call the parents of the teenagers involved.

if possible, get this on video since they will become emboldened the more they are allowed to continue this behavior until someone is physically hurt as well as emotionally hurt.

CALL THE POLICE and tell them these teens are harrassing your child.

Your daughter has every right to play in peace.

Answer 8

They are pathetic cowards glad you stood up to them cos that's normally what it takes! They really need to get a life, feel so sorry for your step-daughter, and you, there's no way a kid that age should have to deal with imbeciles like that. I'm presuming you know who they are, if it continues, contact their parents and their school, if it's still going on contact the police.

Answer 9

You should tell the cops. Because you never know these days. What about if the hurt her.

Answer 10

ill go straight to there house talk to there parents or ill tell them something right then and there

or try to set up a camera try to record it to have proof

if there parents dotn do nothing tell the cops

thats harrasment you never know what they might do to your daughter

Answer 11

I bet if you talk to the parents you will discover why the bois are the way they are - the parents are just like their rotten kids.

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I would call the state's attorney's office for advice on what your options are. Careful about grabbing the bois, that could be unlawful restraint of a minor and that could get you on a s*x offendor registry for the rest of your life and child protective services might terminate your parental rights. The state makes big money abducting kids.

Answer 12

WELL DONE! I could not have done it better myself if they continue and parents don't do anything then go to the police

Answer 13

If that was my daughter i would go straight to those lil boys and tell them to get a life and stop picking on lil girls half thier age. I would also not let my daughter be playing around those 15 year old lil boys.

Answer 14

And you have'nt went straight after them and went to thier parents yet.I would have been all over them,but my 5 and 7 year old are nt allowed out in the front yard.Thier is nobody thier own age to play with.

Answer 15

I just read all of your comments and want to say GOOD FOR YOU!   as a mother of 2, i know you hate to get too involved so as not to embarass your child or interfere too much - but it gets to a point where you must show them that they should not accept behavior like that and its okay to tell someone how mean it is to treat a child this way.   Your daughter is lucky to have a mom so tuned in to what is happening to her.  I hope these kids back off - at least you have given your daughter the strength to stand up to kids like this in the future.

Answer 16

you should file with the cops or get a restraning order because that is really mean to say that to a kid exspecially if they are kids.

Answer 17

Bust a cap in their asss.

Answer 18

Call the police for harassment, that will probably scare them.  If it was another 7 or 8 year old that would still be mean, but completely normal.  15 year olds are almost adults, you need to deal with them in an adult manner and just call the police.

Answer 19

Your step daughter will always remember you standing up for her.  You did the right thing as I think it will stop without having to involve the parents.  I would however, keep an eye on her when she is outside.

Answer 20

I would absolutely speak to their parents, as well as to your daughter. Explain to her that they are idiots (or whatever word you think is OK to use). The parents of the other kids need to know that their sons think it's fun to taunt a 7-year-old girl.

For now, I would closely supervise her while outside. Or, have your husband supervise her and explain to the boys exactly what he thinks of their behavior.

What a bunch of sleazy, scummy kids.

Answer 21

Be out there with her when they are there, on a regular basis for a while.  If that doesn't work then speak with the parents.

If that doesn't work contact the police.  If that doesn't work then take them to court.

Answer 22

Definitely call the police next time. Keep an eye out for the boys, and when you see them call the cops. I know this sounds bad and will be hard to do, but don't go outside when you see them. Because if you do then the cops won't have proof that they were there. When the cops show up, they will most likely take the boys names; notify the parents; and the boys could be pressed with harrassment charges. Good luck to you!!

EDIT: Also, under NO circumstances should you or your husband go directly to the 15year olds! I know that you are upset, but if you go to them then they could be bratty enoughto say that YOU were harrassing THEM. After all, they are 15- they'll say anything to get out of trouble. And clearley they don't care about others- so they'd probably have no problem lying about you. If you don't want to go straight to the police, go to the parents. But i'd call the cops first thing.

Answer 23

thats really just awful. i must say u handled it better than i wouldve in your shoes. however i also have 9 yr old and i unfortunatly live in a mobile home park. therefore i get my share of sensless tears that i am unsure how to appropriately handle. i try to let her know that there will always be someone that is not happy out there and they dont like to see others happy either. so when they see her out there enjoying a beautiful day that they get so angry that shes happy so they are mean to try to make her sad or mad like them. but if she continues to go on about her fun they will  get tired of being ignored  and leave her alone or move on to someone else.  and i always pray it works-sometimes it does. yet, now-a-days kids do not have the respect we did as children. and sometimes you just gotta get out there and say something to them. ive noticed if im outside they dont give her such a hard time. i dont even have to be right there if my door is open they tend to leave her alone. my heart goes out to you and your daughter. it hurts to see your child cry. and heaven knows weve all been picked on. tell her to keep her head up and one day those boys will wish they had a friend like her. moms cant be everywhere but our little lessons and talks stay with our kids forever. never doubt a little mom & daughter date with some mild discussion of things. youd be surprised how much of an impact it could have.  best of luck!!

Answer 24

Have your husband deal with them face to face. These 15 year old boys are cowards and babies themselves if they feel the need to pick on a 7 year old.

Other than that and talking to their parents, there is not much you can do. I don't even know if you can get the law involved.

Answer 25

I went through this same thing growing up.  You need to have her father talk to them, talk to her parents.  If your husband talks to the 15-year-olds father, then he will know that it is serious, it is not just a mom being over-protective.  If it doesn't stop, call the police and make a complaint about them.  That will get the parents involved.

Answer 26

I would call the police.....

A child being verbally assaulted like this is not normal and these boys have much bigger things in mind as time goes on.  

Also I would talk to their FATHER.  Talking to mom, will be "boys will be boys" but any self respecting dad won't put up with his kids picking on little girls.  (If it was a little boy.... maybe, but it is pretty sick in the egotistical Macho mindset to be picking on little girls)

Answer 27

tell the parents if they dont listen confront the teen