What would you do if your 6 year old made a rude comment to a burn victim in public?

Question

The comment was, it's not halloween yet, you shouldn't be here.

Answer 1

I would probably apologize to the person and then talk to my child about accepting people's differences. My 3 1/2 year old asks a lot of questions about people in wheelchairs. I have explained to her that people have different ways of getting around; some people use their legs, but some people use wheelchairs because their legs don't always allow them to walk around.

Answer 2

I would apologize to the burn victim and then explain to my six year old why what they said was rude and not to do it again. At that age they would not understand why the person looked the way they did. They have not been exposed to such horrors in the world, such as burns and what not.

Answer 3

I would first apologize to the person and then I would pull my child aside(probably not very gently) and have a very long and stern talk with them about accepting differences, being polite and respectful. I do think that a 6 year old is aware of what they are doing in a situation like this. They are in school and learn and see these types of situations. Sounds like they were just setting out to be mean and that would have me very angry with my child.

Answer 4

Explain to them that it isn't nice to say things about people who were injured or otherwise debilitated

Answer 5

I have had a  kid say rude things about me when I cut my hair really short as a teenager, he asked if I were a boy or girl. You have to teach your child manners, it is not something they just know. And that boy did not know something like that could hurt my feelings.

I think that you should not scold your child in front of the person they make a rude comment about or make them say sorry because it may make the person feel uncomfortable or even worse about the situation.

As soon as the person is gone you need to look your child in the eyes and say "what you said back their was VERY rude, you hurt that persons feelings and probably made them feel very very bad about themselves. How would you feel if you had something wrong with you that you could not help and someone said something man to you?" And make them tell you how it would make them feel. Tell them that they need to keep these thoughts to themselves because it does not feel good to have people say mean things to you and also tell them it is very rude.

Kids slip up sometimes. I remeber staring at a woman in a wheel chair when I was about 6 and the woman made a very nasty face at me and stuck her tongue at me. I didn't really mean to stare but I her being different caught my attention so I stared. Her sticking tongue at me and making a mean face was actually good for me because it showed me that even staring could make someone upset.

Answer 6

I would be beyond mortified if my child did something like that.  I would apologize to the person and make the child apologize for the rude comment.  I would then have a long talk with the child about what they said.

Answer 7

You and your child should both apologize to the victim. Then scold the child gently in front of the victim. Then when you and your child are by your selves explain the situation and ask them not to say anything like that again. More than likely a 6 yrs old is not going to understand the situation. But if the child where older I would be a bit more harsh. Kids are going to make mistakes from time to time. But is our job as parents to guide them in the right way.

Answer 8

I agree with the majority of rational posters here.  Realize also, that the burn victim understand the child is only six and he/she probably didn't think much of it.  Unfortunately, he/she probably gets strange reactions from children all the time.  

Answer 9

By the age of 6 they should have some manners.  You must first apologize to the person and make your child as well.  Then you must explain to your child that was rude.  If you do not have a handle on their mouth by now, just think of what it will be like when they turn 16.  Good Luck.

Answer 10

Explain to him why that is not appropriate. Make him apologize, then perhaps take away a toy or privilege for a couple days.

Answer 11

Well it would depend on what he said. If he said something like "why is your face/arm/leg messed up?" I would apologize & politely explain to my child that that person was in a bad accident and has a permanent boo-boo. If he said something in spite just to be rude; i would apologize to the person, chastise my child, make him apologize and probably taking something away from him (toy/tv/games)

Answer 12

you should say 'how would you like people making fun of you if you were like that'? hope i helped

Answer 13

I would apologize and have my child apologize as well. Young children don't always understand the power of words and I'm sure he meant no harm. Children are known to be "brutally" honest. He was just making an honest observation of what he saw. I'm assuming he hasn't been around burn victims  and honestly thought the poor man was wearing a mask. He just didn't know. It's important to explain to your child about the feelings of others who may have an injury, birthmark, disability, etc. so that they understand that it hurts to be made fun of. Ask them how they would feel if someone made a comment like that to them. Be gentle with him though...it's our responsibility as parents to teach our children to be polite/caring.  

Answer 14

Explain to the child the circumstances and make him apologize.

How mortifying for you!and how sad for the poor person who was burned.

Answer 15

tell them that it is wrong to think about hurting other people, and that it is a sin.

Answer 16

where did the child learn that from? whoevr is feeding this kinda talk to the child should stop. children talk like thoughs around them.

explain to that child that that was rude and disrespectful then take some toys away for a few days.  

Answer 17

You mean other than wish for the earth to swallow me whole at that moment?! :)

I probably would have said his/her name in an admonishing tone and then turned to the person and said a simple,"I'm sorry...children just don't understand."  And then walked away.

My daughter is about to be 5...I taught her a long time ago, when she pointed at someone who was mentally disabled and also in a reclining wheel chair and made a comment loud enough for China to hear, that when she wanted to say something about someone that she should always whisper it in my ear, never say it aloud.

I didn't want to discourage her from making comments or asking questions because she does need to learn about those things, but I obviously didn't want it to be said in a way that the person could hear.

If she says things in a "mean" way, not meaning to be mean but in a way that we - as a society - view as mean (ie: she's super fat or ugly or whatever), I explain to her that people think that word is mean or saying that about people isn't nice.  I either tell her that we don't comment on those things or a different way of saying it that isn't considered mean.

Also, if we're "too close" for a 4 year old to whisper without being heard anyway or if the situation we're in would make it obvious that she is talking about them when she says, "Mommy come here, I have to tell you something...", I tell her to wait a minute please and then let her tell me after we walk away.

Your child may have really thought it was a mask...  Just talk to him/her about it now so that it doesn't happen again.  

If you think he/she didn't think that and was being mean then I'd admonish him/her heavily for it and explain to him/her exactly how that person probably felt hearing him/her say that...asking how they would feel if someone said that to them.

Good luck!....kids!!! LOL ;)

Answer 18

I would immediately apologise to the burn victim for a start.  As for the child, it depends on whether what he/she said was intended to be mean or hurtful.  I doubt that most 6 year olds have ever seen a burn victim up close and they may simply not have realised that this can happen and that people can end up being scarred like that.  There would be no point punishing a child if it was an honest mistake - but you should definitely explain what happened to the person and why they're like that.  

Answer 19

Wow.

That child sounds like a real punk.  Sounds like something an ignorant adult would say.

Where the h**l did he learn to talk like that???

When my son was 6 he would have never said anything like that to anyone.  I don't think he would even KNOW to say something like that.

That's pretty d**n rude.  I'd probably slap him right across the back of his head and make him apologize and MEAN IT.  No half-a$$ apology, a genuine one.

How embarrassing.

Answer 20

Tell him or her that's not nice to say and apologize to the burn victim.  Then later explain to the child about the accident so he will be more understanding of people with physical problems.

Answer 21

slap him/her, they should know better

Answer 22

Slap their mouth. They should know better. But thats just me with my child. He does know better. Does you child know that they were being rude?

Answer 23

I would say to the burn victim"I am so sorry", then ask him/her if they could give me just a minute with my child; then I would take my child aside and explain to him/her how very rude their comment was and that that persons burn scars were something they would have for the rest of their lives!! I would tell them that they needed to go back over and appologize and ask the burn person to please forgive them for saying such a terrible thing!!

This should make a lasting impression on them, I would think!