Parents being overly rough with their kids

Specialties Pediatric

Published

Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

How do you handle it when you see parents being overly rough with their kids, either in the waiting room or the exam room?

I know it's hard for kids to keep still and we try not to keep them waiting for too long. Unfortunately our waiting room is small and there are few distractions. But I've seen parents do really inappropriate things like yell, threaten, pinch, slap, pull hair, etc. I feel that I ought to intervene but I'm not sure what to do.

Only thing I would suggest is CPS if you think there's abuse going on. Otherwise, there isn't much you can do.

Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I don't know if it reaches to the level of a CPS call. But definitely inappropriate.

Sometimes if there's time I'll have a chat about discipline methods, age-appropriate behavior, etc. But very often there is no time.

You should be getting together with your office manager, doctor, co-workers, etc., and come up with a united front, a policy. Put some poster's or signs around the room about ??? ways to discipline a child? This is a strict no yelling, no hitting, zone?

Invest in a TV, DVD player, you can hang one from the wall? A few toys?

Schedule your appointments better so there are not long waits?

Can you get info about parenting / effective disciplining classes and provide that info to your parents? In my area DHS, churches, and non-profit groups offer these classes for free or very low cost. Most provide babysitting for people attending the classes.

Check to see if any group offers emotional support / parent coaching for people at high risk for being abusive parents. They do this in my area. Nurses (usually delivery / postpartum) identify people who might benefit. The support / coach visits them in their home on a regular basis to help them develop parenting skills. The relationship lasts for years.

Can you start a tip of the day / week and post that in the waiting / exam rooms on effective parenting?

Can you make handouts / brochures available in exam rooms on disciplining that the parents can take?

Most people want to be good parents, but they only know how they were parented. Get your pediatrician involved in helping parents find the resources to help them be better parent.

Maybe a local school could have their nursing / child development / psychology students help you develop this information as part of a class project.

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