This is what I was witness to this week whilst taking my own children to school.
An elderly childminder is looking after four children aged five to seven years of age and is standing in the school playground holding multiple bags and chatting away to her friend.
Whilst the childminder awaits the school doors opening the children are getting bored so they begin to play a childhood favourite, What’s the time Mr.Wolf.
Sounds harmless doesn’t it, as the children play one becomes the wolf and roars, close by a child of Four whom is unknown to the childminder begins to cry.
The mother of said child comes over to comfort the girl, hugging her and telling her everything is okay and to stay away from “them mean children”
After sometime the mother turns from a comforting mum to an enraged woman, demanding that the childminder stops the children from playing a game which is clearly scaring her small child who is now sat on the playground floor sucking her thumb and whimpering.
Childminder pleads her case and explains that the children are playing a harmless game and maybe her child should try to join in or alternatively move away from them and play on some of the play equipment.
The mother doesn’t like this and says if the childminder does not do anything to stop them she will take further action and ensure everyone who is willing to listen knows that the childminder is a bully and unfit to care for small children.
Childminder looks defeated and equally shocked and gives in and asks the children to cease playing this seemingly harmless game.
The mother then returns to her friends to bad mouth the childminder and says that What the time Mr.Wolf is too scary for small children and she thinks it should be banned.
The mother then picks her whimpering child up telling her everything is okay now and she is safe, the mother has to carry her child through the school door as she is still so upset.
Who is in the right here?
Should a game be stopped for one child?
The little girl is scared but does that warrant other children from playing?
Is this child extra sensitive due to her up bringing?
