Thread by @RoadsideMum

I thought long and hard about tweeting this but I am going to because I think some of you might not know, and you should.

Today at school a child grabbed RN by the hips and thrust himself as if fucking RN. This is primary school, not secondary.

Do you see what I see?

1/

Be alert to children behaving in ways that are overtly sexual. While sex is "natural", sexual behaviour isn't. It's learned. A child that young behaving that way should sound massive alarm bells. Where did he learn that?

His behaviour should make you ask, is he safe?

2/

So if you see a child behaving in a way that is sexualised, "dirty", suggestive, or creepy, and it's not standard for the age, always speak up.

Kids have limited ways to express something wrong. Playing out sexual behaviour is one.

If in doubt call @NSPCC in confidence.

3/

As for my RN? RN takes no crap. He was reported to the playground teacher who didn't quite clock the severity* & didn't act, so RN reported him to a favourite teacher, who is going to refer to the Head, as a safeguarding concern.

* Not the teachers fault. RN wasn't clear.

4/

We've had a chat about it, I've explained that a little bastard he may be, but that behaviour means he might need help and RN is always right to tell and if that doesn't work, tell again, and if THAT doesn't work, see me (or Daddy) as we will always have your back.

5/

I also said, next time, fight back & escape ASAP.

Empathy is good. But it's not always the same as cooperation. The empathy here is in reporting him, so adults can give him spaces to ask for help sensibly.

You're entitled to defend with force if someone grabs you sexually

6/6