A Portsmouth parent contacted police after his young son was reportedly scratched by another child at a local daycare.
According to the report, both children involved were around 5 years old.
The father told Portsmouth police he simply wanted the incident documented.
No criminal charges were filed.
👀 WHEN KIDS HURT EACH OTHER AT DAYCARE
Situations like this can be upsetting for parents—especially when a child comes home with visible scratches, bites, bruises, or injuries.
But experts say incidents involving very young children are usually handled as behavioral or supervision issues rather than criminal matters.
At around 5 years old, children are still:
- Learning emotional control
- Developing social skills
- Struggling with sharing and frustration
- And sometimes reacting physically when upset
⚖️ IS SCRATCHING ANOTHER CHILD A CRIME?
In most cases involving very young children, police are unlikely to pursue criminal charges over incidents like:
- Scratching
- Pushing
- Biting
- Hitting during arguments or play
Instead, those issues are generally expected to be handled by:
- Daycare staff
- School administrators
- Parents
- Counselors or behavioral specialists if needed
🚨 WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO
If a child is repeatedly being hurt at daycare, experts recommend:
- Documenting injuries with photos
- Speaking calmly with daycare management
- Asking about supervision and incident reports
- Requesting meetings with staff
- Monitoring for repeated patterns
If injuries become severe, repeated, or involve possible neglect or abuse by adults, then law enforcement or child services may become more directly involved.