Guest,meself, we cross-posted. You are absolutely right about what those parents may have accomplished with no background of their own. I am always reluctant to step in, but I don't have a problem engaging a child as Susan mentioned. Also, as someone else said, perhaps the child was the one who needed to be there. Most parents do not have much of a support system. It is sometimes impossible or too costly to make arrangements to NOT bring them with them to wherever. Also, if it was an emergency which brought them there, there may have been no time for planning anything else.

I don't agree with what the parents did, though.

If I give a warning, it is one I will carry out, no one else, and my grandson knows it, as in time out, calling his mom, taking something away until his behaviour improves.