What to Do If You See a Coworker or Supervisor Mistreating a Child

This is one of the hardest situations anyone certified as a Responsible Adult in childcare can face — but knowing what to do in the moment matters.

If you witness a coworker or supervisor mistreating a child, whether that's emotional or physical abuse, the first step is to intervene directly: tell them to stop. The child's safety in that moment comes first.

From there, this needs to be reported — even if the person involved is someone you work closely with, or someone in a position of authority over you. Report what you saw to your supervisor (or, if the supervisor is the one involved, go above them), and also report it to your local Child Care Licensing Officer. Licensing officers are there specifically to respond to situations like this, and reporting isn't about causing trouble — it's about making sure every child in that program is safe, including the ones who can't speak up for themselves.

It can feel uncomfortable to report a coworker, especially in a small workplace. But this is one of those moments where the responsibility that comes with working in childcare is unmistakable: the child's wellbeing comes first, every time.