Is this likely to be 'sexual' or not (11 year old boy) and what shall I do??

(44 Posts)
NotLinda Fri 09-Nov-12 14:05:37

DD went to a sleepover party. she is a sensible, quite old fashioned almost 11 YO.
One boy went. The others were girls.
The boy has just turned 11.
He has a crush on DD.
She woke up to find he had been sleeping on the bed next to her (supposedly because the others swapped beds while DD was asleep an there was no where else for him to go.)
She got a real shock when she woke up and really felt that her privacy had been invaded.

He and the host were spreading this info around the playground (ie that they were in the same bed sad) so the class teacher has now been involved. (Teachers have been very supportive of dd.)

I don't know much about 11 year old boys. Is his motivation likely to have been remotely sexual, at this age? What you you do (if anything)? His parents don't know, btw.

Am trying to stick to the facts but am actually really upset about this.

NotLinda Fri 09-Nov-12 14:54:09

screen background, i mean.

achillea Fri 09-Nov-12 14:54:49

If the pictures are indecent the boy has committed a criminal offence and if this happened while the others were there they have colluded in it. You really need to get her to tell you exactly what happened, if not, she can look at the CEOP website to find definitions of what sexual contact exactly is. Childline could also help - it may be very difficult for her to talk to you about it.

NotLinda Fri 09-Nov-12 14:57:55

achillea, she was tucked up in her sleeping bag during the night. i really don't sense that he was physical with her in any way. it was just really a question of whether the motivation was sexual, rather than what actually happened. thank you for your advice. hope i wont ever need to look into that link sad

Viviennemary Fri 09-Nov-12 14:58:49

When you say host you presumably mean an adult. You are right to be extremely upset. I think this irresponsible person should have a visit from the police.

Corygal Fri 09-Nov-12 14:59:39

Nothing sexual happened: no attempt, incident or even suggested harrassment involved. So even if the boy had a crush on DD sexual feelings aren't part of the equation, you can't push for that.

Are you entirely sure that escalating this into some kind of assault is the smartest move you could make? To me the priority would be enabling your DD to deal with it firmly and calmly.

I agree that is was a nasty thing to happen, and what with the ipod pix and all, a little freaky. So it's worth keeping an eye on at school, but I think losing the awful friends and getting some perspective would do her more of a favour.

As for 'having pics of DD on his ipod thingy against her wishes', are you seriously suggesting she seeks a super-injunction? Is DD really Apple Paltrow?

We deserve to know.

NotLinda Fri 09-Nov-12 15:00:02

Are we in agreement a need to request that the school speak to this boy's parents? How should i word it? (given that they are focussing on the 'out of school' angle).

NotLinda Fri 09-Nov-12 15:03:20

cory, i'm not sure i'm escalating anything. what makes you say that?

As for your comment 'having pics of DD on his ipod thingy against her wishes', are you seriously suggesting she seeks a super-injunction? Is DD really Apple Paltrow? ' why not pop off to the Chat forum if you want banter. this is a serious thread about real people and a real problem.

NotLinda Fri 09-Nov-12 15:05:08

vivienne, the 'host' (child) was involved in the playground gossip. the adult 'hosts' were spoken to by the school.

achillea Fri 09-Nov-12 15:08:37

If there was nothing sexual and no offence and it wasn't on school premises it has nothing to do with school. If your dd reported abuse of some kind then that would be referred to social services and if indecent images were involved it would go to the police.

School can't be there to supervise sleepovers, I think you need to speak to the boy's parents and the sleepover host yourself. Is there any reason why you haven't?

Viviennemary Fri 09-Nov-12 15:11:22

Sorry I misunderstood. You sound satisfied that nothing untoward happened but you are right to be concerned about photos on an i-pod and spreading things round the playground. Because this certainly is bullying.

NotLinda Fri 09-Nov-12 15:11:29

i agree, achillea, but others have said that the 'bullying' angle is relevant to the school. i havent spoken to anyone as i only spoke to the teachers yesterday

NotLinda you say in your OP that there was only one boy there - the boy who has a crush on your DD. Do you know how he came to be invited? It seems odd to only have one boy, as opposed to a number of them, unless this was all somehow being planned.

This boy presumably has photos of your daughter taken whilst she was unconscious and couldn't give consent and is showing them around the playground. The host child is aiding and abetting him with this. This is the issue that the school have to deal with. The boy should know when it is / is not appropriate to take photographs of another person. The girl is bullying your daughter by humiliating her in the playground by attaching meaning to this sleepover situation which wasn't originally there.

Iamlosingit Fri 09-Nov-12 15:42:12

If any of my sons behaved in this way I would want to be told, simply because with others knowing, rumours can start and something that was innocent can become sinister. Although its a difficult subject to approach ,I would be annoyed at everyone involved( school, DD,yourself) for not allowing me as the boys parent to confront, talk to , and educate my child on his behaviour, and to allow him the chance to apologise for his actions.

ilovetermtime Fri 09-Nov-12 16:14:46

I agree Iamlosingit, I'd want to know too. I think that some of the replies on here are blowing this up into a much bigger thing than it needs to be. Just speak to the boys mum/dad and tell her/him that her son's crush on your daughter is making her uncomfortable and could she have a word with him about reining it in. I don't think that him sleeping next to her was sexual, he would have just wanted to be close to her that's all.

TheEnthusiasticTroll Fri 09-Nov-12 16:35:40

I think there are assumptions about the photos being made on this thread OP, could you put some more context about the pictures here if possible. jumping to the conclusion that she was unconsciousness and he has photographed her is really very harmfull to suggest, we are talking about a 10 year old child here. OP said they are harmless. I fear that 2 + 2 is coming up with 5.

I'm going to be honest and say, be very careful op this not going to get blown out of the water and be treated far more serious than is need, just remember as you and dd want to protect her dignity and repulsion please remember the same for the 10 year old boy in question also.

TheEnthusiasticTroll Fri 09-Nov-12 16:37:02

Reputation...not repulsion sorry that was autocorrect

Lougle Fri 09-Nov-12 17:08:25

I can't see anywhere on this thread, any implication that the photos were ones of the DD whilst she was sleeping. I think that is an erroneous assumption.

PopMusicShoobyDoobyDoA Fri 09-Nov-12 20:43:56

3 different incidents I think - sleepover, photos taken at a party and subsequent bullying. Is that right OP?

Was there a history of bullying before the sleepover because your daughter seems already to have been uncomfortable around him?

I would get hold of the bullying policy from the school to inform you about what the procedures are. It's great that the teacher/TA are supportive but I would escalate it and ask to speak to the Head. I would insist that his parents be informed so that they are aware of his behaviour towards your DD in school. To nip it in the bud, so they can talk to him about it etc. I would also request that the sleepover is mentioned to the parents because that is what the bullying is about.

This boy sounds like a right charmer, btw. sad

TheEnthusiasticTroll Fri 09-Nov-12 20:48:47

The boy sounds like right charmer...ffs he is just 11, get a grip.

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