What should be done if a child witnesses inappropriate behavior like this?
The first step is to ensure the child's emotional safety. Provide comfort and reassurance to the child that they are not at fault. Then, depending on the nature of the relationship, appropriate family members or professionals such as counselors should be involved to help the child process what they've seen and deal with any potential psychological impacts.
Well, immediately, the parent or caregiver should talk to the child in an age - appropriate way. For example, if the child is very young, just simply say that what they saw was not okay behavior for adults. For older children, more in - depth conversations about appropriate and inappropriate behavior may be needed. Also, it may be necessary to seek professional help like a psychologist to ensure the child's mental health is not negatively affected in the long run.
