throwing water at a child, soaking them in a fit of rage?

whether it counts as physical abuse i'm not sure. i had someone tell me that it is because water is a tangible substance. i sort of agree with that, despite the fact that water doesn't cause any physical injuries, unless it's scalding hot or something. of course it's abusive to be raging at a child like that in the first place, and using a physical substance against them like that...well yeah it's abuse and it's physical. i'm confused as far as whether it would count as 'real' physical abuse that the parent could be charged for.

By law, and I may be wrong here, but I think throwing anything at a person is considered assault. Whether that also makes it abuse or not, I'm not so sure, but I'm pretty sure it's against the law. I watched an episode of cops awhile back, and someone was arrested for assault after throwing a piece of cake at someone, so I'm pretty sure that throwing water at someone would also fall into that same category. If the water is thrown at the kid in a fit of rage, and not playfully, then I personally think it's abusive. That's just my opinion though.

i'm not sure if it could be considered child abuse, but it's definitely wrong for a parent to throw anything at their child. but if a parent dunked their child's head under water due to anger, that would be abuse.

By law, and I may be wrong here, but I think throwing anything at a person is considered assault. Whether that also makes it abuse or not, I'm not so sure, but I'm pretty sure it's against the law. I watched an episode of cops awhile back, and someone was arrested for assault after throwing a piece of cake at someone, so I'm pretty sure that throwing water at someone would also fall into that same category. If the water is thrown at the kid in a fit of rage, and not playfully, then I personally think it's abusive. That's just my opinion though.
a cake? I guess that episode of Three's company where they were throwing cake at each other is abuse.. :eek:

It probably depends on the way it's thrown. If it's scolding hot water then its absolutely abuse.

You asked two questions. One, is it child abuse? YES.
Two, can a parent be charged with child abuse? Depends, each state has it's own laws regarding what is child abuse and so forth.

child abuse? id say no
its just water
no harm
no pain

BUT its realllllly stupid and childish thing to do

Of course it's abuse. You never throw anything at a child in a fit of rage. The cops would definetly investigate it, but sadly I have my doubts about arrest. Water wouldn't leave any bruises or scars, so it seems like it would end up being their word against yours.

Yes, I would say it's abuse. That's sick and horrible and he should be reported.

a cake? I guess that episode of Three's company where they were throwing cake at each other is abuse.. :eek:

This reminded me of the Thanksgiving Orphans episode of Cheers, where they all went to Carla's house for Thanksgiving and had a food fight. And then Diane threw the pie at Sam, in revenge for earlier, but he ducked, and it hit Vera in the face (who had just arrived.) It was a good way to make sure nobody saw what Vera looked like!

Vera was not pleased!

Vera: (cold voice) "Charming friends, Norm. Get your coat!"

As for throwing water at someone...if it's not burning hot, and it's thrown in a playful manner, then I don't think it's abuse. But if it was boiling water, then it would be. I'm not sure. I've heard of people throwing water over people to calm them down (i.e. if they're really worked up and about to get into a fight) and I've heard of people hosing down people who are fighting.

It sounds like abuse to me. I have done that to my sister when I was upset with her and had a nearby cup of water. :o

I don't know if it fits the legal definition of child abuse, but I think it's abusive behavior. Terrible, really.

Yes, I would say it's abuse. That's sick and horrible and he should be reported.
:nod: I think it should be reported.

Child abuse, no. Bad parenting, yes.

If the child is acting up, what's the difference in doing that as compared to spanking the child?? I've had a friend say that when his daughter was throwing a complete fit, he went and got a cold glass of water and threw it on her. It got her attention and she calmed down. He could have gone on and spanked her instead but went this way instead. Some people complain that you shouldn't even spank your child. That's a load of crap. As long as you are not going over board and causing bigtime harm, a swat on the butt is just fine.

As long as you are not going over board and causing bigtime harm, a swat on the butt is just fine.


My mom did that once when I was young and did she pay for it. I think I was 4 or 5 at the time. When she went to go get the mail, I locked her out. She was outside in 90 degrees and I wouldn't let her in. When she told my dad, she expected him to scold me but since he doesn't believe in hitting, he just laughed right in her face because he knew she deserved it. I never got hit again.

My mom did that once when I was young and did she pay for it. I think I was 4 or 5 at the time. When she went to go get the mail, I locked her out. She was outside in 90 degrees and I wouldn't let her in. When she told my dad, she expected him to scold me but since he doesn't believe in hitting, he just laughed right in her face because he knew she deserved it. I never got hit again.
I would have gotten punished so hard if I ever thought of doing something like that.

I would have gotten punished so hard if I ever thought of doing something like that.

Yeah, same here. I'd never do something like just because I got spanked, which was rarely.

Let me clarify for some of you who posted here with a certain response.
The poster asked if it was abuse if the person, IN A FIT OF RAGE, threw water on a child...not that the child was misbehaving and they threw water on them to calm them down. Any parent or adult who does that in a fit of rage, has anger management issues and needs to control it, somehow.

Let me clarify for some of you who posted here with a certain response.
The poster asked if it was abuse if the person, IN A FIT OF RAGE, threw water on a child...not that the child was misbehaving and they threw water on them to calm them down. Any parent or adult who does that in a fit of rage, has anger management issues and needs to control it, somehow.
exactly, that is what i meant. i don't at all mean in a disciplinary way like an alternative to spanking, nor playfully; i mean in a wrathful way out of anger, regardless of whether the child was misbehaving.

exactly, that is what i meant. i don't at all mean in a disciplinary way like an alternative to spanking, nor playfully; i mean in a wrathful way out of anger, regardless of whether the child was misbehaving.
If anyone does anything to a child while they're out of control then it would be abuse.

throwing water at a child, soaking them in a fit of rage?

whether it counts as physical abuse i'm not sure. i had someone tell me that it is because water is a tangible substance. i sort of agree with that, despite the fact that water doesn't cause any physical injuries, unless it's scalding hot or something. of course it's abusive to be raging at a child like that in the first place, and using a physical substance against them like that...well yeah it's abuse and it's physical. i'm confused as far as whether it would count as 'real' physical abuse that the parent could be charged for.

No,...I had my niece and Nephew follow me outside this Summer and pretend to want and sit and talk with me my niece got up went out the other door and went to the other side of the house,..grabbed the house and drenced me good with it..As I attempted to get away I sliced my hand on the fence...Would this be considered abusing an elder?...The problem with society these days is that kids feel they can get away with anything there needs to be more discipline.

No,...I had my niece and Nephew follow me outside this Summer and pretend to want and sit and talk with me my niece got up went out the other door and went to the other side of the house,..grabbed the house and drenced me good with it..As I attempted to get away I sliced my hand on the fence...Would this be considered abusing an elder?...The problem with society these days is that kids feel they can get away with anything there needs to be more discipline.
Was what happened to you done in A FIT OF RAGE??? That is what the poster IS TALKING ABT. The poster said NOTHING abt children getting away without punishment or needing discipline in the form of having water thrown on them. I reiterate again: DOES A PERSON WHO THROWS WATER ON A CHILD, WHILE THAT PERSON IS IN A FIT OF RAGE, CONSTITUTE CHILD ABUSE?

Let me clarify for some of you who posted here with a certain response.
The poster asked if it was abuse if the person, IN A FIT OF RAGE, threw water on a child...not that the child was misbehaving and they threw water on them to calm them down. Any parent or adult who does that in a fit of rage, has anger management issues and needs to control it, somehow.
THANK YOU! :yeahthat:

Was what happened to you done in A FIT OF RAGE??? That is what the poster IS TALKING ABT. The poster said NOTHING abt children getting away without punishment or needing discipline in the form of having water thrown on them. I reiterate again: DOES A PERSON WHO THROWS WATER ON A CHILD, WHILE THAT PERSON IS IN A FIT OF RAGE, CONSTITUTE CHILD ABUSE?

Who cares if it's in a FIT OF RAGE. If i walked up to you as CALM AS I COULD BE or in A FIT OF RAGE and threw a glass of water on you, you COULD CHARGE me with ASSULT. What does it MATTER the persons STATE OF MIND??? If the parent is completely PISSED OFF at the CHILD and has lost all PATIENCE and is in A FIT OF RAGE or if the parent is handling the SITUATION CALMLY and throws a glass of water AT THE CHILD it's the same action.

I can think of alot worse things than throwing water on a child. Unless the water is scalding hot. I was pushed thru a sliding glass window by my mom. I would have welcomed the water! LOL!!

Seriously though, I don't think it is considered abuse unless it is hot water.

some people look for things to get upset about

i dont care if the parent was mad or happy
STATE OF MIND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT

it is NOT abuse at all


IF I PUNCH U IN THE MOUTH when im happy? does that make it less of an assault than if i do it when im mad?

this is a realllllll stretch folks

NO, if the water wasn't SCALDING then I DON'T consider it abuse.

Personally, I'd rather be spanked as a kid, then have someone throw water on me.

Personally, I'd rather be spanked as a kid, then have someone throw water on me.
I don't think I would but it would depend on the force of the water or if it was scolding hot. I had a neighbor turn a hose on me once . Was that abuse?

I don't think I would but it would depend on the force of the water or if it was scolding hot. I had a neighbor turn a hose on me once . Was that abuse?

I would consider that to be assault actually. Something doesn't have to hurt, for it to be abusive. I'll have to look that up.

Who cares if it's in a FIT OF RAGE. If i walked up to you as CALM AS I COULD BE or in A FIT OF RAGE and threw a glass of water on you, you COULD CHARGE me with ASSULT. What does it MATTER the persons STATE OF MIND??? If the parent is completely PISSED OFF at the CHILD and has lost all PATIENCE and is in A FIT OF RAGE or if the parent is handling the SITUATION CALMLY and throws a glass of water AT THE CHILD it's the same action.
AGAIN, for the third time, I am only clarifying and reiterating what it is the poster IS ASKING in their initial post. Some people got off track and started talking abt spanking vs. other forms of punishment, children need discipline, etc. I wanted to let some of you know that is NOT what the poster was referring to. Also, I believe the poster is referring to a parent and their child. Some people are mentioning situations regarding neighbors and strangers. If a neighbor sprayed water on you, that isn't abuse, THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED ASSAULT. Which is why I felt the need to make it MORE CLEARER for those who didn't get what the poster meant. THAT'S ALL, NOTHING ELSE, NO NEED TO GET UPSET.

yes i'm talking about an actual event, this isn't hypothetical...i'm not wondering under which circumstances it would be abusive, i mean is it abusive in the situation i stated; the parent is mad at the child (for no sensible reason, but thats a bit besides the point) and throws water at them as an ATTACK, not disciplinarily.

Fine. No it is not child abuse! Try calling the police and telling them that your parents threw water on you. Unless it was scalding HOT water, there is no way it could be considered abuse.

I worked for years as a Guardian ad litem and have NEVER heard of someone getting charged with throwing water on their child. I have thrown a pillow at my son when i was angry. Should I be charged with abuse?

AGAIN, for the third time, I am only clarifying and reiterating what it is the poster IS ASKING in their initial post. Some people got off track and started talking abt spanking vs. other forms of punishment, children need discipline, etc. I wanted to let some of you know that is NOT what the poster was referring to. Also, I believe the poster is referring to a parent and their child. Some people are mentioning situations regarding neighbors and strangers. If a neighbor sprayed water on you, that isn't abuse, THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED ASSAULT. Which is why I felt the need to make it MORE CLEARER for those who didn't get what the poster meant. THAT'S ALL, NOTHING ELSE, NO NEED TO GET UPSET.

No ones getting upset. You're the one who always has to TYPE IN CAPITAL LETTERS to express yourself. Looks more like you're the one who GETS UPSET when you do that.:wave:

My mom did that once when I was young and did she pay for it. I think I was 4 or 5 at the time. When she went to go get the mail, I locked her out. She was outside in 90 degrees and I wouldn't let her in. When she told my dad, she expected him to scold me but since he doesn't believe in hitting, he just laughed right in her face because he knew she deserved it. I never got hit again.
wow, you needed your butt torn up for that!

yes i'm talking about an actual event, this isn't hypothetical...i'm not wondering under which circumstances it would be abusive, i mean is it abusive in the situation i stated; the parent is mad at the child (for no sensible reason, but thats a bit besides the point) and throws water at them as an ATTACK, not disciplinarily.

It is abuse in that situation (parent flipping out- overreacting), though it not extreme or physically painful.

To be in a rage and humiliate your child like that is a definite mental abuse.
And how does the child feel about himself after that? Much less how he feels about his parent.

As a parent you cannot lose your sh-t over stupid things and degrade your child. That stuff sticks. Kids watch their parents when the parents don't even realize it. Imagine what it is doing to them when they are freaked on for something they can't even understand.

F-ing them up is what it is doing.

Parenting is not for the faint of heart and a HUGE percentage of people with children should NEVER have become parents or should have waited until they realized what they were getting into.

No ones getting upset. You're the one who always has to TYPE IN CAPITAL LETTERS to express yourself. Looks more like you're the one who GETS UPSET when you do that.:wave:
I type in caps the words that are beneficial to getting the point across. I think some read the posts too fast and therefore, the point or the issue the poster is trying to make (as was the case in this thread) isn't getting across. I knew what the poster meant, I just think the way it was worded was cause for others to not realize what point they were making. That's all.

I type in caps the words that are beneficial to getting the point across. I think some read the posts too fast and therefore, the point or the issue the poster is trying to make (as was the case in this thread) isn't getting across. I knew what the poster meant, I just think the way it was worded was cause for others to not realize what point they were making. That's all.

Ok then.