Question

A client tells you that her 6 year old son told her that "bad things will happen if I tell on Jim." Jim is a 20 year old neighbor who babysits her son. What should the client do in this situation?

1) Talk to her son and ask for more details
2) Confront Jim about the situation
3) Contact the authorities
4) Ignore the situation

Answer 1

The client should immediately contact the authorities if her son indicates fear of 'bad things' happening should he talk about his babysitter, Jim. This approach ensures the child's safety and allows for a professional investigation into the matter.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a client informs you that her 6 year old son expressed concerns about 'bad things' happening if he speaks out against his 20 year old babysitter, Jim, the situation must be handled with care and urgency. The first and most critical step the client should take is to contact the authorities. It is imperative to ensure the safety of the child and to have professionals investigate the matter, as it may involve child endangerment or abuse. While it might initially seem reasonable to talk to her son for more details or confront Jim about the situation, these actions could potentially put the child at further risk or compromise a legal investigation. Ignoring the situation is certainly not advisable under any circumstances.