A Nursery Teacher Disciplined for "Pretending to Call the Police" — When Does "Threatening Discipline" Become Abuse? The Global Boundary We Want to Share and Alternative Measures to Protect Children

1. What Happened: "Inappropriate Childcare" at Asahi City Nursery and Reprimand

The incident began with the official announcement by Asahi City, Chiba Prefecture, regarding a case of "inappropriate childcare." According to the city, on June 12, 2025, at the municipal Chuo Daisan Nursery School's class for two-year-olds, a childcare worker (an annually appointed staff member) engaged in inappropriate interactions with a specific child. The content is primarily twofold.

• While reprimanding a child over a toy dispute, the worker grabbed the child's chest, causing a scratch.

• To a child who wouldn't stop crying, the worker pretended to call the police with their smartphone, threatening the child.
  Asahi City
  
  

This incident was also reported in the media, and the city issued a reprimand as a disciplinary action against the childcare worker involved.Mainichi Shimbun
The fact that the municipality clearly categorized the act of "threatening" as inappropriate and took disciplinary action is of global significance. This is because the method of "scaring children into obedience" is a "classic shortcut" that tends to persist across cultural spheres in homes, education, and childcare settings.

2. Why "Pretending to Call the Police" is Problematic

2-1. For Children, "Police" is Easily Associated with Punishment and Fear

Young children often cannot understand the role of the police as a social institution (protecting safety, stopping harm, etc.). Meanwhile, the image of "police = a scary presence" or "being taken away" is easily imprinted from the actions of those around them.
As a result, "I'll call the police" functions not as a justification for behavior (why it's dangerous, what should be done), but as aswitch to stop behavior through fear.

2-2. Using "External Authority" for Control Undermines the Foundation of Relationships

Childcare and discipline in the home are fundamentally based on the premise of being a "safe and secure base." However, "calling the police" or "reporting" can appear to children as a "break in the relationship" or "exclusion."
In other words, what children learn is not "how to calm down," but rather a defensive reaction of "stop in front of someone who scares you" or "it's dangerous to express your true feelings and emotions."

2-3. Internationally, "Controlling Through Fear" is a Typical Form of "Emotional Abuse"

In the context of child protection in the UK, "Terrorising" is listed as a form of emotional abuse, which includes "implying violence" and "intentionally frightening children."NSPCC Learning
Even if "pretending to call the police" is not violence itself, it easily fits the structure of **"controlling through fear."**

3. Examining Japanese Legal System: Where is the Line Between "Discipline" and "Abuse"?

From here, to make it understandable "to the world," let's organize the Japanese framework.

3-1. Japanese Law Includes "Psychological Abuse" as Child Abuse

Japan's "Act on the Prevention, etc. of Child Abuse" defines child abuse in multiple categories, including psychological abuse.e-Gov Law Search+1

Materials from the Japan Pediatric Society also indicate that "severe verbal abuse" and "severely rejecting responses" are legally positioned as psychological abuse, discussing how attitudes that habitually threaten children can become problematic.Japan Pediatric Society

The point is that not only physical abuse like "hitting and kicking," but alsoacts that leave emotional scars on children through words, attitudes, and intimidationcan also be subject to scrutiny.

3-2. "Corporal Punishment is Prohibited"—There is a Line That Cannot Be Crossed Even in the Name of Discipline

In Japan, it has been legislated that guardians, etc., must not inflict corporal punishment during discipline, which came into effect in April 2020.International Accounting Standards Board
This does not deny "the right of parents to discipline their children," but rather translates the social consensus of **"children's rights and safety are paramount"** into a legal rule.

3-3. So, is "Pretending to Call the Police" Immediately Considered Abuse?

In conclusion,it cannot be categorically declared as "always abuse." However, the assessment of abuse (especially psychological abuse) tends to be substantively judged by the following elements rather than a single word.

• Frequency and Repetition: The more it is repeated, the more it becomes a pattern of fear and control.

• Child's Age and Development: The younger they are, the harder it is to distinguish between reality and metaphor, and the more severe the impact.

• Situation: Is it a short-term restraint for danger avoidance, or an outlet for frustration?

• Outcome: Are there effects such as the child being extremely frightened, fearing the nursery or home, or changes in sleep, appetite, or behavior?

The reason the Asahi City case resulted in a "disciplinary" public evaluation is that the municipality viewed it seriously as an "inappropriate interaction that occurred in a nursery where children's safety should be prioritized," and the facts of the case (injury, threat) are officially indicated.Asahi City+1

In homes as well, if a similar structure (control through fear) continues, there is a sufficient possibility of it becoming an issue as psychological abuse.

4. The "Parents Also Tend to Do It" Issue: Why the Term "Abuse" is Still Difficult

"I'll call the police" can easily remain as a copy of the discipline parents themselves received in their childhood. It may also emerge as a "forbidden technique" to stop children as quickly as possible amid fatigue, isolation, and lack of time.

At the same time, the term "abuse" is strong, and there is a potential side effect where guardians may distance themselves from support, thinking "I'm no good anymore." The strength of the term "abuse" and the importance of communication that leads to support are also pointed out by awareness organizations.Orange Ribbon

Therefore, what is important is to understand the risks of actions specifically and replace them with alternatives, rather than labeling.

5. Alternatives: From "Stopping with Fear" to "Calming Safely"

Here is the practical part. It can be applied both in childcare and at home.

5-1. Use "Safety Rules" Instead of "Police"

• × "I'll call the police!"

• ○ "Let's stop. It's dangerous."

• ○ "Now is the time to protect your body. We'll talk when you're calm."

The goal is to clarify that the focus is on "safety," not "punishment."

5-2. Instead of "Stopping" the Child's Behavior, Change the Environment First

Around the age of two, impulse control is immature, and verbal persuasion is less effective.

• Toy disputes → Increase the same toys / Zone division / Turn-taking cards

• Tantrums → Move to a place with reduced stimuli / Hydration / Holding or providing a sense of security with minimal pressure

5-3. Teach "Calming Skills" (Not Just a Temporary Fix)

Calming techniques need to be "taught" to be acquired.

• Count deep breaths together

• Hold hands and say "squeeze, release"

• Verbalize feelings: "You were frustrated," "You wanted to stop it"

5-4. Recognize the Adult's "Limit Signs" First

The moment you feel like controlling through fear is also a sign that the adult's energy is depleted.

• Take a 10-second break

• Ask for a switch (colleague in a nursery, family/support in a home)

• Decide "it's not possible now" but "safety comes first now"

6. If You Feel "This Might Be Abuse": Reporting and Consulting Can Be "Okay Even If Wrong"

In Japan, when child abuse is suspected, the Child Guidance Center Abuse Response Dial "189" is widely known as a consultation point. The website clearly states "It's okay even if you're wrong," encouraging people to consult without hesitation.kodomoshien.cfa.go.jp

Furthermore, the prevention of abuse is positioned as a societal issue, and frameworks for information provision and support are organized as national policy.International Accounting Standards Board+1

Sharing the premise that "reporting = punishment" is not the case, but rather "an entry point to support," is globally important.

7. Conclusion for the World: "Threatening with Police" May Seem Like a Shortcut in "Discipline," But It's Also a Shortcut to Destroying Trust

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