Since when are we not allowed to talk to the children?

victory

rpc wrote: »

And all this despite the evidence that children are most at risk from people they know and from family members the most.

That's what it says on the link I posted

motherofstudents

What a sad society we have turned into. There was a tv programme a while back where they had a child actor of about 7 or so and they were on their own and upset in a shopping centre. They filmed to see who would help. Most people looked and walked on. It was mostly middle aged women who stopped to actually help the child.

I think it's fine to talk to children at checkouts etc if they are accompanied by parents. What happened to common sense ?

jellyhead

The mum's over-reaction might have been because she thought you were disapproving of the girl being outside on her own. Maybe she felt she was being criticised, and she lashed out?

I wouldn't worry about it. Lots of kids are chatty and it would be horrible to ignore a child who was trying to chat to you. I talk to strange kids all the time. My youngest is very chatty but eldest isn't. Youngest is 7 and he keeps asking if he can walk to school on his own, but I know that he'd never get there because he'd spend all day chatting to every passing dog walker.

unoriginal_uk

To be honest I would have interrupted her shouting at you for apparently incorrectly talking to her small child by standing up and proceeding to have a very loud go at her for leaving her small child all by itself in a shopping centre - and that she should be thankful her child that she failed to keep an eye on came up to you instead of someone who could have quite easily gone walking off with them - I am sure she would have stopped having a go at you then!

You really cannot win can you - you talk to someone's kid and get looked at like you're about to stage a kidnapping. You don't talk to someone's kid and you get rude and dirty looks because you're ignoring them. It's ridiculous. I always reply to children on buses etc when they strike up conversations with me and I've never thankfully had a parent have a go at me (though as I am 27year old female maybe this goes in my favour). I think some parents need to chill the hell out! Having said that some parents also need to keep better eyes on their children or else teach them not to go wandering off!

ciderwithrosie_2

I'd have told the woman that I was a mother myself, and clearly a nicer, more attentive one than her, the nasty cow!!

kelfen

Sorry, but if it was a little one of the same age who started talking with no mum, I'd still chatter to them, it's just who I am!

My fiance has a really massive beard, whenever we go in shops there are always children commenting on his beard or cos my hair is pink.

lilymay1

andygb wrote: »

I hope that you are in a minority, because IMO the OP did nothing wrong whatsoever.
You have also pretty much contradicted yourself, because it was not the OP who started the conversation it was the little girl.
The OP simply asked the little girl where her mother was.

At the end of the day, if parents are that paranoid, then they should keep better control over their children, rather than lose their temper at others when they fall short of their own expectations;)

At what point did I say the OP did something wrong? I simply said I could understand the parents reaction if the situation was as I had described. From what the OP has said, 'mum' sounds like a rude and aggressive individual who was quit unjustified in her behaviour.

And where did I contradict myself? I said I made sure not to engage in a deep conversation with the little girl I met at the park. Your post doesn't make such sense.

Stephb1986_2

Blimey poor you!! My mum talks to anyone and everyone!!

If the mother was that concerned about her why did she let her out of her sight then! She obviously wasn't that concerened and more !!!!!d about her dress.

What is the world coming to?? Soon enough we won't have to talk to anyone!

Steph xx

Sally_A

Quite frankly, I don't give a toss about the repercussions, I know I am not a "perv" and if I see a lost or distressed child, I will try to get the child back to the parent or into a safe environment where they can be reunited.

Welshwoofs

Gawd - I have little kids run up to me all the bloody time when I'm out and about with my dog because, to them, he's 'Fang' from Harry Potter (he's not the Fang of course; just the same breed)

It's never even occurred to me that anyone would think me a pervert for chatting to them.

What an odd woman!