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

xoxo_2

I hope this horrible incident doesn't put you off chatting with other young children when you're out and about. I think it's lovely. My Gran is always chatting to any young kids she sees in the shops

barbiedoll

I don't let all the media hysteria stop me from speaking to kids and if I see a small child that is unaccompanied, I usually lurk (probably the wrong word lol!) nearby to make sure that someone turns up to claim them. I work in a clinic that is filled with children so I'm used to chatting to kids, big and small. I certainly don't feel "guilty" for speaking to a child who speaks to me, I think it's lovely when they are chatty, my DS wouldn't say boo to a goose when he was small!

The thing that makes me mad about these stupid women is that they are often quite happy to find a boyfriend on some internet dating site, or in a pub and they will bring him home and then move him in to live with their kids, without knowing anything much about him. That's where kids are in most danger, not from random women sat on shopping centre benches. :mad:

Bluemeanie_2

Since when did society become so unfriendly?! I think the poster that said about being allowed to talk to strangers but not to go off with them is ideal. I will always talk to anyone that talks to me. Whatever age they are and will take exception to anyone that insinuates or says I'm out of order.

consultant31

Going back 20 years my Gran lived in sheltered accommodation which backed onto the local park. She was under 5 feet tall and around 90 years of age at the time!

During nice weather Gran used to like to wander into the park and sit on a bench with a bag of bread to feed the birds. Obviously there were kiddies around and Gran (having been a nursemaid in her youth and always having an affinity with children) used to enjoy having a chat with them.

There came a time when she spoke to a little girl who looked terrified and ran away and I don't think Gran ever went into the park again she was so upset at the child's reaction..

My point being - this state of affairs isn't new, though it is getting worse and in the end, the ones who suffer are the children who lose out on a 'normal' relationship with strangers......very few of whom will be perverts in any way, shape or form.

consultant31

barbiedoll wrote: »

The thing that makes me mad about these stupid women is that they are often quite happy to find a boyfriend on some internet dating site, or in a pub and they will bring him home and then move him in to live with their kids, without knowing anything much about him. That's where kids are in most danger, not from random women sat on shopping centre benches. :mad:

Oh yes, I do agree with this. How often does this sort of thing come to light when a 'boyfriend' has been left to watch a little one while Mum goes to the shops and his temper gets the better of him?

Mankysteve

Sounds like dm rearder

bylromarha

As a primary teacher, some of the chattiest kids I know, those who'll sit and talk to anyone who'll listen are those who don't get talked with, or listened to, that much by their parent. You see the interactions they have when they collect them from the door.

Which is why when I'm out and about I make a point to continue a conversation with a child who starts to talk to me.

If I'd been in that situation (although hindsight is wonderful) I'd ask if she'd managed to buy the dress she saw 2 days ago. To show her I'd been listening to her child - and to try to show the best response to the child as she shouldn't have had to witness her mother having a go at you like that.

marisco_2

Some people have no control over how stupidly they behave or conduct themselves. The mother sounds like an aggressive, foul mouthed, inadequate who deflects her own failings as a parent, on whatever unfortunate member of the public her little girl decides to chat to whilst left to her own devices.

What kind of parent allows their young daughter to be on their own, whilst their priority is to go into a shop, to see if a dress they had seen a few days before was still there. When she comes out and sees her child talking happily to you she then speaks in a rude and totally unecessary manner to you and exclaims that children need protecting from people like you!

If I had been spoken to in the way you were, the parent would have been left in no doubt who I felt the child needed protecting from and why. That poor little kid being shown such terrible examples. Some people are just not fit to be parents are they.

abailey54

What a stupid woman, having a go at you! Unfortunately, it doesn't matter what's in the news, there will always still be stupid people

I wanted to comment though about some people saying about media coverage about the issue being 'hysteria' - I don't think that it is. Abuse happens and I for one am glad it's being reported more if it's going to give more children and adults the courage to come forward and report what's happened to them. Hopefully more of the b*stards will get locked up, resulting in fewer people's lives being ruined.

I generally don't talk to children - I don't have them so it seems an odd thing for me to do. I don't think I'd be rude to a child that started talking to me though. I definitely think it'd be worth risking an earbashing off parents to help a lost child find their mum and dad, rather then leaving them at risk of bumping into someone nasty

I really liked the idea of teaching children that they can talk to strangers but not go anywhere with them - and the password idea's brilliant. I think I might use this when I do eventually have children

shirlgirl2004

What a silly mother she was. If she had a problem with people talking to her child she should have kept the child within sight. I don't have a problem with strangers talking to my children because I don't let them sit on benches in public alone.

I want my children to grow up able to talk to anyone and so I encourage interaction with strangers. That is true socialisation, being able to talk to people and knowing how both they and you should act to be appropriate.