Cultural Observations of Children

[peachtess]

I thought I'd talk about the area of Antiguan cultural that has given me the biggest culture shocks as an expat. That area would be children's safety and treatment. Things are very different here then they are in the states. Some of the stuff still gives me pause even after a year of living here. There are two things that bug me the most about the

Comments

[fistik]

in turkey they think everything is going to make children sick. they make them where huge coats when its really hot outside. they cant play outside if there is the slightest breeze and they blowdry their hair if they are sweaty. and they actually think a child might be peeing his pants because his feet are cold (again its warm out at the time anyway.)

as far as i see they don,t hit the kids(at least its not acceptable to do so except for spanking)

they are the same amount of bratty as american kids, and start trying to act grown up way too young.

but they generally live with their parents till they are married even if they marry at 30.

a weird thing is that people see a baby they dont know and think its their right to touch it and fondle over it (they love children) even if they dont know you. and at school teachers hug and kiss their students way more than would be acceptable in the u.s.

[asteriskhere]

in turkey they think everything is going to make children sick. they make them where huge coats when its really hot outside. they cant play outside if there is the slightest breeze and they blowdry their hair if they are sweaty. and they actually think a child might be peeing his pants because his feet are cold (again its warm out at the time anyway.)

This is exactly how it is in Serbia! Even a 'breeze' on a hot day is potentially deadly and cold feet will mess up your reproductive and/or urological functions.

[baggyk]

Yup. In Bulgaria too. In 38 degree July weather my mother-in-law told me to take my very blond baby out of the shade before he caught a cold!

[fistik]

Yes. Even my turkish husband thinks my ovaries will be shot from being barefoot in the house!

[dyfferent]

Kids here are as doughy and spoiled as American children.

[homasse]

Here in Japan, yeah, you *never* see kids in carseats. I've seen people *driving* with their kids in their laps, and it makes my brain meltdown

[bezigebij]

I've heard that in Japan the kids are allowed to do pretty much anything till they are 5 and then all of a sudden there are extreme boundaries set and there is a lot, lot expected of them.

Does this seem to concur with what you have seen?

[praguegretchen]

The one that freaks me out here is young kids, like toddler age, in smoky bars.

[gingy]

I'm from Canada and live in the states. It seems mostly the same here, although the lower classes (poor choice, but I think it's the best there is) of people here seem to think it's perfectly fine to scream at and hit their children in public, or let them run around without supervision in stores, etc. That's the sort of thing you just don't see in (my part of) Canada.