[MR] Picking up strange children

[David Chessler]

At 08:26 AM 11/22/2007, Becky McEllistrem wrote:
>My habits around strange children who might seem lost are to bend 
>down to their level introduce myself and say
>
>"Hi my name is Rebecca.  Are you looking for somebody?"

Some pre-school children may not speak or understand English, even 
though their parents are perfectly fluent in English and even native 
speakers. While many of these may be of identifiable ethnic groups, 
some may not be.

Thus, if the child is unresponsive to the question, it may be well to 
call out and ask whether there is an adult associated with the child.


>Typically if they're not lost the adult in charge has seen the 
>interaction and started towards us.  If they are lost they nod their 
>head and then I can offer to help while offering my hand.  (Most SCA 
>toddlers seem to understand that much.)
>
>The child is still a little nervous but they're not touched by a 
>stranger right away and now they know the person's name before any 
>other interaction happens.
>
>Rebecca
>
>
>
>
>--- On Thu, 11/22/07, mathilde at mathildegirlgenius.com 
><mathilde at mathildegirlgenius.com> wrote:
>
> > From: mathilde at mathildegirlgenius.com <mathilde at mathildegirlgenius.com>
> > Subject: [MR] Picking up strange children
> > To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
> > Date: Thursday, November 22, 2007, 12:23 AM
> > Good morning, all,
> >
> > Last weekend, my family and I attended Holiday Faire. We
> > had our two toddler
> > sons with us. My two-year old ran around the event quite a
> > bit, with me or
> > another caregiver usually close behind. He was
> > well-watched, though active and
> > all over the place.
> >
> > A few people would stand in his way to help
> > "herd" him, usually by holding out
> > cloaks or skirts. As I wasn't really trying to catch
> > him, just follow him, I
> > didn't need it, but it didn't bother me.
> >
> > What did bother me, though, is that there were some
> > strangers who felt the need
> > to pick him up and hold him. He was not in a booth, did not
> > pose an imminent
> > danger to any merchandise, and the last instance was during
> > clean up when he
> > wasn't anywhere close to getting into any trouble.
> >
> > I know that there are many who view the SCA as a big happy
> > family. In some ways,
> > it is. In reality, anybody can walk through the door of an
> > event. There have
> > been enough unhappy incidents within the last few years
> > that everybody should
> > be well aware that strangers are still strangers (and that
> > common sense should
> > still prevail with people you know).
> >
> > I'd like to be clear - it is NOT ok to just pick up a
> > strange child, unless that
> > child is in some sort of danger, or you're doing a
> > quick redirect away from
> > merchandise if you don't see the parent right away. If
> > I don't know you, do not
> > pick up my sons. If I know you as an acquaintance, please
> > *ask* if you may pick
> > up my sons. Two year olds have personal boundaries, just as
> > any of the rest of
> > us do.
> >
> > Back to your regularly scheduled holiday. Happy
> > Thanksgiving, all!
> >
> > -Mathilde
> >
> >
> >
> >
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