[MR] Picking up strange children

[David Stewart]

Rebecca,
Thank you for offering that excellent advice!  As a parent of a 2yo myself,
I think your response is ideal.
Cheers,
Dubhghall

On 11/22/07, Becky McEllistrem <bmcellis at yahoo.com> 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?"
>
> 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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