What is the attitude toward infants/small children in public (particularly rowdy, loud toddlers)?
We’re closer to Americans in our open praise and acknowledgement of children’s presence, and adults tend to be rowdy and laid-back as well. Fawning on kids reaches unmatched proportions. Unlike in the US though, where I believe people do not let their children interact with strangers, such an interaction is commonplace and permissible here (to various degrees depending on the parents’ temperament). It is also quite ok to let kids run around because nobody would harm them. If you’re the happy parents of a toddler, expect your child to be hugged and kissed a lot – and if you’re walking around and bystanders feel the child is evading your attention and doing something risky, they will step in to warn you. Thus as I was walking with friends and their little girl along an old paved street, an old woman suddenly grabbed the child’s hand fearing she would trip and fall.
