To want to wrench toddlers away from overprotective mothers and set them free?

[lindsaygii]

You know the ones. You are at a group, drop-in or whatever. The only people there are mums and kids. Lots of kids are running about, having fun. They go up to other mums and kids to say hello. Their mother runs over and snatches them away. You aren't sure - are you a paedo or is the child a mini-psycho?

Or - the mum sitting next to you keeps a tight hold of her toddler. Whenever it tries to escape and join in the fun she pulls it back, berating it for 'having ants in its pants'

IF I'M AT A PLAYGROUP I DON'T MIND CHILDREN COMING UP TO ME!!. It's the possessive/ protective mums that do my nut in...

god no, i encourage my children to play as far away from me as possible.

Sheath your claws you lot- it's not Halloween yet.

I've never come across this at any of the groups I've been too either
My DS (10) was like suwoo's as a toddler, I can totally identify with velcro boy!
DD on the other hand is one of those kids that if you look away for one nano second, she's gone, so usually have to hold on to her for that very reason

although, i find the smallest one to be somewhat clingy at times

sheath yer claws.lol hark at you.advising condoms on fingers? dont be silly

and lets not forget the mums of those children with violent tendencies.
ds1 went through a hideous stage of pushing other children over/off things, which meant that i had to hover, and catch him regularly

Have you never heard the expression 'unsheathed claws' then scottishmummy?

LOL funnily enough,no

Then you're the silly one then.

Filthy mind too. Tut tut.

This is a case i prosecuted in real life.A mother was in a charity shop her 3 year old ds was running around, the seventy year old paedophile put his hand up her skirt he had done something similar when sixty.I have a very confident toddler and still let her run around but i know you have to be very careful.

Sorry very tired,the 3 year olds skirt.

Hmm, perhaps you are somewhat scarey or unpleasant looking-smelling-etc?

the balance is allowing positive risk taking and exploration and safe environment

She was.I dont think these type of things happen very often but I am always careful.

I have prosecuted and defended many paedophiles and your advice is very sensible scottishmummy.

Message withdrawn

am that mother you describe. Have you ever considered differences in culture? In my culture we are raised to keep within our own space and not disturb anothers. That and I have no interest in socializing with everyone just because we share the common title of parent. Take for one, my culture finds stepping in our house with your shoes on extremely offensive while many here find it as no big deal. My son very much has 'freedom'...to express himself, to run freely, whatever outlet ..just not free range to strangers or other kids.
I don't mind at all in classroom settings or with all his cousins and my friends kids. And once he's out of the toddler stage he could chose his own friends of course. I sometimes find it annoying when other parents seem to want to reassure me to add my son in their kids child play or even for my son to play with them.
No thanks...if I wanted that I would have scheduled a play date. =)

Melanie7six, do you go to mums & toddler groups then? Because the purpose of these groups is to give mums and babies/toddleers the chance to socialise and interact. It's in this setting that the OP is refering to.

I've never seen this, but I have seen a lot of massive pre-schoolers running around at my toddler group, ignored by their parents who sit and chat, while they push the little kids around and punch each other. I'd prefer to see a little more supervision from those parents.

I used to circle my son because he was in a biting stage and i wanted to be able to pry him off another childs arm if he attacked. He is 3 now and luckily grown out of it but I probably would have been seen as over protective at the time (at least until he tried to bite a chunk out of one of the other toddlers).