Adults' Interaction With Children In the U.S. And Germany

I observed more than two places to figure out the differences and similarities on how adults interact with children in the U.S.. I watched children on the street with their parents, in restaurants, and stores. First of all I have to say that it was hard finding any differences, since the Americans treat their children almost as Germans would.

But I did realize that the children here are more free and independent from their parents. They let their children explore things even though they know that they might get hurt. I saw parents talking to other parents and allowing their children just to run around the area. Sometimes the children would walk very far away from their parents and I was wondering why they didn't look for them at least sometimes; not even a glimpse. In Germany the parents are very overprotective. They watch their children all the time and they are very concerned about them getting hurt. Even when they talk to an adult they still have an eye on their children and would call them back or go get them if they walked too far away. Most of the time you would see people holding their childrens' hands or carrying them so they cannot run away.

One similarity that I noticed was at the stores. The parents, both in the U.S. and Germany cannot say 'NO' to their childrens' requests and wishes. If they want to have something the parents will buy it right away. It didn't use to be like that in Germany but it changed into that trend. When I was young my parents were very strict and they would never buy me something in a store no matter how much I begged, but maybe this was the case because they are not German but Czech. Overall I have an impression that children in the Czech Republic are more polite and very strictly raised. They are not as spoiled as German or American children are. However, when it comes to food, parents in Germany are more strict. If their children want to have grease food or candies they tend to be more strict. Here in the U.S. children get everything they want.

Another similarity would be the supportive way of how adults interact with their children. Both in Germany and the U.S. parents are very concerned about the future of their children and they want their children to learn some kind of sport or instrument to support them in their development. However, I have to say that parents in Germany exaggerate with this 'support' . Many parents basically force their children to have piano lessons in the morning, then ballet lessons and in the afternoon they play the violin. Many children have a packed schedule like that. It is not, that they are interest in all that stuff but they just do it because their parents want them to. Maybe the parents always wanted to be a good musician or athlete and since their dream never fulfilled they will try to make it happen for their children. In America I think it is different. To my mind the parents let the children choose what they enjoy doing and they support them in any way possible.