What would you think if...

[Super~Single~Mama]

....a child at the playground walked up to your kid (boy or girl) and gave them a kiss?

[limabean]

Not much, unless it bothered my child.

[pauletoy]

If it were a young child, I wouldn't bat an eye. My 4yo dd is a hugger.

[petey44]

Yeah, depends on the age. Little kids, I'd think it was cute. My 22 mo DD is always going up to strangers and saying, "Up? Hug? Kiss?"

[Super~Single~Mama]

Ok, because my son does this to kids every time we go to the playground, and I'm kinda waiting for the parent that doesn't think its funny. So far they all do - and he really loves babies. Anyone who has a baby with them, he goes and tries to kiss the baby. It's adorable, and I think its sweet, and I don't want to encourage him not to (b/c lets face it, its WAY better than biting!) but I'm not looking forward to the day someone yells at me. (my son is 18mo and he just learned to give kisses a few months ago)

[neverdoingitagain]

Well, if it was my child...I would be relieved. Glad to see its not just my kids that run up other children and hug or kiss them.

[grumpybear]

Honestly? I don't like it. I like my personal space. I like my kids to have their personal space. However, it's something I try to get over.
Unless the child has a really bad cold then I'd wonder what in the world the parent is thinking?

[mumm]

I'd think the child had some sort of special needs and didn't fully understand personal body space and boundaries.

I'd also think my kid did well by not pushing the kid away and slugging him/her, since my kids need their space and wouldn't want a stranger smooching them. But since I doubt my kid would let it happen I wouls probably just let the stranger kid know that my child doesn't want a kiss right now thank you very much. (and silently I'd think "but I'll take one, you can never have too many kisses" but I wouldn't want the adult to think I'm a totaly perv/nut case!)

[Super~Single~Mama]

Originally Posted by mumm

I'd think the child had some sort of special needs and didn't fully understand personal body space and boundaries.

I could see that thought with an older child, but what about an 18mo? He doesn't have any respect for personal space, but I don't think he has any special needs - he's just not old enough.

[phathui5]

I would think they liked kissing.

[phathui5]

Originally Posted by thyra

I could see that thought with an older child, but what about an 18mo? He doesn't have any respect for personal space, but I don't think he has any special needs - he's just not old enough.

At 18 months? I wouldn't think anything of it.

[lilyka]

it was a baby toddler I would just think it was sweet. come preschool it starts getting a little weird. I still wouldn;t care and if my child cared I would think they would say something ike..."NO". And by kindergarten or so it is inappropriate to just go up to people and kiss them,

[mamazee]

Your child is a toddler? Very common, no big deal at all.

[liliaceae]

That's totally normal for an 18 month old and it wouldn't bother me at all.

[laughingfox]

At that age?
I might get a knee-jerk reaction because of cooties, but I wouldn't be really bothered by it. Kids do that stuff sometimes.

[One_Girl]

It it was a little kid I would think it was cute. If it was a school age kid I would assume that it was part of the kissy game. My dd and her friend play it and they each run away from the other because they don't want cooties. It is really hilarious to watch. It is really just a game for friends though.

[momasana]

It wouldn't bother me unless my DS protested and the child did it again.

[PPK]

DS is sometimes a hugger/kisser now. I notice if a child doesn't seem to want it they back away and I'll tell him that they're not wanting it and he backs off pretty well.

I don't care, it certainly beats the hitting phase

[Honey693]

If the kid was under 4 or so I'd think it was cute. Any older and I'd be a little weirded out, but assume they have baby siblings at home that love kisses.

[mumm]

Originally Posted by thyra

I could see that thought with an older child, but what about an 18mo? He doesn't have any respect for personal space, but I don't think he has any special needs - he's just not old enough.

I guess I was thinking maybe 2 or 3 years old. 18 months? It is still cute so he/she can get away with it but I'd still find it a little annoying. A hug? That feels very different.