Anyway, here goes. Kids and dogs do have something in common - if are allowed to think that they are the 'masters' at the top of the pile - you have trouble. And that is not to say that they can't have a lot of fun and hilarity- but they need to know the limits- and are much happier when they do.
Not always easy I know, been there and failed many times, both as a parent and a teacher. My kids have turned very fine- and so many of my students are still in touch, visit, Skype or FB - and we have a good laugh about it all. The only few kids whose parents did not allow the school and myself, to instill a sense of positive happy discipline and responsibility have sadly done very badly.
Things in the UK and US have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous as so often is the case- there are ways and ways of doing things, and taping a child's mouth is just not acceptable- but you can't blame the (!) Swiss to try and stop the slide to mayhem when they see riots in the UK, etc. And this is done positively and with a smile, why not? If people are being grumpy, unfriendly and uncaring- this is another story. Teachers who are expected to teach children how to behave (because some parents have not done this at home [nothing of course to do with posters here- just a general statement] and yet not allowed to use any sanctions. An impossible job at times. How many here have tried?
I thought about this for a long time, and came up with the following solution. I always have 2 things in my handbag: a small piece of homemade playdough in a zip bag, and a finger puppet shaped like a bear.
In "crying situations" when you are on the go but at the same time you are stuck (such at cash registers, check-outs, trams), I pull out the finger puppet, put it on my index finger, and move it around and make different voices (in a low tone). 9 out of 10, the kids stop crying because they get distracted and then they are curious. Some even smile
In "crying situations" when you are sitting down somewhere, I pull out the playdough. It keeps them entertained and out of trouble, at least for a few minutes
I will leave the "is Switzerland kid-friendly?" discussion to more experienced posters, as I have no kids of my own, but I thought I'd share these couple of tips that perhaps might be of little help to some parents. These are to be meant as "dealing with emergency" situations when out and about in public - of course one would expect that a serious discussion of what is allowed and what not happens once back home.
Cheers parents, you're doing your best!
as for the taping - if my kid was running his or her mouth in class non-stop, it wouldn't bother me a bit if the teacher taped their mouth shut. just like I wouldn't mind a little soap in their mouth if they spout off with words that are reserved for use when they no longer live with me. the alternative is having the teacher remove them from the class, which only leads to me and my wife having to teach the kid all the material they missed out on. neither a little tape or soap is going to scar my kids in any meaningful way, but will very likely teach them a lesson.
The most intolerant people I've seen towards kids seem to be selfish, self-centered people anyway. People like those that sit right next to the kid's corner playground then complain about the noise / kids running past them.
I even had to endure 14 hours on a flight next to a Swiss man that joined us in the kid's row with the bassinets after take-off (to get more leg room) and then complained about my son crying while his milk was being made. He was being such a child about it and carrying on and shouting, making my son cry even more. I told him to grow up and that he was acting just like my 2 year old. Thankfully, a flight attendant threw some ear plugs in his lap.
Like other posters, I've also had some lovely experiences of people helping calm my kids too. The most memorable was a stranger keeping my daughter entertained with magic - pretending to hide a small ball and then making it reappear. It certainly made the bus journey to the Singapore Zoo a little easier for everyone.
Infact she was so excited that at the checkout she started talking to the people behind her in the queue in a mixture of French, English and incoherant toddler speak about her rabbit. The lady behind us completely ignored my 2 year old despite my daughter addressing her directly. I don't expect everyone to integrate with my child but i was slightly disappointed that she completely and deliberately ignored her.
But then an old Swiss farmer who was stood behind the lady then stepped in and made a deliberate effort to talk to my daughter. He too had a little Lindt rabbit and taught my daughter to say Lapin instead of Rabbit. Their two rabbits then had a conversation between themselves. It was very cute and i really appreciated the man making such an effort. My little toddler said Ciao Ciao lapin to the man's rabbit and au revoir monsieur.
Everybody knows how to raise children, except the people who have them. - P.J. O'Rourke
Germany too.
The French and Greeks however seem to go out of their way to be friendly with children.
and no, no, I'm not saying kids and dogs are equal. (well, except that their behaviour for the first few years is often quite similar... )