*Children are to address adults differently than adults address them. This can be challenging to little children, as it is a natural reaction to reply with the same greeting. While adults can say, "Ahoj!" to children, children should say, "Dobry den!" to the adults. If an adult gives permission, they can use the familiar greeting.
*Many mothers nurse. It is far more likely to see a mother nurse here than to use a bottle.
*Children are fed faithfully throughout the day - including snacks. Sometimes this will be fruit, but often it is a roll or other bread type snack. Some of P's classmates bring snacks that look to me like a lunch. This may be why many of them don't finish their school lunches just a couple hours later!
*Most Slovak children begin attending school when they are 3. They are not legally required to begin school until age 6, but we have been hearing they are supposed to enroll in the 5 yr. old preschool class before they begin school. We don't yet know if they must do this or if it is just strongly suggested.
*They generally wear socks under their sandals.
*Enrolling children into music lessons is very common here. Towns and villages often have music schools in them to accommodate this interest in music learning. The most popular instrument seems to be piano, but students can also take lessons in recorder, violin, guitar, drum, and singing.
*It is not uncommon to see children walking or riding a scooter or bike around the village. Some even go to and from their music lessons by themselves. In general, it is probably safer for children to do this here, but we still take our boys everywhere.
*It is very popular for toddlers/pre-schoolers to have little bikes w/o peddles. They use their feet to push themselves along and learn how to balance. We've observed that children learn how to ride a bike much earlier as a result. We know a 4 yr. old and a 5 yr. old who recently learned to ride their bikes.
*Both boys and girls will wear tights under their clothes. I'm not sure at what age this stops, but they still do it in the preschool years. If it gets too hot, their moms will take their pants off and let them play in their tights.
*Wearing hats is very popular - winter, summer, and everytime in-between.
*In the winter, parents will pull their children along the sidewalks on sleds. This is part of living in a walking culture.
*Strollers are VERY popular. Parents will walk their children around in them, but will also put them in their vehicles to pull out when they arrive somewhere. They have color coordinated sets that include matching diapers bags. There are even stores dedicated to strollers with rows and rows of all different models and types.
*They have little sleeping bag type things that they will put their babies in inside the stroller in the winter.
*Babies often sleep in their strollers. This might not be the case at night, but it is very common for naps. Often they will put the stroller outside for the child to sleep - even in the coldest parts of winter. Of course the child is bundled up and often in their little bag, but it still seems cold to me!
*Diapers are very expensive here, especially for name brands like Pampers.
*When children are school-age, they are considered very independent here. At this age, if a child goes to the hospital, they will stay by themselves. We know a 7 yr. old child who went to a specialty clinic for three weeks - by himself.
*Grandparents often help with the grandchildren, especially since very often both parents work.
*Adults will often add a "k" to words as they speak to children. Examples are "dobre rano - dobre ranko" (good morning), "jahoda - jahodka" (strawberry). Sometimes the word form changes for animals and some toys, such as "auto - autičko" (car). There is also a special verb used when a child is eating.
*Mothers have a 3 yr. maternity leave here, during which they are paid a partial amount of their normal income.
*Mothers are also eligible to retire earlier because of having children. I believe it is two years for each child. I wish we had this policy in the States!
*Slovak families typically have 2 or 3 children, though we do know a family with 4. Four is considered a big family, so anything beyond that would be even more rare.
*Most (if not all) churches do not have a nursery, so infants and toddlers must sit in the service with their parents. Some churches don't even have S.S., so all children must stay in the service. We are thankful that our church does have a S.S. class that begins part-way through the service.
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