Mongolian Children
Mongolian children on horseback Don't worry about bringing your children here. One-third of Mongolians haven't reached their fourteenth birthday. Mongolia is one BIG playground! Mongolian namesAs you travel round Mongolia, you will meet children with names which may sound ludicrous or cruel. Would you call your kid "not human" or "savage dog?" Mongolians do! But they have their child's best interests at heart. Click the title above to discover why. Children' FestivalsYou may come across one of the following children's festivals on your tour...< First hair cut—Mongolian kids get their first haircut when they reach two or three. The ceremony marks the transition from babyhood to childhood. If you are in the countryside, you may get an invitation. The child's family gathers and each takes a turn at snipping a lock of hair. After each snip, the child gets a gift—so don't forget to give one! Children's Day—this takes place on June 1st. On this day the capitals' main road closes for the day. You will find many festivities taking place—the biggest one in Sukhbaatar Square. A great time to visit! Children's Day is alcohol free—restaurants, pubs, and shops will not serve or sell you alcohol. City ChildrenMongolian kids start going to school proper aged six and stay in school until the age of eighteen. After school, Mongolians play in 'Children's Squares' in front of their apartments. A children's square often includes a basketball court, sandpit and a small park. In fact, if you want to discover the real Mongolia, you'll find these squares a great place to meet people. Unfortunately these days you're just as likely to find Mongolian children playing video games in the nearest Internet café! Nomadic Children
Nomad children have no such 'luxuries' and instead enjoy the wide open vistas of the steppe. Some say Nomad kids learn to ride a horse before they can walk. Street KidsFor some Mongolian Children, life sucks. Street children live underground and venture up when they need to find food and money. They can get in your way on Ulan Bator's shopping streets, but please go easy on them. They live a hard life. Gifts for Mongolian ChildrenIf you visit nomads on your trip, it's considered polite to bring gifts for their children. Mongolian children like the same things as kids around the world. But avoid gifts which require batteries or refills—they won't be able to buy them. You can gift babies and young children a soft toy; for older children small action figures, toy cars, notebooks, color pencils (make sure you include a pencil sharpener) and so on. A gift I have given that was well received was a wind up torch—a very useful and practical gift for nomads. Child safetyAs for your children, they will be safe here. My son first came here when he was eight-months old...
But here's two pieces of advice to keep in mind... Many hotels and ger camps have no cots. If your child needs one, bring a travel cot with you—or make sure your tour company has one. Gers come in one shape—circular, and the beds have a big gap between them and the wall. If it's a little chilly, they also have a hot stove right in the middle. Finally—bring some duct tape. Electric safety standards vary. You may find some live wires within your child's reach. A little duct tape could stop your kids getting a nasty shock! Related Pages
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