Lack of experience? Some people never spend time around children after they grow up. They don't remember what kids like or how to talk to them.

Well, I'm a mom and I find it hard to interact with children who are not taught to be polite, respectful and mindful of others. This is, of course, due to lazy parenting. So I can only imagine how a non-parent would feel with unruly children who may be used to throwing tantrums to get their way with mummy and daddy turning cartwheels to please them...see Veruka in Charlie (or Willy Wonka) and the Chocolate Factory.

Well, I'm a mom and I find it hard to interact with children who are not taught to be polite, respectful and mindful of others. This is, of course, due to lazy parenting. So I can only imagine how a non-parent would feel with unruly children who may be used to throwing tantrums to get their way with mummy and daddy turning cartwheels to please them...see Veruka in Charlie (or Willy Wonka) and the Chocolate Factory.

Well, I'm a mom and I find it hard to interact with children who are not taught to be polite, respectful and mindful of others. This is, of course, due to lazy parenting. So I can only imagine how a non-parent would feel with unruly children who may be used to throwing tantrums to get their way with mummy and daddy turning cartwheels to please them...see Veruka in Charlie (or Willy Wonka) and the Chocolate Factory.

Socialisation. when they were growing up, they were not in contact with children. How else do you learn? I was one of 20 grandchildren, and there were always little ones around. My cousin from the other side of the family, though, was frightened to hold my nephew as a baby because she simply didn't know how. I have made sure my girls know what to do with babies.

may be because of ego of their own and lack of skill to talk to children, so, soon they get bored with them.

As they cant afford a theme park in their back garden?

I havn't any children and not very maternal either...but i do find it hard to interact with children, because i'm not surrounded by them and they have an uncanny knack of making you feel stupid...i can interact very well with people of all ages but children scare the pants off me :)

I have difficulty with ill-behaved children. Unfortunately, most of today's children fit that category. I also have difficulty with the hyperactive exuberance of a child for any length of time... I find it draining. I am not used to being around them for any length of time. I think that, if I had a child, I would not feel this way. I am a little bit uncomfortable around children because, I believe, I was raised so strictly and so "old world". How I was raised was very different than how American children are raised. I was the perfect little gent in a restaurant, for example, when others my age ran riot, this being allowed with the parent right there. My father and I would look at them, look at each other, and shake our heads in dismay. If a child has been raised with manners I enjoy being around that child. Yes, a child can be mannered. It takes quite a bit of work on the parent's part but the results are stunning. Of course, a child cannot be held to the manners of an adult and, in no way, do I expect them to be. I much enjoy the smile of a child. I enjoy the eternal "whyyyyyy?" for a time. I enjoy when a child looks guilelessly at me and asks something that only a child would ask. I enjoy "gotcher nose". If I had children, they would be mannered.

Sometimes it is hard to comprehend how bright and capable some children are and they are not aware that talking to them just like you would an adult (language and content appropriate of course) can bring about some wonderful insights and conversations. Because they assume that kids only have interests in Barbie and Tonka trucks they fail to ask them how their day is going and other things. Sometimes it is just that they are afraid to say the wrong thing so just end up not saying anything at all.