People with visible disabilities or other features that might prompt a young child to stare or point, how do you prefer that parents handle their children's innocent public curiosity in you?

1. Not me but my uncle lost his hand in a industrial accident. When he caught kids looking he would ask if they wanted to know how he lost it. He would then say how he was a alligator trainer for 5 year and that the only thing he learned after that time is . " YOU CAN'T TRAIN ALLIGATOR'S "
   — Nishi15


2. I have albinism, and am a US born Mex American. Of course, I don’t look Mexican. I’ve had kids ask why my eyes move, or why my skin, hair or eyes look they way they look. I don’t mind it. Sometimes I tell them my mom was painting the house and I got in the way; but that’s more a joke for the parents. When kids ask why my eyes move, I often just explain it straight. I’m never mean, but I don’t really sugar coat it, which often results in the child asking being a bit sad when I explain I can’t see well and such. One time I had a mom with a son who has albinism approach me and ask me to talk to her son. He was her first child and he had albinism. Lemme say from first hand, god I felt for this lady lol. So I told her son that life would be difficult for him because people will often tell him other have it worse because they’re missing a limb or for any other trait they wanna compare the boy to. I told him life will challenge him and that he’ll have to read twice as long to read the same amount. I told him he will have to depend heavily on technology to succeed. I then asked him if he could read something of the menu that was towards the ceiling some feet behind the counter of the fast food place we were at. The boy and his mom looked at me sadly. I pulled out my iPhone and opened a 3rd party magnifier app and zoomed in on the menu. I asked the boy if he could read it, now. I let him hold my phone and he looked at the whole menu. He then told his mom what he wanted for the first time, instead of waiting for her to help him. I think it’s important to let kids ask.
   — NosyNoSee


3. I rather kids ask all the questions they have. I've had kids ask me some great questions... Adults on the other hand just always ask how I use the bathroom. Trust me, it's the least interesting part of life in a wheelchair.
   — JibsyBaby






4. My ex husband was is an amputee lots and lots of kids will point stare and exclaim oh wow hes got a robot leg. Ex really didnt mind and we would giggle about how uncomfortable the parents got. That was the hilarious part, the adults looking embarrassed. Like no shit kids will say whatevers in their head we get that no need to be embarrassed just say oh yeah he does thats pretty amazing. Let them ask questions (repectfully) and then when you go home at night pwrhaps have a conversation about appropriate comments to make about people its a really good way to teach your kids about social cues.
   — katchafire99


5. I've got a couple of large scars on my neck, so when kids start to point and/or stare I just tell them "This is why you should listen to your parents" The parents usually play along. Plain and simple, don't be a dick about it.
   — ScarredToaster


6. Acknowledge me as a person. I had an incident a number of years ago where a kid decided to stare at me as he walked by my home, and the father decided to talk to his son about me as if I wasn't there. When I agreed with something the father said both parents gave me withering gazes, as though I was supposed to act like an animal in a zoo, rather than a human being who could hear their commentary about me.
   — AsexualNinja






7. I have a progressive neurological disease (young-onset Parkinson's Disease) that requires me to walk with a cane, as well as speaking with a slight impediment, although my condition has improved somewhat with medication. I don't mind if children ask what's wrong with me, and I give them a simplified explanation of my disease. I do mind when they try to grab my cane away from me, though. I could get hurt badly if I fall. Don't let your children do that.
   — McFurryButtkins


8. When my SO was in a wheelchair recovering from a knee reconstruction surgery, children would stare and such. He would always smile and wave to them. He would encourage them to ask their questions and he would explain about his car accident in kid friendly words. Bonus: He has a TBI and this impairs his speech at times. The kids would then learn about brain injuries. The parents always looked visibly relieved that he was not offended by the kids.
   — bestest90girl