Raising a child in Bali

Raising kids is an education in human nature, patience and logistics. Since I have returned to Bali, Jevon has been trotting around the house, bright eyed and inquisitive. He wants to search, feel, pull, taste everything, especially the stuff he shouldn’t touch, like electric cables.

One of the great aspects of living in Bali with a small kid is the weather. Its always warm, he’s never cold, and we can dress him in light clothing, making it very easy to change. There are a few aspects that are not a benefit, like the tiled floors out here. In England a young kid might fall on the living floor, and land on carpet. There’s no carpet out here boy, its cement! Same for the stairs.

Western parents often worry about taking a youngster to Bali, because of the water and the mozzies. Jevon is always trying to drink to swimming pool, hose pipe, bath water and is okay for it. Its part of life in Bali to get a mosquito bite once in a while. Jevon already knows he must swat them with his hand, if one lands on him. We’ve had no dramas with mozzies, even though he naps on the bed next to the garden in the afternoon.

Little hands can get into places, and I have had to move a few things out of his way. You’ve got to think at their eye level, and hide anything tempting. So far raising a kid in Bali has been fun, not something to stress about.