Is Jordan Kid Friendly?
You might be wondering- is Jordan child-friendly? And the answer is a resounding YES… but….
Jordanians love children. Children are welcome in all places in society and are usually accepted with open arms and greeted with love. Don’t be surprised if people stop you on the street to say hi to your children, pat them on the heads to bless them, or give them little treats. Shop owners will give children free samples and other families will freely share snacks which any children they see. Children are a huge part of society in Jordanian culture and wherever you go, no matter what time of day or night, you will see families and children out and about. In this regard, Jordan is a very child-friendly place.
Children are welcome, but facilities and infrastructure might be lacking
However, some of the infrastructure in Jordan, and more specifically Amman, is not entirely child-friendly. For example, many places are not stroller-friendly. Even sidewalks in neighborhoods (if there are sidewalks) are not made with strollers (or bikes or scooters) in mind.
Restaurants and hotels in Jordan will always accept children and will provide accommodations for young children like high chairs and cribs, etc. However, out in the cities, you might find some places lack facilities that you might be used to for children, like changing tables in bathrooms or nursing areas.
While there is no shortage of children’s activities and places in Amman, it’s hard to find public (ie: FREE) places that are safe and well-maintained like parks and libraries.
Jordan is a safe place for families and children
Amman, and Jordan in general, is a very safe place for families and children. There is a village mentality, where we’re all looking out for each other’s children. While Stranger Danger is a universal concept, it’s not as much of a thing in Jordan as it is in the US, for example. I feel safer walking around with my kids in Jordan than I do in the US.
Car safety for children in Jordan still has a long way to go
However, one area where kids safety really lacks in Jordan is car safety. I don’t think children’s safety seat regulations even exist. Carseat use (or even seatbelt use, for that matter) is not common. You’ll see children riding in the front seat of cars, on people’s laps, and even hanging out of sunroofs on busy roads. For people who come from countries with strict safety seat regulations, seeing kids sitting like this in cars might be shocking.