So, I went to Chick-fil-a and I was the only parent who went and sat in the play area. All the other kids (in diapers, around 2 yrs old) were in there minus an adult. Same at the park. Kids will be on the playground and their adults are across the street at the picnic shelter. Edit: Same at the mall! Parents drop off kids and shop while their 3 yr old plays! Am I the crazy one?? POLL:[Poll]
Re: Fast Food Play Areas
To be fair, Ckick-fil-a doesn't have tables, just cushy benches. The other parents seemed to be enjoying a child-free lunch while their kid played! While that does sound tempting, my little guy would be out the door and down the street if he got the chance! The mall horrifies me. It's always aggressive kids too it seems, who have no parent to discipline them when they knock out another kid's teeth. I guess they figure no stranger will voluntarily take their kid?
With Chick-fil-a I would have both me and Lily eat at a table and then go in to the play area together. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving her in there alone.
Me too. I think it's fun to eat out with my kid though. He has good table manners and is funny. I enjoy taking him places!
we've never taken O to a fast food playground or mall playground (poor dude), but at the park, i totally stalk him. i am literally RIGHT there, still scared he might fall or something.
i remember when i was a kid, my father used to leave us to play at the inside playground at the mall while he went to shop. i hated it, because i always worried he wouldn't come back.
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We have quite literally nothing in our giant city to do with kids indoors, so these places are packed on rainy/snowy days!
OSC: I'm afraid of kidnappers too. We live in a big busy city where it would be too easy to lose a kid.
This. At the park I'm right beside G. I'm scared of him getting hurt and also getting kidnapped.
Although, when I take him to playgrounds that are small and have small play structures I let him go play on his own while I sit at a bench and watch, but that is to encourage his independence. He still has a high level of stranger anxiety, so it makes me proud to see him leave my side to play in public. BUT I never take my eyes off him for more than a few seconds.
I have not taken the boys to any of those areas- lol I look for areas that are totally enclosed with a locking gate... My guys would be out the door and off on an adventure at any of those places. At the playground I keep them in my sight- I am more concerned about them running out in the road. There are a couple of pay to play indoor places that I take my boys to- we don't run into the huge mass of kids and the place is secure.
But I have encountered many kids at the park that seem to have no supervision and are bullies.... I had a few words with a Mom today- her 7 yr old was playing on the toddler playground equipment.... being rough and pushing all the little ones out of the way. It was not pretty.......I was called an uptight b!tch. Sorry but if your kid and you think it is ok for a 7 yr old to push and bully 2 and unders than you have issues.
This! He's way too friendly to everyone still and wouldn't hesitate to walk away with a complete stranger. Also, he's impulsive still. He'd run off if he saw something more interesting. It amazes me what he gets into in our own home when I'm not directly supervising him!
I guess I'm a helicopter parent too - I would n.e.v.e.r. leave him alone and would always be practically in range to touch him if needed. I'm pretty terrified to take him to places like this even if I am right there (what is he pushes/hits someone? what if he takes off? What if the baby starts crying and B throws a tantrum all at the same time?)
but we went to a mall on Friday when it was raining and they had a mostly-enclosed play area which was packed and he did great.
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We go to the mall play area when it's raining and I have never seen anyone leave their LO unattended. I have seen toddlers with siblings maybe about 14yo, but at least the siblings stay and attempt to watch the kid in between texting.
I always just sit on the bench at the play area and most of the time at a playground (unless she asks for help climbing), especially if there's a bunch of kids because I feel like when there's too many adults bumbling around it gets in the way of the kids playing, plus I want hazel to experience interacting with peers and such without me hovering. I would never be outside of the play area though, so if there's no benches close enough by at a playground I will stand off to the side.
I've never been to a fast food play area, but at the park or indoor play place, I am usually right with him or several feet away.
I can't imagine dropping off a 2 yr old & being out of sight!
I am always in the room/general play area with DD, but I've been trying more and more not to be a helicopter parent and let her play independently. Now if there are lots of kids around I'm more apt to stick close. (I'm more afraid of some mean kid hitting her in the head with a rock or shoving her down than I am kidnappers.) But I always have eyes on her.
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