At DTD yesterday and I couldn't believe...

[MiniGirl]

all the parents that left there kids to play at the Lego store.

Okay, in the 30 minutes or so that we were there, I noticed 3 people do it. Certainly not a huge amount but 3 more than I should've noticed. They didn't go sit on a bench or something. They left. One went inside to buy some Legos. It was a mad house yesterday and there was no way she was able to see this child the entire time she was inside. One left and came back with a WD bag, so I think she went to World of Disney and bought something, and the other one came back with a soda from McDs. The last one I overheard her tell her son... "Now you stay right here. I mean it. Don't go ANYWHERE." She leaves and after a few minutes he went inside the store for some reason, but he was back and in the same spot before she got back. None of these women mentioned dad or some other relative being right on that bench if they needed anything or anything like that.

I was floored because I would never leave mine like that. However, all 3 children were boys probably between 7 and 9. My oldest is 8 and they looked to be about her age. So, I was just wondering..... is it a gender thing? Are boys generally left like this (for just a few minutes) at a younger age than girls? Or is it just a coincidence that I only noticed the boys being left and people are leaving their daughters for short periods, too? Am I just over protective because I don't do this with my oldest? Also, other than the fact that all 3 children were boys about the same age, they seemed to have nothing else in common, so it wasn't a cultural thing.

 

[JESW]

Not that I am saying it's something that people should do, but the chances are good that most boys between the ages of 7 & 9 *would* stay right in the lego area since it's such a cool spot. I know that my son would have stayed right there at that age, but we were always with him.

You don't have to have brains to be a parent...


Jill

 

[kldmom2000]

I used to be an Asst. Mgr. @ a Disney Store 14 yrs ago. I was stunned by the number of parents that would plop their kids in front of plush mountain to have them watch the video while they left the store and shopped elsewhere??? I would call security and have them ready and waiting for the parents when they arrived to claim their child(ren)

What were they thinking??!?!?!? I guess they assumed because it was the "Disney Store" their kids were safe.... but the cast members on could not be responsible for children left unattended. It got very busy in our store especially during the Christmas season or even weekends!

I still shudder to think what COULD have happen to some of those children had we not been so proactive in approaching the parents doing it or calling security to handle it

 

[MiniGirl]

Not that I am saying it's something that people should do, but the chances are good that most boys between the ages of 7 & 9 *would* stay right in the lego area since it's such a cool spot. I know that my son would have stayed right there at that age, but we were always with him.

You don't have to have brains to be a parent...


Jill

It is a cool spot. That's for sure. I had to drag my girls away from it. They were enjoying it as much as the boys, and my youngest is now begging for some Legos. I was just surprised and then got to wondering if it is a gender thing. I wouldn't worry about them wandering off and getting lost as much as I would worry about more unpleasant things happening.

See, I even find your response interesting because I never even thought of it the way you did. Meaning they would be old enough to stay interested in the Legos and stay put as they were told.

I want to add that I am NOT being critical of you. You clearly stated you wouldn't have left your son at that age. I am just genuinely intrigued by the different mindset. I don't have boys, so I really have no basis for comparison.

For those of you that have both girls and boys, have you given your boys a bit more independence at a younger age?

Again, I am not trying to be critical. I am simply curious as the world of mothering boys is foreign to me.

 

[eliza61]

I also think the some times when we go to disney, we (people in general) develop Disney pixie dust "comas". It's like we truley believe it's the happiest place in the world and nothing bad could ever happen. How many people will leave kids for hours in Disneyquest. I don't care that you have to pay to enter (like nutcases don't have money) yet I know moms and have heard moms say they will drop their kids off there for 8-9 hours by themselves!

 

[Shagley]

Some parents just don't understand how unsafe it is to leave their child unattended. They probably don't think anything bad would ever happen to their child. This kind of reminds me of the case of that little British girl Maddy McCann who disappeared while she was vacationing with her parents in Portugal. They left her alone to sleep in the hotel room while they went to dinner with friends. They don't seem like horrible parents, they apparently just didn't think leaving a toddler alone in a hotel room was risky

 

[SaraMc]

I used to be an Asst. Mgr. @ a Disney Store 14 yrs ago. I was stunned by the number of parents that would plop their kids in front of plush mountain to have them watch the video while they left the store and shopped elsewhere??? I would call security and have them ready and waiting for the parents when they arrived to claim their child(ren)

What were they thinking??!?!?!? I guess they assumed because it was the "Disney Store" their kids were safe.... but the cast members on could not be responsible for children left unattended. It got very busy in our store especially during the Christmas season or even weekends!

I still shudder to think what COULD have happen to some of those children had we not been so proactive in approaching the parents doing it or calling security to handle it

Same thing here, was a ASM at TDS too, people think that because its all fun and happy that we are Babysitters. The mall I was in , Mall security would take the child to thier office and when the parents return to get little suzy, the looks on thier faces when we tell them they need to go to Mall security.
Its not just the Disney store however, I work for another retailer now and now and then you get parents who just dont really watch thier children and let them wander all around the store.

I saw it a few days ago too at Costco, a small bunch of kids put infront of a plasma screen watching Jungle book.

 

[daisyduck123]

We were there at the Lego store on Wednesday on saw lots of kids by themselves too.

Boy though!! I did get some good deals there!!

 

[Mkrop]

I have two boys there and I would NEVER leave them unattended anywhere!

Locally they just had an Amber Alert bc a car got stolen while a mom ran in to her sisters house to drop off presents left the car running with two kids in the back sleeping.

Luckily the thief was more intersted in the car then the kids so he dropped them off in a seedy part of town in front of an adult bookstore Luckliy someone called 911 when the kids said they were lost and they were returned to their parents safely

 

[TinaLala]

I have nothing against the original poster of this thread. Their concern is genuine especially considering the things we've all seen in the news!

With that said - personnally I would NEVER leave my kids anywhere without having at least one eye on them at all times regardless of where I am. I get nervous when I see the parents sitting on the ground without their kids at the HISTK Playground. Who knows where their kid is and who could be hurting them. Yes I understand they can't get out of the playground without being seen by the parents, but there are dark corners where kids could get hurt. I can't stand it when I go to playgrounds here and the parents are sitting around talking and not watching their kids. The kid falls off something and they come running over, but by that point it's too late.

I know that I am an overprotected parent, but it just takes a second for a child to be taken or hurt. Kids don't know better, but we as adult should!

 

[LilGMom]

I have two boys and while the oldest in only 6 there is no way that I would just leave him somewhere (regardless of if it is at WDW, a LEGO store, or in our hometown) at this age or at the age of 8. Just because people are at WDW doesn't mean that they are in a 'safety zone'.

 

[doulacandice]

Wow.. I find it hard to believe parents would leave their children unattended anywhere like that away from home. Here at home I'm a little comfortable and would let my almost 9 yr old look at toys on the next isle but at Disney? There is no way. I want them by my side 24-7, attached at the hip even. lol

About the whole boy vs girl thing.. In my experience I have found girls are way more mature so I would rather leave my 7 yr old then my almost 9 yr old boy.. LOL Even though I wouldn't at all.

 

[TheRatPack]

And here I feel guilty for leaving my 13 year old in the car while I ran in to the store. I don't feel that I'm overprotective, but most of my friends have left their kids alone at a much younger age and I always wonder how they do it.

 

[DVCLiz]

Some parents just don't see a child molester behind every corner. They've taught their kids to stay in a store and yell "You're not my parent!" if a stranger bothers them. They have a better comfort level allowing some freedoms at a younger age - maybe they know that their child is more mature and better able to handle something if a stranger approaches.

I had a real disagreement with ( and got points for arguing about) an issue on another thread a few weeks ago, because I thought it was ridiculous that a mom was worrying about her 9 and 11 (I think) year olds being able to roam freely on Tom Sawyer's Island. Almost every parent on that thread said, "No way would I let my child roam - you never know what could happen!" I thought (and still think) that was ridiculously overprotective.

It doesn't make you a bad parent to give your child some freedoms at that age. It's still very, very rare for something bad to happen.

 

[katiesmom2]

No, I would NEVER leave my child unattended. What could I possibly have to do that is more important than watching my child??

To each his own I guess, but definitely not something DH or I would do.....EVER.

 

[DawnM]

I don't think it is only about child molesters. It is anything that could happen.

If a child picks a fight with my child and his parent isn't around, if the child chokes on a lego, has a seizure, you name it..... and no parent is there, etc....

It is more of a big picture thing.

Dawn

Some parents just don't see a child molester behind every corner. They've taught their kids to stay in a store and yell "You're not my parent!" if a stranger bothers them. They have a better comfort level allowing some freedoms at a younger age - maybe they know that their child is more mature and better able to handle something if a stranger approaches.

I had a real disagreement with ( and got points for arguing about) an issue on another thread a few weeks ago, because I thought it was ridiculous that a mom was worrying about her 9 and 11 (I think) year olds being able to roam freely on Tom Sawyer's Island. Almost every parent on that thread said, "No way would I let my child roam - you never know what could happen!" I thought (and still think) that was ridiculously overprotective.

It doesn't make you a bad parent to give your child some freedoms at that age. It's still very, very rare for something bad to happen.

 

[DawnM]

Now you have me curious.....I am sure the Lego folks are aware this goes on....what is their policy? I would love to know.

Dawn

 

[Mkrop]

I don't think it is only about child molesters. It is anything that could happen.

If a child picks a fight with my child and his parent isn't around, if the child chokes on a lego, has a seizure, you name it..... and no parent is there, etc....

It is more of a big picture thing.

Dawn

I agree with this. I dont think it has anything to do with there being a child molester everywhere. It is anything. Like the example I gave locally, the thief didnt want the kids just the car but the kids were abducted anyway bc she left them in the car alone.

There is a time and place for independence, to me WDW is not one of them.

 

[brymolmom]

I'm in the middle of the road on this one. Mine are only 5 and 4 now so are not left alone at all - especially at WDW. However, an 8 and 9 year old, espeically with a friend and not all alone - I would consider for brief periods, of course DEPENDING on the child.

Yes, there are horrible things that can happen besides child molesters - but those can happen right there with me there too. Also, I could get hit by a reckless car myself (even as an adult) - so really, my being close by will not prevent horrible tragic accidents.

And I doubt the parents thought they had 'more important things' to do - likely this is just how it is at their own household, with kids these ages gaining greater independence. I know it was a 'different time' but I was babysitting 3 kids when I was 11....and I was home alone all the time when I was 10 - so I know that kids that age CAN HAVE the responsibility and the independence skills enough to be on their own, especially for short times. I had them and I have no doubt my own kids will have them to some degree around this age. For me, it will be a time-by-time decision on whether or not they can do something alone/with a friend or not and as they gain my trust in that area - I'll allow them more.

As far as the store policy - it is one thing if the child is too young to even take care of themselves....but a 9 year old child (might even have been older and just short for his age) - I highly doubt a store will have a policy on this age, right? They might be coming in to spend their own allowance money on Christmas gifts - I doubt they want to turn that away!

 

[DawnM]

Yes, but if a child has a seizure or gets hurt I would expect the parent of that child to respond. I certainly wouldn't be able to sign the release form for you child when the ambulance shows up!

I realize this is very rare, but if it happens, I could just imagine some person trying to sue Disney for it, even if they weren't there.

If your child is in a parking lot WITH you, you will see the car and yell, "stop!" because it is your child and you are aware. I may not even notice because I am busy watching my own children.

Anyway, I am a ps teacher and quite passionate about this issue, so probably best for me to say my peace and stop, but it is hard because I have seen some things I wish I hadn't ever had to see.

Dawn

I'm in the middle of the road on this one. Mine are only 5 and 4 now so are not left alone at all - especially at WDW. However, an 8 and 9 year old, espeically with a friend and not all alone - I would consider for brief periods, of course DEPENDING on the child.

Yes, there are horrible things that can happen besides child molesters - but those can happen right there with me there too. Also, I could get hit by a reckless car myself (even as an adult) - so really, my being close by will not prevent horrible tragic accidents.

And I doubt the parents thought they had 'more important things' to do - likely this is just how it is at their own household, with kids these ages gaining greater independence. I know it was a 'different time' but I was babysitting 3 kids when I was 11....and I was home alone all the time when I was 10 - so I know that kids that age CAN HAVE the responsibility and the independence skills enough to be on their own, especially for short times. I had them and I have no doubt my own kids will have them to some degree around this age. For me, it will be a time-by-time decision on whether or not they can do something alone/with a friend or not and as they gain my trust in that area - I'll allow them more.

As far as the store policy - it is one thing if the child is too young to even take care of themselves....but a 9 year old child (might even have been older and just short for his age) - I highly doubt a store will have a policy on this age, right? They might be coming in to spend their own allowance money on Christmas gifts - I doubt they want to turn that away!