Parents, Please Control your Children

[DSLRuser]

The parents removed their kids from the situation and left. Did I read a different OP's account?

yes you did.

 

[Turn the Page]

Touching a chain isn't disruptive behavior, nobody's complaining about that.

I did see kids in a fountain once but was reacting to another poster who saw a family put bathing suits on the kids and let them play in a fountain as if it were a swimming pool.

I love it when somebody reads this stuff and decides people are objecting to every single little thing that children do. Most behavior by kids is not disruptive or dangerous to the kids or other people. Some of it is. Some may think it's fine to let their kids crawl on the floor at a restaurant if the kiddies are bored. The server who trips over them might not be so fine. Whoever gets hit by the cutlery and food the server was carrying might not be so fine (including the crawling kids)

It is still not acceptable behavior, I don't care if it isn't the Ritz. A child should never be running around a restaurant. It is annoying, and it is a danger, not only to the child, but to the people working and eating.

I spent more than a few years working in restaurants and I can't tell you how many times I nearly dropped a tray full of food, drinks, or dirty dishes due to a child running around unchecked. Yes, it IS a safety issue and should never be tolerated by parents.

As far as the Crystal Palace with the organized parade and whatnot I'm guessing that is a case in which the severs know where the kids are and it's not a case of kids popping up and running all over the place though I could be wrong about that.

I have told this story before but I will tell it again. Years ago, I was working as a waitress and a very small company came in to have their office Christmas party. Employees brought their families and it ended up being about 15 people. After finishing dinner 3 of the kids started running all over the place. Mom didn't care, she was drinking margaritas. Two different servers nearly fell and lost trays full of food and drinks due to these kids running everywhere. At some point, the mom realizes she can't find the 4 year old. What ensued was a 15 minute panic fest where everyone at the table and all the staff members searched high and low for this kid. The mom was absolutely hysterical thinking the kid had been kidnapped, the men in the party were looking out in the parking lot. We finally found her hiding under another table. She was playing hide and seek with her sister and was close enough that she could hear us all calling her name trying to find her. The mom was so relieved to have found her baby safe and sound she took her in the bathroom and tuned her butt. I thought the mom was the one who deserved the spanking personally. The 4 year old was playing and mom was too busy drinking margaritas and socializing to pay attention.

I got a big tip from that table. You could tell the boss was embarrassed. I wonder if the employee responsible for those kids got a talking to the next day.

 

[lovethattink]

A reminder to keep it friendly in here.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Being a danger to others is not the same as being annoying. Not even close. I might find the behavior annoying and would only roll my eyes and suck it up, but running around is also very dangerous.

As far as the Crystal Palace and their parade goes, it is announced as a parade. They have CMs directing it. The children walk in a line. Very different from Little Johnny all of a sudden running out in front of someone.

I was responding that you said the behavior is "annoying." I did not address the danger situation because IMO, it's not a big deal if you watch where you're going, as I always do at WDW.

Would I want my child running around the restaurant? No. I wouldn't. My point is, I'm not going to judge another parent for letting their kid do it. If other kids are doing it I really don't care. It's all about your tolerance threshold. I am talking specifically about a situation like Cosmic Ray's. Not a sit down TS meal. A location where people are actively getting up and down and moving around. I find there to be a difference. If you don't, that's fine.

I am happy to agree to disagree on this. It's an issue that no amount of debating will change anyone's mind.

 

[starjazz]

yes you did.

See, this is the whole problem with judging a situation based on a brief account. What you read was that the parents did nothing. What others read is that the parents told the kids to move along, and when they didn't, the parents left the scene so as to force their kids to follow. This is why I won't judge parents or kids based on one post and one opinion from one experience.

 

[maxiesmom]

I was responding that you said the behavior is "annoying." I did not address the danger situation because IMO, it's not a big deal if you watch where you're going, as I always do at WDW.

That is kind of like saying you will never be in a car accident because you are always paying attention. You may be paying attention, but some idiot may pop out in front of you before you can stop.

 

[starjazz]

I spent more than a few years working in restaurants and I can't tell you how many times I nearly dropped a tray full of food, drinks, or dirty dishes due to a child running around unchecked. Yes, it IS a safety issue and should never be tolerated by parents.

How many times did collisions occur between two adults? Those undisciplined, obnoxious adults shouldn't be allowed to roam around restaurants freely either. Not even at buffets, where its required, eh?

 

[maxiesmom]

How many times did collisions occur between two adults? Those undisciplined, obnoxious adults shouldn't be allowed to roam around restaurants freely either. Not even at buffets, where its required, eh?

In all my many trips to WDW I have never seen adults running around in restaurants, or rolling around on the floor. Or walking on the low walls either. Guess their parents taught them how to behave.

 

[Turn the Page]

How many times did collisions occur between two adults? Those undisciplined, obnoxious adults shouldn't be allowed to roam around restaurants freely either. Not even at buffets, where its required, eh?

A time or two. However, I never had an adult shoot out from underneath a table and crawl in front of my feet OR run through the dining room either. I have had kids do both.

 

[starjazz]

A time or two. However, I never had an adult shoot out from underneath a table and crawl in front of my feet OR run through the dining room either. I have had kids do both.

Hehehe - you worked at the wrong joint, man!

 

[MickeyWaffles]

In all my many trips to WDW I have never seen adults running around in restaurants, or rolling around on the floor. Or walking on the low walls either. Guess their parents taught them how to behave.

I have seen them texting and walking or straight up not paying attention. This does happen.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

That is kind of like saying you will never be in a car accident because you are always paying attention. You may be paying attention, but some idiot may pop out in front of you before you can stop.

Oh, come on. A car accident is the same as a loose toddler at Cosmic Ray's? This is getting ridiculous. You can have your opinion and I can have mine. I'm out

 

[Turn the Page]

Hehehe - you worked at the wrong joint, man!

This, I do not dispute.

 

[Boski]

A smart parent knows their child. My ds, now 42, could have been beaten to within an inch of his life. That didn't serve as a good punishment. But, if I looked at him with tears in my eyes, from disappointment? Oh man...he bent over backwards to make it right!!!
However, my now 22 y/o, was fond of disregarding my rules as a child. When she was about 2, we were at a cookout at church. The church is on a short road, that is basically traveled by those going to the church, or to one of the 5 houses on that street..so not a busy road. The other youngsters were being allowed to play in the road. Ages ran between 18 months and 8 yrs. My dd ran after them. I went to get her, telling her that she was not allowed to play in the road...it's still a road, and at her age, she wasn't able to distinguish between what roads were safe to play on. Ok..she crept back out onto the road a second time. I went and brought her back to the grassy area. Yes, I knew it was hard for her to understand why the other kids could do it but she couldn't. Told her that if she did it again, her behind was going to get swatted!!! Ok....she looked at me sideways and stopped. But as soon as my back was turned (or so she thought!!) off she went again. I calmly walked out, picked her up, swatter her diapered behind. Well, you could have heard a pin drop. Finally everyone went back to what they were doing. The next day, at church, a man took me aside to tell me that if he had been there, while I abused my child, he would have had to take me aside and explain why I was so wrong and then give me the name of a counselor. Of course, as the years went on, the other kids in church wouldn't play with my dd. Why? They knew that she wasn't allowed to do sommersaults over the altar railing or run around in the parish hall while adults tried to enjoy coffee, or climb the supposedly off limits trees out front! Yep, I was the mean mother. But, dd has grown into a respectful young woman, who is able to make good choices. And for the record? I never had to lay a hand on her again. She knew that if I said to stop, or there would be consequences, there would be consequences! I never made idle threats!

I don't expect children to always behave...they're kids. It's in their rule book to try and get away with crap. But it is my job, as their parent, to catch them and stop that behaviour. No, my kids wouldn't have been allowed to go up to a performer and start banging on the piano. Then again, I'm lucky. My dd fully realizes that a piano needs tuning after that kind of treatment!! We're always tuning our piano's at church because parents think their kids are the next Liberace!!!
Children are the way they are (for the most part) because of the way they were brought up. If you allow a child to behave as if there are no consequences, well.....they're going to push the limits, and it is going to really annoy others when it happens in a crowded theme park. It is not my job to be my child's friend. It is my job to be their parent, one who sets limits. One who has expectations. It is also not my job to monitor what other people's kids are doing. Well, not unless it impacts me. And I have to say that standing in the Great Movie Ride line, being constantly hit on the back by the swinging rope, made me somewhat nudgy. That child, who was about 6, was never told to stop swinging the rope, at least not until she tried to sit on it and it completely pulled off both poles....the kid went flat on her behind. Her parents? Dad turned to Mom and said, and I quote, 'Disney should make these things more substantial. Someone could get hurt!' Seriously???

Wait.....................................................................your kids are 20 years apart?

 

[HopperFan]

YES. This, exactly. I also like to count the DisBoards posts on threads like this before someone says "the child probably had special needs". Yeah, um, most likely the child is out of control and the parents gave up discipline years ago....

Well, I can answer to that too.

My oldest child is what most consider severely disabled. Lots of issues that affect him physically, developmentally, anxiety, panic, stimulus, you name it. Since birth I worked my butt off with him on all fronts. My second DS spent 8 years coaching Special Olympics and 4 years working with very involved children, 9 hours a day, 5 days a week, all summer with zero vacation days. My DD has also been very involved in the community. DH has worked with Special Olympians close to 20 years. You start from day one, you never stop, at 31 years later I'm still parenting. He lives in our world, he must learn to cope with our world. No one in our family accepts "special needs" as an excuse.

 

[starjazz]

Oh, come on. A car accident is the same as a loose toddler at Cosmic Ray's? This is getting ridiculous. You can have your opinion and I can have mine. I'm out

There's not even waitresses at Cosmic Rays, are there? Pretty sure even the cleanup is left to the customers, no?

 

[summerw]

In all my many trips to WDW I have never seen adults running around in restaurants, or rolling around on the floor. Or walking on the low walls either. Guess their parents taught them how to behave.

I wonder if teens and adults would if you injected them with the same energy kids have.

Did anyone ever see Ellen's stand up routine where she challenges people to start a game of tag at work?

 

[lovethattink]

The last few times I was asked to do a survey for Disney, one of the questions asked if another guest negatively affected my park experience.

 

[Magpie]

A smart parent knows their child. My ds, now 42, could have been beaten to within an inch of his life. That didn't serve as a good punishment. But, if I looked at him with tears in my eyes, from disappointment? Oh man...he bent over backwards to make it right!!!
However, my now 22 y/o, was fond of disregarding my rules as a child. When she was about 2, we were at a cookout at church. The church is on a short road, that is basically traveled by those going to the church, or to one of the 5 houses on that street..so not a busy road. The other youngsters were being allowed to play in the road. Ages ran between 18 months and 8 yrs. My dd ran after them. I went to get her, telling her that she was not allowed to play in the road...it's still a road, and at her age, she wasn't able to distinguish between what roads were safe to play on. Ok..she crept back out onto the road a second time. I went and brought her back to the grassy area. Yes, I knew it was hard for her to understand why the other kids could do it but she couldn't. Told her that if she did it again, her behind was going to get swatted!!! Ok....she looked at me sideways and stopped. But as soon as my back was turned (or so she thought!!) off she went again. I calmly walked out, picked her up, swatter her diapered behind. Well, you could have heard a pin drop. Finally everyone went back to what they were doing. The next day, at church, a man took me aside to tell me that if he had been there, while I abused my child, he would have had to take me aside and explain why I was so wrong and then give me the name of a counselor. Of course, as the years went on, the other kids in church wouldn't play with my dd. Why? They knew that she wasn't allowed to do sommersaults over the altar railing or run around in the parish hall while adults tried to enjoy coffee, or climb the supposedly off limits trees out front! Yep, I was the mean mother. But, dd has grown into a respectful young woman, who is able to make good choices. And for the record? I never had to lay a hand on her again. She knew that if I said to stop, or there would be consequences, there would be consequences! I never made idle threats!

I don't expect children to always behave...they're kids. It's in their rule book to try and get away with crap. But it is my job, as their parent, to catch them and stop that behaviour. No, my kids wouldn't have been allowed to go up to a performer and start banging on the piano. Then again, I'm lucky. My dd fully realizes that a piano needs tuning after that kind of treatment!! We're always tuning our piano's at church because parents think their kids are the next Liberace!!!
Children are the way they are (for the most part) because of the way they were brought up. If you allow a child to behave as if there are no consequences, well.....they're going to push the limits, and it is going to really annoy others when it happens in a crowded theme park. It is not my job to be my child's friend. It is my job to be their parent, one who sets limits. One who has expectations. It is also not my job to monitor what other people's kids are doing. Well, not unless it impacts me. And I have to say that standing in the Great Movie Ride line, being constantly hit on the back by the swinging rope, made me somewhat nudgy. That child, who was about 6, was never told to stop swinging the rope, at least not until she tried to sit on it and it completely pulled off both poles....the kid went flat on her behind. Her parents? Dad turned to Mom and said, and I quote, 'Disney should make these things more substantial. Someone could get hurt!' Seriously???

I think that man was completely out of line, to speak that way to you. Swatting your daughter's diapered behind was FAR from child abuse. Abuse is destructive, humiliating, bullying, tearing a person down and making them less. It's certainly not stating a consequence and carrying it through in a non-physically harmful way.

I'd personally have handled things a wee bit differently, in that after she crept out to the road a second time there would be no third time. No more running and playing. She would be stuck, either seated next to me or in my lap or in the backpack. See, with my kids, the child gets told once, and only once, and then they're sidelined from the game. If they cried, I ignored them (or removed them, if their crying was bothering others).

Like you, I thoroughly support the idea of teaching kids that there are consequences for their actions! I think consistency (which you have!) is one of the best traits a parent can have.

My kids ran into the road, too. And, for awhile, that meant they couldn't go anywhere without holding my hand. I think the one thing that made the biggest impression on them, though, was me pointing out the dead squirrel on the side of the road and saying, "See that squirrel? He didn't listen to his mummy. He ran into the road without looking, and a car smooshed him. Poor squirrel!"

And - confession time - I actually did hit my daughter once. Accidentally. I had my infant son standing between my knees, and she walked right up to him and BIT him, sank her teeth right into the top of his wee baby head. And without even thinking, I reached over and bopped her right on top of her head. Not hard, because I pulled my hand at the last moment. But she sat down on her diapered bottom and started to wail. I surprised myself - in that moment, all I was thinking was, "Something's attacking my baby! No wait, that's also my baby!"

But that wasn't discipline. That was just the natural consequence of taking mum by surprise.

 

[minnie mum]

Oh, come on. A car accident is the same as a loose toddler at Cosmic Ray's? This is getting ridiculous. You can have your opinion and I can have mine. I'm out

I think a valid argument can be made that a small child allowed to run free inside any restaurant (and no, it makes no difference whether it's TS or CS) is an accident waiting to happen. What difference does it make whether it is a waiter or a guest who is carrying a full tray and doesn't see a kid run out in front of him? What difference does it make if a kid is in the Ritz or Cosmic Rays if they fall of a divider and lands on the floor or another guest?