If you take your DC to a busy event do you expect people to let them go to the front?

[Calculuses]

If you're part of the crowd, would you let them through? I go to watch the London Marathon every year with friends. We usually have a number of people we know running.

The day is planned so we have a spot where public transport works quite well for us and loos are nearby. It's a spot that doesn't get as busy as some of the more popular spectator places, but it can be 3 for 4 deep at peak times.

We get there early and stay all day to secure our spot on the barrier. It's a long tiring day, which might sound ridiculous if you've never done it, but it is and you have to concentrate hard to spot your friends amongst the runners.

Having secured the spot no one is keen to give it up to let children through to the front. You might be able to see over their heads at runner directly in front of you, but you really need to be able to lean to see runners coming.

Last year, for the first time we had lots of persistent children asking to be allowed through. They didn't ask once, but kept on and on while parents tutted that the crowd didn't open.

Now, I know people will say what a fuss over nothing, but this important enough to those involved that they get up early and stand in a crowd all day, whatever the weather. If you can't imagine caring that much, think about something you do care about.

Is it reasonable for the parents to let DC keep asking and is it reasonable for spectators not to let them through?

Or is it reasonable to expect people who want a place at the front to get there early enough to secure it?

Who are you to say you can easily see between peoples shoulders even from 3-4 people back?

I'm short -I can't even see if just one person stands in front of me! Most kids over 10 these days are taller than me.

I'm not convinced that @blacksax has ever been to watch a busy crowded race. It isn't like a concert or anything that is set up for spectators, it is set up for the runners and the spectators have to just do their best! Best solution would be for kids to go on parent's shoulders, which yes, is a complete pain, but it is a pain to the parent that thought it was a good idea to take them, not the general public who want to watch their runners.

I say this as someone who takes the kids as an act of love to their dad and doesn't actually enjoy it. My stupid decision, I deal with it, vow never to do it again, then do anyway.

I wonder what parents would risk losing sight of their children in a crowd by pushing them to the front amongst strangers.

But you can’t see 3-4 rows back. You can’t even see very well just 1 row back - the OP has explained.

And it’s far more ‘selfish’, if that’s the word we’re going with - to expect to be able to push in, in front of people who are already there.

I would say even at child friendly events I may not let a child through if I'd waited for hours for a good spot. You hear about it at Disney, people waiting for parades for hours, for parents to show up expecting their child and themselves to be let through to the front. Baring SEN, if you want to be at the front of something, then you need to get there early enough to do so.

The OP has now explained three times why you can't just "easily see", if there are children in front of you.

I'm with you OP, there's no way would I let my children repeatedly ask to be allowed through to the front.

It isn't selfish. These are kid friendly events.

Children don't come first out of everything and it really grinds my gears when parents think they have more rights than us adults.

Spot the poster who has never been to cheer a friend on at the marathon!