sad to see ten year old girl walking east london street selling muffins......q

[paisleyII]

just curious on your take on this. mkt where i trade i see every week a young girl, always looking miserable, walking the streets (small market area but a few small streets none the less) going up to strangers with a tray of cakes asking people if they want to buy them. someone told me she doesn't like doing it (they asked her). today she was looking at things on my stall and i dared to ask her, in a chatty way, how old she was (she is ten) and if she liked selling cakes. i know i am not the only one that thinks it a little sad, at least the way she looks, doing what she does. her mum makes the cakes. it feels as if she is pushed into it, getting the strangers to buy her cakes out of a kind of either pity or because it looks 'cute' but i find it a bit off, on the other hand, perhaps she does enjoy it and the mum lets her keep the proceeds

that sounds sad. Is it just at the weekend?

I didn't think children were legally allowed to 'work' at this age?? Paper round is 13. Sounds wrong to me but I imagine her mum's trying to feed her family.

yes, just on a sunday morning. her brother does it too, he looks of similar age. when i asked her if she enjoys it she kind of grunted. i feel like i want to give her a big hug which of course i wouldn't. i know things aren't always how they look, i could be completely wrong about how it looks, me and a load of other locals, i guess because i have a 9 year old dd who sometimes does the mkt with me i know there is NO WAY i would let her wander off the surrounding east london streets, not a bloody chance

the kids look quite well to do type, middle class wealthy types but yes, i know for all i know the mum could be struggling, i don't mean to be judgy, i am not interested in the mothers financial situ', just saddens me to see a miserable looking little girl going up to strangers trying to get them to buy a muffin

Hmm. I'm on the fence with this. It's important that children learn the value of money but she's only a child for a short time.

I think you need to give social services a call. This child is vulnerable.

Sounds a bit of a risk to me too. Not something I would be encouraging a child to do.

i am sure the little girl is fine and that i am probably being over protective re my dd in that the small area of the mkt/surrounding streets are fine for this little girl, the type of mkt makes me think this, i don't think she is in any actual danger and from what i can gather about the mother she is a creative colourful posh type, i think with a shop or something, perhaps more laid back than me, still feel sad when i see her little girl, the boy looks a bit pathetic too if i am honest. actually, there has been a few sunday's when a really young little boy at a guess 8/9 has stood near to where i trade with his guitar busking, which initially we all thought was really cute BUT he played the same song over and over for about two hours, what creeped me out was i noticed his really odd 'right on' looking mum stood opposite watching him (i didn't realise it was his mum at first), she looked really serious and what i/we couldn't work out was, was he wanting to do it and she was supporting him or was he being pushed to do it and yes, perhaps she desperately needs the money in which case i feel sorry for her but still for the child too. if i was desperate for cash would i get dd to play the violin? nah, i don't think i could do that but it takes all sorts

I'd contact the NSPCC, they can advise you on what to do. It is child labour, far more then making them clean the bedroom for a bit of pocket money.

Well, even if it wasn't breaking the letter of the law it sounds as though it goes against the spirit of the law that children shouldn't have to work, especially against their will.

That's quite soul-destroying having to ask strangers to buy goods on the street when you don't enjoy it.

the thing is, they MIGHT like it, that is the thing, i can't tell but she certainly didn't look as if she does and i am sure i remember someone telling me recently that she told them she didn't, it rings familiar. people like it, i observe her/him going upto people and asking them if they want to buy one, especially middle age ladies, they seem to think it is really cute, lots of people buy off them on the back of this, once your stall is set up you notice the world go buy and people watch....they look like nice kids, their mum is probably a nice lady too, i shouldn't be so judgey but still leaves a bad taste with me. i might go and have a nose at the mum next week (find out which shop she owns), just out of curiosity....

I too would contact child services for advice and about the boy playing the music too. Poor kids x

They are too young to have a work permit & they should not be working

13 is the minimum

That's not very nice is it, pushing children forward to the general public because their cuteness gets better sales.

If they don't enjoy it, boy, is that going to breed some inner resentment