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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Coin operated rides at the supermarket.

117 replies

heartmoonshadow · 01/02/2012 00:45

AIBU to object to the rides that are ubiquitous at supermarkets. As a mum of a toddler and also 7 months pregnant I find going to the shop with him is not the most pleasant of occupations at the best of times. In the main I have my shopping delivered as it is more convenient for him to only get access to the shopping once in our home.

However there are occasions when I have to travel to a local town and pop into their stores whilst I am there. Recently my son has become more independent (terrible twos) and has repeatedly noticed and asked to go on these rides at any of our local stores, Tesco, Sainsburys, ASDA or Morrisons. It has got to the stage where I say no and he tantrums - understandable at his age - but this then makes for a very unpleasant experience for him, me and other shoppers.

Does anyone know of any petitions against these machines or have you had direct experience of complaining to the chains/stores direct as I find it incredibly hard to believe I am the only parent who has been incensed by these quite frankly money grabbing wasteful machines.

OP posts:
bonkersLFDT20 · 01/02/2012 13:29

"I am absolutely brilliant at saying no to my kids, they have boundaries and had very few tantrums even when much younger [yes I know smug smug smuggy emoticon] "

I think you mean [luck luck lucky emoticon].
Are your children quite similar in temperament? I have two. The first was as
you describe, the second is not. Sometimes you just don't want ANOTHER tantrum and wish the ride wasn't there. That's all. When they're two they don't usually understand "if you behave while we do the shopping [for an hour] then you can have a go".

"but I tried to have a lot of fun with them, even on supermarket trips when I was pregnant hmm"

Ah ha! It's when they're born these things become more tricky Wink

" and they reward me by being just lovely. They don't ask for an extortionate amount of things, I haven't spoiled them by letting them have a ride on a supermarket ride on once a fortnight or so, fgs."

You do indeed sound very, very smug.

helpyourself · 01/02/2012 13:41

That's harsh bonkers.

The poster was describing how you don't have to let them ride evertime, but rather than banning rides Hmm, they can be a tool in parenting.

Unclench!

HexagonalQueenOfTheSummer · 01/02/2012 13:42

I've always told all of mine that the rides are broken. If you don't let them have rides they stop asking after a while!

Treadmillmom · 01/02/2012 13:50

heartmoonshadow, haven't read through all five pages so forgive me.
I have 3 DC and they never ever go on these rides in shops.
If I'm in a mall and have time then perhaps.
They are 3, 6 & 8 now but when all younger I would repeat the same old mantra before leaving the car and entering the supermarket, 'Do not ask to go on the ride because mommy will say no, I do not have money for rides, do not ask, do you understand?'
If they asked in store, I'd repeat the mantra. Honestlyheartmoonshadow, I genuinely cannot remember when any of them past the age of 2 has asked to go on. If you say no, mean no and they'll stop asking.
PS I do the same with begging, running, shouting etc prior to any shop.

GoingForGoalWeight · 01/02/2012 13:54

I think it was Eddie Murphy, who said his parents told him the ice =cream van, only plays his music, when the ice-cream, was sold out.

bonkersLFDT20 · 01/02/2012 13:55

help I took Bibbity to mean that all is well and fine if you just say no and set boundries.

Not true in my experience, not with my 2 year old anyway.

Gargula · 01/02/2012 13:58

Yeah i think they should ban them as they tempt toddlers.

I also think they should ban chocolate, televisions, parks, soft-play centres, and toys. These things all tempt my toddlers and sometimes I have to say "no" to them. It's disgraceful!!

bibbitybobbityhat · 01/02/2012 14:03

I was saying that setting boundaries, saying no and meaning no, does not mean you have to suck all the joy out of a toddler's life. Several posters have said on this thread "I always wondered why I wasn't allowed on the rides when I was little" - tiny things like this, like your parents being rigid and controlling and treating everyday trips to the supermarket like some massive chore, stick with you for life. I would rather the dc had a 50p ride like that than a stocking filler or even more chocolate buttons (the grandparents supplied enough of those). Its the attitude that these rides must be resisted no matter what or else your children will become brats that makes me go Hmm. And, yes, I know I sound smug which is why I sent myself up over it.

CalamityKate · 01/02/2012 14:05

I have never, ever put money in them.

Occasionally the DS's would be allowed to sit on them and jiggle a bit, if they'd been good.

I'm trying to remember whether they were around when I was little. I do remember being excited at patting the plastic guide dog with the slot in his head, and hugging the plastic girl with the callipers. I was a very easily pleased child.

yellowraincoat · 01/02/2012 14:06

You know what they should do? They should just ban everything that's fun ever.

Like back in Oliver Cromwell's day. Those bastards didn't ponce off to the theatre like today's self-indulgent entitled wankers.

Chubfuddler · 01/02/2012 14:07

It's because of all you machine jigglers that they do break IMHO.

LondonMumsie · 01/02/2012 14:11

My kids are allowed to go on them if we pass one on / near their birthday.

Likewise, they get chocolate from the swimming pool machines on the last lesson of term.

With all these things, you need to find a boundary you're happy with and stick to it.

WhatIsPi · 01/02/2012 17:20

I am quietly chuckling at who can be the least indulgent parent - its not a competition to be the most joyless. Maybe we should start a thread like that - or one about when we were young and what we remember - we were only allowed to go to Macdonalds on our birthday - that sort of thing.

LondonMumsie · 01/02/2012 17:36

I think it is hard to measure "joylessness" - i.e. we might say no to one thing but yes to another. And we all have different lives. My children walk to school via the shops. If I said yes to the rides each time we passed, that would be at least ten rides a week! So I probably need a stricter boundary on that issue than people who are only near the shops every so often.

I buy ice cream every single time we are at the beach though - someone who lived on the coast might need to be stricter on that front.

ll31 · 01/02/2012 17:45

yabu..

molly3478 · 01/02/2012 18:15

Just let them sit on it and then act about standing in front of it saying oh no your going to get me or in the fire ones pretend that they are putting out the fire etc. They like it as much as just moving on it as you are interacting with them

molly3478 · 01/02/2012 18:22

Also some of you would never cope in my town. If I walk from my flat to the end of the high street I would pass around 30 of them and its only a mile!

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