Snakes & Ladders, Aibu to expect that Violence should have consequences, not be condoned by management by asking the kids to sit and have a snack, surely?

[SnakesandShadows]

We went to Snakes & ladders today. It is my youngest birthday, he wanted to go. Before you tell me that I am unreasonable for taking my child to a place that quite clearly is the Forecourt of Hell, well, we havent been before so I did not know this.

My sons had only been inside for 10 minutes, when my oldest (10) came running out crying. He had come down the slide in the ball park, and the balls went flying. A group of children had pounced on him in anger that some balls flew into the air and above their heads. The started pummeling balls into his head, and one of them kicked him really hard in the groin.

I got the staff involved pointing out the kids in question explaining what they had done, another parent came forward and said that the same group of children had been bullying her younger child, kept following him around scaring him.

What did the staff do?

Fuck all.

They basically told me that it was their policy to tell the kids to sit down, chill out and have a snack before going in again!

So, these children are free to attack and kick other children, are told to have some quiet time together with their families, before they can go back in again!

There they were, having snack and cake with their mums, while my son could not straighten up again after, sobbing and hiding behind a bin, scared to be attacked again.

So, the message they are giving such violent children is basically:

"Go have a snack and calm down, then go back in and enjoy yourselves."

Rather than giving a clear message that violence is unacceptable, and if you hit or kick another child you will have to leave the premises, they basically condone it ...

I am going to write to customer services about this.

(I am a regular, just dont want my usual name connected to this issue), I just want to find out if I am unreasonable in expecting a clear policy when it comes to violent behaviour in such places.

For a boy to kick another boy really hard in the groin, unprovoked, and for no good reason is totally unacceptable and should be dealt with in a clear manner.

So 12-13 year olds were playing in a soft play area and their parents were nearby?

Complain away op, Definitely contact trading standards on this and leave a scathing review. Name and shame them!

Hope your boy is ok and realises those boys are nothing but sad little bullies x

Yes actually contact the police too. They assaulted your son - they should learn it is not on to do so.

Let us know how you get on whatever you decide to do x

Trading standards will refer you to citizens advice as they now cannot get involved with single disputes as they used to. It will be logged though, which may be worth while.

I had not actually thought about the police, so thanks for mentioning that. I might go in tomorrow. Not that I think the police should commit resources to investigating this as a crime ...

Their mums were sat outside in the cafe chatting.