To think if you sit near an Under 5s area, it's going to be noisy!

[waltermittymissus]

www.mummypages.ie/shopping-centre-bans-screaming-children

So this shopping centre's management have a notice up saying screaming children are not allowed in?

I don't know about any of you, but I've certainly never planned to have my toddlers start screaming while I'm shopping!

It seems this stems from complaints by staff and shoppers sitting near the under 5s play area.

Am I missing something or is this completely insane?

So 'screaming' as in running around screeching loudly or does it also include newborn babies crying?

Why would you position a playground beside a cafe?

I don't understand why screaming is seen by some as normal and acceptable behaviour in kids (not inc tin babies crying obv).

Or maybe my non-screaming DD is just unusual

It's not clear on what exactly it encompasses.

It's not acceptable for children to just randomly run around the place screeching of course.

But you don't go to a playground or soft play for the peace and quiet do you?!

So if you want to enjoy your tea in peace, surely you don't sit right beside a play area specifically designed for toddlers!

Yeah, ok. Do you have children? Small children?

No it does not say they will not be allowed in. It says children screaming and running amok in the cafe will not be tolerated, not quite the same thing.

I agree with the manager.

BTW - 'Mummy pages'? Really?

Yes really. How is that relevant? This is called Mumsnet.

I don't see where it says they can't run amok in the cafe.

I understood it to mean that they shouldn't run amok in the cafe, not the play area. If they a referring to the cafe then I think they are being reasonable. It is downright dangerous for kids to run around in an area where there is hot food and drinks.

I dont understand- are you trying to say kids need to scream and run amok in order to have fun?

FFS is Mumsnet suffering PMT today?!

The sign says screaming children will not be allowed in the centre. It doesn't specify what type of screaming.

If the sign had said "please don't allow your children to run around the food court" then that's fair enough. Of course!

Btw it's a food court, not a cafe. Relevant I think because food courts are generally much bigger and not actually near kitchens etc.

No I don't think children need to scream and cause havoc to have fun. I think that children are loud in a play area.

It appears you are the only one getting arsey tbh- oil of evening primrose is meant to help

Food courts might not be near kitchens but you will still have adults carrying trays with hot drinks - small child running about trips them up, scalding coffee goes over child...

The sign is badly worded but I don't think they are unreasonable to ask for parents to be considerate, or to expect parents to be responsible for their child in the food court. I do object to the woman quoted saying "mothers have to be more responsible" though...

Ok. Bye now.

It was the sign I was talking about, not the explanation behind it.

I though I'd share it and we could all go "how ridiculous" and maybe swap stories on screaming children embarrassing us and the notion of being banned.

Also, yes, only mothers having the horrible screaming children.

But it would seem that what I actually meant was children should be allowed to do whatever the fuck they want at all times and you shouldn't take me seriously anyway because the website I happened to read it on has mummy in the title.

If a child is screaming playing they should be stopped.

If a child is screaming unhappy/upset then parents should calm them down and if that doesnt work take them out to calm down.

I wish we had a sign like that in the food court at our shopping centre.

I honestly can't see what's wrong with it - it's just asking parents to please please be considerate to other people, and advising that screaming children won't be tolerated.

I'm sure this doesn't mean that children enjoying themselves in the play area will be slung out on their ear, but might mean that they can draw a parent's attention to that sign if they are letting their children repeatedly emit ear drum shattering constant screaming, or running about dangerously in the cafe.

You cant plan for when they act up, but you can do the decent thing and take them away from the situation so everyone doesnt have to endure it

zukie that's exactly what I meant!

I can see that I probably didn't explain what I meant properly. Think I'll steer clear of MN today. Not in the best frame of mind for this type of thing today.

I have seen parents stand by whilst their children have ear piercing shreaking contests. Now that really annoys me. I can't bear children literally screaming for fun.

But yes, clearly it will be noisy next to a play area.

It may seem hard to believe, but the world does not revolve solely around children.. and mean that they should be allowed to freely express themselves no matter how much disturbance they cause to anyone around them.

It is a food court, most people can tolerate and expect a certain level of noise coming from a childrens play area, but what they dont and should not have to endure is children screeching and running wild around their table while they try to eat or drink, and the parents should be supervising and in control.

I'm much more tolerant of other children when I have my own children with me. I think once you are past the stage of babyhood and toddlerdom, you very quickly lose your patience for how noisy, destructive and uncooperative they can be.

I went out to lunch today with six children, and I could see the (adult) family on the table opposite rolled their eyes when we sat down but honestly, it was just tough luck for them. We weren't quiet, one of the toddlers wasn't very cooperative and didnt want to stay in the high hair, and if I was them I'd have probably been a bit gutted to have us planted next to them too.