to be annoyed parents arent allowed to use their phones at playgroup?

[itispersonal]

I am a bit of a phone addict I'll admit but . ..

I was at my local sure start centre for a singing session with my dd (so don't use phone during this session) but noticed on the wall they had recently put up a sign to say mobile phones were not to be used by parents due to "e- safety".

I use to go to longer play sessions at the sure start and I would check my phone as it would be when Dp would be on their break/ lunch sort out arrangements for the rest of the day with friends/family etc.

Aibu to be annoyed at this? Surely I am an adult, me talking on a phone or using a phone isn't a paedophile risk! Though not entirely sure what a e-safety risk is. Think sure start struggle to get people through the door so putting this in place would make me think I'll go elsewhere where can have a seat to sit on, a drink etc.

I do try and support the sure start centre as think they provide a good service to children and parents, as well as other paid activities I go to with my dd.

And yes I do interact with baby as well and talk to other mums there. I suppose I just don't like being told what to do!

The childrens centre is a separate, but close, building with no connections with the school. Each session lasts for 2 hours. My son was stuck on the loo the other week when I arrived to pick him up at the end of the day, the staff called me in to help him and get him off the loo, nothing serious, but he had got himself in a state. My phone hardly ever rings, if it rings it is probably important, so I never turn my phone off, it has no answering machine, I must sort that out. I can't remember the last time I might have been requested to turn my phone off, the childrens centre asks me not to use it, not turn it off.

So do at risk children never go to playgrounds? No 'no photo' rule there, and they are just as likely to be caught in background of another parents picture as indoors.

At risk children are often restricted in their activities and avoid doing things at regular times where there is no security....going into and out of school are particularly stressful for the adults taking care of them.

It's horrible

KingRollo, wouldn't you watch a toddler anyway to make sure they aren't snatching the other toddlers' toys or pushing them over? It's a while since I had toddlers but as I remember it they don't need loaded guns to upset and frighten smaller and weaker children. Parents who were oblivious to this tended not to be very popular with the other parents. Or perhaps they make different toddlers these days?

My old one had the signs and explained it - you are meant to be interacting with your child. It also asked you not to bring in unhealthy snacks and provided fresh fruits at snack time. Sure start isn't soft play.

People are only thinking of the random facebook uploads. What about the following scenario:

Child is at risk and is moved to foster parents. Parents get a rough idea of where he is. They get a friend with a toddler to scout out groups. Friend spots the child and takes pics to confirm. Parents wait outside group the following week to try and approach child. Child has to move foster parents.

It's not just about facebook.

I'd rather know that I hadn't inadvertently put a child/mother at risk by my actions no matter how unlikely.

Where have all these "at risk" children come from? It seems that you can't do anything at all nowadays in case an "at risk" child is in the vicinity. Are they a relatively new phenomenon or are there just a lot of shit parents out there creating them now?

Ichi In that case then the friend with the toddler could just stand outside the centre and just take photos of all the children entering whilst pretending to take pics of their own child. Or a hidden camera in their clothes etc.
My schools policy on taking photos/videos, if you don't like it then your child can't be in the activity. I do hope they change this policy if they have a child with some of the issues suggested on here.

What a vile thing to say.

That was to Grinch, not Scaredy.

The thing about at risk children is that you can't run a toddler group as if none exist and then suddenly change the rules when an at risk toddler joins, then drop them again when that toddler leaves. There may well be no at risk children at the group, but their anonymity is important.

Ichibanformen seriously? You really think the phone at play group will be instrumental in this scenario?

scaredy, that doesn't mean the centre shouldn't take any precautions they can do to increase safety on their premises.

There are so many other play groups and situations where people take and can take pictures of children if indeed it was their intention too...

i agree vote with feet dont put up with it.

there are so many toddler groups just run by parents in church halls, and classes you can go too where they understand, that its as much about a little break for mum....as play time for baby...

I interact with my child from 7am to 8pm bedtime, if i go to toddler groups its so i can get a tiny break.

I'm really saddened by the number of people who think their right to use their phone whenever and wherever they want trumps the need to keep vulnerable children safe.

If I had to turn my phone off, or not use it for an hour or even two, I would if I thought it would go even a tiny way towards keeping vulnerable children safer.

captaingrinch, you should be ashamed of yourself for that post.

Some organisations take the safeguarding of children very seriously. I run swimming lessons, and despite all the child protection information sent to parents, signs on the wall, email reminders etc, I still have to deal with parents that are unable to understand that there are times and places when using a mobile phone is unacceptable. Either put the thing away and actually spend some time watching your kids, or move to an area where you can legitimately use it?

itispersona

It's not just taking pictures.

Most phones access the internet these days, how would you feel if someone showed your toddler porn on their phone?

YABU.

You may be okay, but you don't know anything about anyone else, really.

I would have no objection to it - it's a small amount of time at playgroup.

Wel, if the world was not full of twats who cannot cope with not putting constant photos of there tedious days on social media just so they look like they have a life,stuff like this would not happen.

I'd be pissed off as I don't have an internet enabled phone.

But then I avoid Sure Start anyway.

I'd be very surprised if someone showed my toddler porn on a phone in my presence in a sure start centre. I don't disagree with not using phones (in a pocket, set to vibrate seems reasonable), but I really think that the risk of someone in that setting showing a child porn isn't the reason for the policy and would be a ridiculous reason for such a policy.

Sash - yu must attend some very odd toddler groups.