To think that children really don't need to use their scooters in the supermarket?

[Pointlessfan]

Or inside shopping centres or any other place where there really isn't enough space and the rest of us have to keep dodging them. This is seriously getting on my nerves, every time I go shopping I have to keep jumping out of the path of children zooming about on scooters. Why can't they ride them in the park? I was brought up to be considerate of others and would never have been allowed to use a scooter, bike or roller skates in shops or any where else where I would be in the way.
Feel better for getting that off my chest! So is it just me or are others equally annoyed by this?

'just lie down and sleep'

My DH says that!

Perhaps we should stop hijacking this thread and find an insomnia thread?

Have you seen the naked man outrage unfolding?

I think we might have to

'just stop thinking about it and you'll sleep' [hmm[

no, I need to see!

Gone finally (@ 300 posts!)

Heavens above, children can run amok when their needs are not met and although those needs can't always be met, in this case, for me and my child, they can. I should add, I would ask my child to dismount if we entered a small shop and, like all children, when they are given a reason that they can understand, she complies.

Going on a scooter in a shop is not a need. Being hungry is a need. Nor does she need to understand your reason. Your reason can be "you're not allowed to and that's just the way it is".

Basically you're letting her use her scooter at the expense of others because otherwise she'd have a tantrum.

The only thing that is teaching them is that, if they throw a tantrum, they get to do what they like!

The excuses I'm reading for allowing kids to ride scooters indoors is nothing short of pathetic.

I am in at the complete self-entitlement of chopinbabe.

OP you are completely definitely not unreasonable and most of the other posters on this thread are in agreement.

Of course, there always will be one or two who don't understand and they are the ones who make things difficult for the rest of us.

I am also one who, if I was knocked into by a scooter, or worse, if my foot was run over by one, could actually land up in hospital and it could take a long time for that foot to heal as my foot damages very easily. I can't risk that as I have a job to do and a family to run.

As with so many, my DSs had two choices when they were little, they sat in the shopping trolley SEAT or they walked nicely by the side and 'helped' me with the shopping; there was no other option. They have already been read the riot act reminded strongly about how to behave when shopping this holiday and any further inappropriate behaviour will result in serious sanctions!

Having read the comments made by Chopinbabe, all I can say is "Heaven help us all", I am stunned by such parenting.

LL12 and Pigeon, yes, I know now why scooter-riding and general terrible, unchecked behaviour is rife!

I have just read the later posts by Chopin, I would appear she simply wants to route of least parenting and sod what impact it has on others!

Comparing to running in the shop and throwing jars on the floor - well I think most people would agree all 3 are unacceptable.

I am astonished that chopinbabe thinks that the only alternative to a child scooting is them running around. If a small child (enough of the 'little', ffs) can't behave in a supermarket then they get into the seat in the trolley.

And how carefully can you supervise when you are shopping? Are you saying that you don't take your eye of your child when you're browsing the shelves?

And yes, if my 4-year-old had pulled not one but many glass jars off a shelf and smashed them (he clearly wasn't being closely supervised, was he?) then no, she wouldn't be getting a toy or a load of adults fussing around her and making sure she was alright, in fact she'd be ignored while I made sure everyone else was alright, and then I would be bloody angry with her - because she has been taught that to do such a thing is extremely naughty.

As I say, she's 4 and I have managed to do a weekly shop with her since birth without her scooting, or running around (when she did she was strapped smartish into the baby seat, regardless of her objections), or pulling things off the shelves and breaking them. Firm instructions and consequences mean that now, we can do the shopping and she is very well behaved.

A scooter child clattered into me the other day after I'd grabbed a coffee from the in store cafe. Mother tried to have a ho at me for him being scalded! And didn't offer to buy a new one. Grr.

Mother tried to have a ho at me for him being scalded!

helenenemo- that's so shocking I'm getting quite depressed.

These mothers who let their kids run amok and then expect adults to apologise when it goes wrong? And chopin upthread letting her daughter scoot to avoid a tantrum.

When did kids rule the world?

They don't though do they MissBattleaxe - its not the norm, but people just love to take isolated incidents and use them for thoroughly enjoyable doom and gloom rant about the whole of society going to the dogs (with a side order of self congratulation about being a superior parent/ member of society). This is then so often used to support a leaning to the other extreme, in which children are only acceptable if taught 'their place' as lesser, meek, quiet, still, shadowy beings.

Scooting inside is clearly inappropriate, it only happens in a society that no longer seems to function as such, because people judge and make sweeping over generalisations without DOING anything - it does take a metaphorical village, but some people prefer not to accept that because it eould mean them putting 2 mins effort in.

Nonsense MrTumbles - the only 'doing something' available is speaking up, but the parents concerned are often either self-justifying and waffly like chopin and refuse to see that they have done anything undesirable or agressive like the mother helene encountered. Shop staff like the poster upthread are unsupported, managers are cowardly and shop policies are non-existent or wooly. So what are the inconvenienced majority meant to do other watch in dismay and don shin guards?

aggressive, that is

MrsDemitri posted above that she works in a shop and that complaints about this sort of thing are good, as customers need to bring it to management attention enough so they'll do something store wide. Are the moaners even trying? The thread was interesting and a bit shocking at first, but now its just the usual anti child, anti parent (except onesself and those who think identically) society is doomed but don't expect me to be even a tiny part of the solution, clucking.

I asked staff in the Museum of London (which is also quite dark), a B&Q and three local supermarkets if they could intervene with small scooter riders running amok (i.e. markedly so - causing a kerfuffle). They all said no. I was taken aback at first and emailled in follow up. When you realise it is the new culture, you do give up a bit.

but now its just the usual anti child, anti parent (except onesself and those who think identically) society is doomed but don't expect me to be even a tiny part of the solution, clucking.

I don't think that's the case. I think it is fairly broad, pro-consideration-for-others, we-all-have-to-rub-along, incredulity.

At least you tried Arsenic - but why couldn't they do anything? That seems most odd in a museum.

My ds works the booze aisle of our local supermarket. I warned him one evening that there was a gang of boys ( year 9 and 10) scooting around the shop. I had a grin at him telling them (not) gently to get out of his aisle. They did the whole "we know our rights" thing. Manager came and kicked them out and told them if they came in on them again they would be barred. Good.

That's how it should be, and how, surely, it usually is ohwhatfuckery - good for Mrfuckery :o and his manager.

It completely threw me. They allowed them and that was my answer- a family friendly decision, they felt. When I pointed out injuries were occuring, they said the onus was on the parents to ensure safe use Quite a befuddling exchange.

Are you UK fuckery?

I am. Don't know if it was company policy, but they are generally arses anyway, just arses on wheels this time.
Yeah my boy takes no shit.

Chopin - when I was little and we went to the supermarket I was given little tasks eg counting carrots, potatoes or whatever into the bag, looking on the shelf for a particular item. This kept me occupied and taught me how to do the shopping. Some of these items were - shockingly - in glass jars. I sometimes see other parents doing this. Their children are not the ones having meltdowns and not the ones scooting or running around. When my DC is old enough this is how I will take her shopping.