Full body costumed adults hugging children.

[morchoxplz]

If a adult stranger 'bear hugged' a child (eg five yr old) I'm guessing most would find it inappropriate; why then is it ok if the adult is wearing a full costume. You know the type of thing: footy mascot, teddy bear/ dog or even a walking hedge like we just came accross at our local garden centre on opening weekend.

I think the costume wearers should be crb/dbs checked? No?

I wouldn't find it inappropriate if a stranger hugged my child depending on the circs.
the rest of your post about people in character makes you sound bonkers

Seriously? You can't see the difference?

Unless they're in a Pedobear costume, I wouldn't be worried. Always going to be in a public place with adults, record checked to the hilt.

When DS1 was little, he LOVED Manuel from Fawlty Towers. Proper loved him. We took Ds1 to Madame Tussauds and one of the first waxworks he saw was Manuel. DS ran up and threw his arms round the waxwork in ecstasy. He has never forgotten it . Don't under estimate how real these characters can be to small children, what simple joy they can give and stop seeing monsters round every corner. What harm are you imagining? .

I've been in several of those costumes. You can't see very well, you can't move very well, you can't breathe very easily, you certainly can't feel an awful lot and tbh mostly you are counting down the minutes until you can take the damn head off...

Trust me, the poor sod in the costume isn't gaining any enjoyment from the situation at all.

I would not mind if my child was hugged by a stranger if it was reciprocated. What on earth??

It's not like the costumed characters steal them away to a little private room and hug them.

You sound extremely paranoid.

We take DD to festivals and what not, she's been bear hugged by all sorts of folk cause she's a wonderful character and loves making folk laugh...I'm right there beside her, why would I be afraid or concerned?

Seems a bit precious and daft to find issues that really aren't there

YABU. I really don't think there's anything to worry about.

Relax op it's all good (except the clowns, they are very wrong and should be banned)

I wouldn't have minded if any of my then 5 year old's wanted to hug the local mascot, I'd have been close by.

You're over thinking this.

Yabvu, lighten up. If your childs ok with it, fine. you are near to them. I am thinking Micky Mouse or Mini Mouse in Disneyland, dd woukd love that.

Clowns should definitely be banned. (Shudder)

They tend to make me giggle with panic and hysteria, but I don't see them as providing cover for paedophiles, or even encouraging children to ignore warnings about appropriate behaviour and boundaries and Stranger Danger.

Clowns should always be banned.

Not all adults are predators.

I have also been inside these costumes, there was a horrific incident with Mr Blobby where a group of feral toddlers wrestled me to the ground and tried to post things into his mouth (about my eye level).

OP is right. Its inappropriate to dress up as cartoon characters. Close down all Disneylands immediately (seriously Mickey Mouse and co give me the creeps!).

Rhinestone . Or , if the memory is still raw.

I hate those things. I have never understood the appeal of disneyland etc. when it apparently means having to engage with horrible 7-foot tall mickey mouses and plutos etc. There was no age as a child at which I would have actually believed it was "a character" - it was a person in a suit whose face I couldn't see and the very idea freaked me out!

However I wouldn't think there is much risk. It's a phenomenon that happens in public, and it doesn't exactly help the person to be inconspicuous.

What are the concerns here?? Don't get it?

You gotta love MN on a Sunday - daft as brushes at the weekend are some people