Lying about child's age for free admission

[user1489773847]

Costing out a day trip to the zoo, now that DC has turned two have to factor in their ticket cost. DH says that we should just say he isn't yet two so it's free, and that everyone does it. Just wondered what the general consensus is on this? I feel bad lying but see his point that DS is still pretty young and could end up napping through a lot of it so won't necessarily benefit.

What a crazy question!

Of course you lie. Lie lie and lie, and then lie a bit more!

For as long as you can get away with it!

Zoos are totally miserable though. I think we are unreasonable to go at all (yes I go how else will my poor DCs see miserable inprisoned versions of exotic animals)

^^ This

it's fraud. Don't dress it up. Think about having it done to you and decide how you feel. The size of the business is irrelevant.

MN ethics, eh?

We did it last summer, it was the only way to afford a day out. A disabled ticket, a carer and a under 3 that was actually nearly 4 but just tiny. Do I feel any guilt? No. We got to have lovely family memories that we wouldn't have otherwise.
Oh, the zoo is still standing too, not been shut down due to not enough entrance fees paid.

Fraud what are you? The CPS?

Oh ffs posted too soon, needed to say the disability part is true, hence being so skint we could only afford to go without paying for DC..

Think about having it done to you and decide how you feel.

I have and I have decided it wouldn't happen to me because under 5s would go free and I would not charge such inflated prices which means many poor families miss out on such experiences.

Lie. DD is pretty tall so I managed to get her in as an under 3 to a local attraction until 3yrs 7mths by putting her in the sling on DH's back. DH is 6ft4, she looks tiny in comparison. We had family membership so I would have had to pay £15 each time for her while the rest of us got in 'free', and we go a couple of times a month, not just the odd occasion. As soon as membership renewal came up I added her on.

We still bought ice creams and stuff in the shop, plus paid tickets to their seasonal events on top of the annual passes. I feel like we support them well enough.

Yes we lie whenever we can get away with it. We also have our older child hide behind the footwell.

I don't feel bad about it

I remember in the 70's (old, me) when child fares/admission were usually half the adult price. Today, the equivalent child tickets are often just a pound or two cheaper than an adult price.

Attractions also charge a premium for food, drink and gift shop items. Avoiding an entrance charge is rarely a free, or even cheap day out.

Think about having it done to you and decide how you feel.

Honestly, if it would be a serious hardship for a family? I don't think I'd mind as a zoo worker.

Many people are sometimes in a somewhat precarious position. THe fees aren't exactly cheap either... And these children still deserve to have an enjoyable day at the zoo with their parents.

Its not harming anyone...

I was and still am small.

I recall my dad lying about my age on the bus the odd occasion, my mum was always honest.

The best (most dishonest) one was when I was helping out at a youth group as a leader and we took the kids to the zoo for the day. Another leader counted me in as one of the kids because she knew they wouldn't question it cos of my height and young looks (I was 22 but obviously looked under 16...)

Yes we got away with this with dd1 she was preemie and small still is, dd2 however is 2 and looks 3 so I suppose karma. One of the lads who works for us has been here since he was a wee lad and for years red to get into the agricultural shoes as a child, even when he was 16, 17 etc he was under 12 at the ticket desk then pretending to be 18 in the beer tent. Then he had a growth spurt and was built like the proverbial brick shithouse so the under 12 thing no longer works.

I lie. Because it's the difference between us going, or not going.

A family of 5 is expensive. Usually £100+ for a day out entry only. If I had to pay an extra £20 +/- for the toddler we couldn't go.

She catagorically does not cost the theme park/zoo anything, I don't use their disposal bins for nappies, we don't leave litter, so I feel okay about it. I figure they'd benefit more from the rest of us visiting than not at all.

Lie for now. When they get to 3/4 they are so age obsessed they don't let you lie, as they shout out to the ticket sellers how old they are when asked

Even my dm who was normally scrupulously honest delighted and boasted about having a short child who she didn't have to pay for way past the legal age.

I reckon these ages are not meant to be taken literally.

Fraud? well if that's the only dishonest thing you do in life you'll be ok. Hmm i bet the super rich wouldn't do anything remotely dishonest would they. But if you still feel guilty at the end of the day you could hand yourself over to the police.

I'm usually always very honest, but in this case I'd fib. It's not like he's going to take up more space or use more facilities than a child a few months younger.

When I was a kid, we used to stop in a lay by just before the zoo. We'd then all climb into the boot and dad would pull the boot cover across. And paid as just 2 adults

Those were the days.

@Soubriquet

Are you flying? Have you given the correct age for the flight? He won't be allowed to fly as an infant if he's over two.

It's never occurred to me to lie! Although pretty much everywhere is free for under 3 so don't begrudge paying at the agevifv3.

I wouldn't, it's stealing IMHO. However, I'm quite privileged financially so may not be viewing it the same as some. And I wouldn't judge people who can't afford it doing it.

However, I don't understand how you teach morality and honesty to children as you lie to people's faces to save money.

Sorry, phone playing up! Age of 3.

I like when theme parks charge by height rather than age. I was caught out by one place where DD had to pay as she was 3, but was then a couple of cm too short to go on anything, not even accompanied.

I've never actually lied about her age when I've been asked, apart from anything else she suddenly shot up and people were assuming she was a year or 2 older than she was. But when she was 3 I would often stick her in the buggy and ask for '2 adults and a little one' and not correct them if they put her in as a 2 year old.

Like most PPs have said, entrance fees are not cheap, it seems unfair for places to charge almost the same for a 3 year old as an adult when they are restricted from doing or enjoying many parts, and I am sure they would rather us come in and spend money than not!

On a related note, why do some clearly child themed places charge for adults? Soft plays for example, or kid theme parks where the adults are requested to stay off certain rides/attractions? Surely the adults don't cost anything, or very little, but the more adults that accompany the child, the more money will get spent in the shops!

I agree that child prices (a long time ago) used to be half that of an adult ticket, so if the child prices were fairer, and not the same as adult prices, we might not feel the need to commit fraud.