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.

I'm taking a wild guess , but all those that say they wouldn't lie only have 1 child? Or their children are not yet at paying age? I might be wrong though, just a hunch. er, no. 4, which makes me less likely to lie as there are more older ones who would be aware of what we were doing.

I'd absolutely lie and not feel guilty about it.
Different if it was for a charity or non-profit but big theme park/tourist attraction? Nope!

Which is the same argument shoplifters use, and people that defraud insurance companies.

No it isn't.

I don't lie, because it's a shit thing to do and it's a shit example to set.

I have a friend who still passes her children off as under 5 on the bus. They are 7 and 9.

"On the other hand my own DM used to put myself and my brother in the boot of the car to drive into the safari park EVERY TIME from toddler through to 11 years old. That was embarrassingly tightfisted..."

😂😂😂😂 sorry it is embarrassingly tightfisted but also pretty fabulous 😭

I'd lie, but my moral compass is smashed to smithereens. My son is 4 but age 18m clothes and developmentally about the same. No way am I paying full whack when the only thing that's over 2 really is his DOB. I really don't think it's anything like stealing. If your child had been born a few months earlier you wouldn't have to pay anyway. If it were such an issue places would request proof of age and you can get in free. Stealing would be sneaking the whole family in round the back, imo.

I don't think it's a case of fuck em, I'd agree if it was s theme park etc, but zoos rely on the money I think and I would feel guilty it's not the animals fault you've got to pay full price.

I did a while ago with DD3 at a theme park. She is tiny and despite being 3 can't go on any of the rides. She's not bithered though as she doesn't like them. Wasn't paying £20+ for her to play on some grass, eat an overpriced lunch and wave at her siblings on rides.

Now she's bigger, and more vocal about being 3, we just don't go. So they didn't lose that day they made with one adult, 2 x teens and 1 x 8yo.

I think this is OK if the kid is in the pushchair not joining it.
If they are using the facilities/amenities then you should pay.

Deffo lie, at Alton towers they can get away with it until about 5. Disney world tickets child age is 3-9 my Ds was a small 10, no way was I paying adult price for him, who is an adult at 10?

If he is your only child, yes lie. He will have no memory of this and won't really be sure what's going on. If you have other, older children with you, who will understand what is happening, don't. You will be setting a bad example and teaching them that lying is ok.

Most zoos are charities.
I used to work for one, DH still does, and I want to get back into it adapt, and they are bloody expensive to run. The animals need good quality food, bedding, heating, vet care, maybe ongoing medication, enclosures need upkeep and changing every so often, staff to look after them properly, maybe water pumps etc etc. and that is before you've even begun to think about the visitor side of things (staff to serve in the cafe and shop, staff to write signs etc).
And then most zoos have commitments to conservation projects, often overseas in developing countries.
I know of no one who has got rich working in a zoo. And I know a lot of people who work in zoos. Most of us are dirt poor, but do it because we love the animals and care about conservation.

So no, I don't lie about the age of my kids when going to somewhere like that because I've lived the other side of it, having to justify why this animals needs something more than that animal because funds are tight and doing both isn't really financially possible this month.

Four children here, and have never lied about their ages. And not well-off, either.

I can see why it's tempting. It feels like a victimless crime. It's expensive to do these things as a family, and we have often done the sums and decided we can't afford the zoo/theme park/train fare.

But it is a lie. It sets a bad example to my children. It lowers our expectations of each other in a way that I think is ultimately harmful to our society.

Doing the right thing is always hard, but a clear conscience is worth it.

Lots of posters are saying that it's okay to lie about ages because there's a whole family to get in and it costs too much otherwise. But what about the older children who are old enough to know that you are lying?

I said upthread that I'm not particularly bothered about what other people do, but are people lying in front of their older DC?

Allegretto, we got that from a ticket inspector in Germany last month. 'Why have you bought him a ticket?' "Because he's 15' "He could have got away with not paying, you don't have to do this you know, not if he's with the family. Nobody else does' !!

Yes I've done this for as long as I could get away with it

Lie! It helped that DS has always been small for his age but as he started talking really early we had to tell him to be quiet so he didn't give the game away.

Yankin, I think if there is nothing provided for little kids and they aren't even allowed on the rides (as in some cases here), it's not the worst of lies as it's grounded in something being a complete ripoff.

But your kids should see you coughing up for things you actually use.

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.

I would also not mind. I'd not stuff exotic animals in boxes either, I'd run some sort of AMAZE adventure stick mud tree park with meadows and streams and dens and maybe some goats.

Yes zoos (and other places) rely on the money... but surely in that case they'd rather (e.g.) 2 adults pay to get in, pass a 3 year old off as 2 so gets in free, then spend money in the gift shop, buy LO an ice cream and coffees for the grown ups...
Than don't go at all because it's too expensive.

Some places even offer free return tickets.... that suggests that they would rather have people in, because they spend more in the shops than they cost in 'wear and tear'.

I have done it quite a few times and feel just fine about it.

But if it was zoo gets £100 and a free (fraudulent) toddler entry, or the family decide not to go and therefore the zoo miss the £100, I think the zoo would prefer if the family went.

Especially as there are further opportunities within the zoo to extortionately charge the family elsewhere

babybythesea it hideous that zoos keep animals they can't afford to care for and entirely their fault, not the customers lying about ages fault.

Zoos are run by companies not the employees. I have no doubt they employ many amazing people but as a customer I have no obligation to those individuals

Harderandharder - yep. Prices go up, so entrance costs go up to cover it. It's not something that is done on a whim though - I've sat through meetings where we've agonised over whether a price increase is fair or not.
But if the price you are paying to feed the animals goes up, you need more money to do it. Or you have to feed the animals less food, or poor quality food, or get rid of some animals. None of which are good options.
How else do you cover it? Either you raise prices or the animals suffer. It's a non-choice, isn't it?