To tell off sticky fingered, grubby children?

[PolkerrisBeach]

It's our village show today. Lots of floral displays, kids races, decorated plant pots and the suchlike. Lots of entries in the craft and baking tents as there always is. I entered a few things, one being a knitted white rabbit in the soft toy category (came second and won £1)

Went back to the tent to check how I'd done and as we were looking round there was a family with two small children of about 3 and 5 prodding and poking all the entries in the craft section - luckily the baking had been covered with cellophane. I didn't fancy dirty toddler fingers all over a brand new knitted toy so when the child went to grab the bunny, I told her not to, and to leave other people's things alone. The older woman with her said nothing but flared at me as if I had two heads.

So AIBU to expect parents to teach children that they look with their eyes and not their fingers??

No need to be unpleasant to small children. You can smile and ask them not to touch and it is - shock - mute effective. Although I suppose you have taught them that there are horrible people in the world.

If you don't care then just do it and don't post on an internet forum for opinion.

Ok. For the sake of that ridiculously pedantic point: you can TELL somebody not to touch something nicely.

You are not entitled to be rude to somebody because they are a child.

Plus the truth is I can disregard whatever you TELL me or ASK me to do unless you are a police officer and I am breaking the law.

Puts toys in arms reach of child
Is furious when touched by child
If it's food, fair enough. Anything else that people don't want touched should be out of the way

the truth is I can disregard whatever you TELL me or ASK me to do unless you are a police officer and I am breaking the law.

This is such a poor attitude. Yes I will walk on the grass even though there's a notice telling me not to because you're not a police officer. Yes I will let my child run through your garden and I won't stop them because you're not a police officer. And yes, I will let my children pick things up which are not there to be handled and pawed because I don't see why they shouldn't.

Just appalling, entitled behaviour.

Totally lacking in respect for the people I was talking about in my OP who might have spent hours making things for a competition. Displayed on tables. Most people with common sense having respect and looking with their eyes and not their fingers. Because they are normal human beings and not ones with a shitty "I'll do what the hell I want and you can't tell me otherwise" attitude.

Oh and the "put it out of the way" argument - how exactly do you think that can be managed in a tent, in a field, on a trestle table?

If it's food, fair enough. Anything else that people don't want touched should be out of the way

You're kidding, right?

You have absolutely no idea what I think about people's stuff on craft tables. Sure, don't touch it. Sure, tell kids not to touch it. I wouldn't let my kids touch but that's beside the point. I might tell someone else not to as well but I wouldn't be rude about it. You've extrapolated a load of stuff I didn't say from my post and then have been rude to me so I can guess your tone.

You don't have the right to go around being rude and unpleasant to other people - you can do it of course but you can't expect them to respond how you want.

@Nanny0gg no, I'm not kidding. Children are curious. You can tell them to stop touching something but that just means they already have. If something -particularly a toy- isn't to be touched by children, just move it.

Some people just seem not to worry about how grubby their kids are and how much mess they make. Years ago I split from a guy and when I went back to get my stuff his new woman and her child were moved in. It was ok, I was pleased to be rid. But the child had a car racing track set up on the cream carpet and was chanelling milky tea from a sippy cup down it. On the way back to my car I did laugh to myself.

@Jaxtellerswife So do you never take your child into a shop? Or is that considered fair game?

It is the parent's responsibility to ensure that their children don't touch things that do not belong to them. And you don't take them to something like a craft show if you can't get them to behave.

That's the issue though Nanny - people who see things uncovered, and hip level on a table and think that it's OK to touch, and let their children touch.

@Nanny0gg yes I take my children everywhere. Sometimes they touch things. I've yet to melt down over this or have any negative experiences. Children are curious and I think it's great.
I don't allow them to touch anything dangerous or priceless but I'm their parent so I also wouldn't tolerate someone else verbalising their opinions at them either

@PolkerrisBeach if a child attends somewhere that children are allowed to be and sees something they think is really lovely and not only that, they can see it, touch it and really appreciate it then they obviously will. If it's really that important that a toy you have made mustn't be touched, that's more your issue than theirs.
If it was me I would probably have spoken to them about it and enjoyed a little chat.

TBH if we were at a local fete and went into a craft tent that had little knitted bunnies my 5 year old would be tempted to touch them. He is rather clean though op but I note that you consider all small children slightly grubby.

I myself sometimes feel the need to touch nice scarves or handmade jewellery or little ceramic pots at craft fairs so perhaps he picks this need to touch things up from me. I'm quite sure I'm not unusual though.

I'm so glad you won your £1 prize though and are now able to keep bunny safe from future toddler tormentors op. It must have been quite horrific watching small children take such an interest in him.

I wish people would stop making excuses!

Read the whole post, NannyOgg.

Maybe a sign saying 'Please don't touch the competition entries' would help next time?

this being a country show there probably were signs bot to tough exhibits.

Exhibition or competition entry? No one touches whether adult or child, clean hands or dirty. Everyone knows this or should. If you can't enforce it with your dc then keep them away from the exhibition.

Exhibition or competition entry?

Competition entry. The tent with professional makers selling their crafts was elsewhere, across the field.