To feel slightly irritated when other kids jump on coin operated ride?

[ConfessionsOfTeenageDramaQueen]

Happened twice now at our local shopping centre where I've popped my toddler into the coin-operated car/fire engine/what have you, paid for the ride and another kid has jumped in next to him (there's usually two or more seats).

In one case parents were absent, in the other case the mum just stood there saying nothing and when I glanced at her she goes "thank you". On a third occasion a little boy was trying to get into the spare seat and I actually helped him on (the dad was looking on but had a baby in his arms) but got no thank you from either parent or child.

I know it's petty but I just find it quite irritating. I wouldn't tell a child to get out but at least the parents could a) ask politely and b) say thank you since they're getting a free ride I've paid for.

YANBU at all. I don't ever put coins in them so it doesn't happen to me but if my son looks longingly or approaches a ride that is running then I tell him he has to wait (I usually try to leave before it starts moving so he doesn't get ideas! - he does know they can move though, he's not daft)

People can be very rude. But look at it this way—those rides give a kid a moment of pure joy. When mine were little it was the best thing that could happen to them, 30 seconds of bumping around in a postman pat car. Let the ungratefulness of the other parents wash over you and be happy you made a kid happy.

Ahh, wouldn't bother me at all. You can be no bigger than a toddler to go on them. I couldn't begrudge a child if there was a spare seat. Couldn't give a shiny shite about a thank you.

That always happened to me, it didn't bother me.

I’d be a little annoyed also. The parent should stop them, and teach the child to,wait for his/her turn.

It happened to me a few days ago. My son was in a moving car and another boy decided he wanted piece of the action and went straight to the spare seat. I told him it wasn't his turn and he got off but looking back I should have let him stay.
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Absolutely the joy of my toddlers wee face on one of those bloody rip off rides is a sight to behold. It costs me nothing extra to allow another child to join them. I'm lucky a quid is easy for me to find, for others maybe not so.

They should ask first, have to start teaching kids manners young.

My children would never do that but it's not the child's fault. I would have offered to put a coin in when yours ran out. But a c f would never do that or say thank you would they. Manners are sadly lacking in people today.

My kids have done this and I've had other kids jump on. Why not? It costs the same either way. I usually tell DD to come off and the other parent says it's not a problem. If I have a spare £1 I will pay for a second go.

My DC are a bit old for these now but it doesn’t bother me at all. My DC still gets the fun of the ride but someone else gets to enjoy it too. They learn about sharing and in the future will probably get offered a turn when someone else pays anyway.

Wouldn't bother me they are just kids being kids. Think you're being a bit mean really.

I always try to get more kids on! I like to feel like I'm getting my money's worth

I am lucky as ds 6 never liked them in operation, and still does not. So just sits in non moving ones.

Meh. When I was growing up I didn’t even know they moved.

@RageAgainstTheTagine that's me as well!! If anything, I look for kids to join in. Nothing to lose really and made another child happy.

I never liked this either (mine SHOULD be well past that age but even at 10 and 13 will try to squeeze into the ice cream van ride on!) but my problem was the kid pressing the buttons. Oi, matey, you're getting a free ride so you don't get to make it go ding ding too, that's my sons favourite part!

Yeah I really don't mind this

Least the money is getting used by two children.

It's nice when the other parent offers to put money in too

YANBU at all to find that irritating. I'd never let a child jump on somebody else's paid-for ride without it being expressly offered! I wouldn't stop another child hopping on, and I wouldn't tell them off for doing so, by I would certainly be a bit irritated by a parent assuming it would be OK.

They’re so bloody expensive I’d rather another child DID get on! Feels a bit more worth it then!

The parent should stop the child. It's not the child's fault, but how rude! I have never seen this happen, and if it happened to me, I would judge my child's reaction. She is quite shy and I doubt she would like sitting next to some strange kid. I'd ask them to get off if she looked uncomfortable, remove them if they refused. But then I am a meanie.

I feel the same about the economy of having more children on it, which is why I helped the little boy on when he was trying to get on and my son doesn't mind at all but when he's older I would never let him run on someone else's paid-for ride and, if it was offered to him, would be at least sure to acknowledge the kindness and smile and say thank you and maybe offer to pay for a second go.

It's the lack of asking and/or lack of thanks that makes me feel they're just CF - and none has ever offered to front a quid for a second go, funnily enough.

Oh yes, totally agree that the parent or child should say thank you afterwards!

Well yes parents should check it's OK and say thanks. But several kids piling in is fine in my opinion.

I would always check if it was mine clambering on to someone else's ride but I'm always happy for someone else to enjoy the ride when I've paid.