To complain about a free activity?

[aliteralAIBUforonce]

If I'd paid, I probably would have done already.

I went to a free toddler cookery session today, lovely I thought. Council run thing.

The chef brought and used some incredibly sharp knifes. He left those on the counter near my two year old. I grabbed my son however he had already managed to cut himself. This took a millisecond.

I have a screaming little boy at that point so didn't kick up a fuss. Luckily my friend had a plaster in her bag.

While I'm busy calming my son down (having moved away from the main area obviously) I notice that said 'chef' had again left his knives on the counter and left the room! Seriously!?

I left at that point. Nobody asked how my son was. No incident form, nothing.

Would I be justified in complaining? Yes my son is my responsibility but you'd think he put the sodding knives away!

A plaster?

No trip to a&e?

Was supervision for children provided by staff as part of the activity or was that for parents?

How did a 2 year old reach a counter?

I wouldn’t. They’d probably argue that you should have supervised your son. My comment would be the same if you’d paid by the way.

How did your 2 year old manage to grab a knife off a counter?

I wouldn't complain if I were you.

I think cooking class was for parents? Yes? To learn how cook food for toddlers. Toddlers are too young to learn to cook so not a toddler class.

So why you take toddler to a cooking class? Why you suprised there were cooking knives on counter? Why you let your toddler go to counter when knife on it?

It was a small cut so A&E would have been OTT.

My son was sitting at the counter.

No it was a cooking class for toddlers.

He put the knives down ten inches from my son and walked away. I immediately grabbed my son. There was no way I could have done anything else.

If the class was "how to cook for toddlers" then I agree it was your responsibility to keep your child away from knives. Like we keep them away from boiling water in a cafe.

If it was "cooking with toddlers" then I would expect no sharp knives and kids using wooden spoons to stir rice crispies etc and would complain that the actual cooking was not suitable to do with toddlers.

Why didn’t you complain at the time? Surely everyone could see your DS had been cut? You should have asked the chef to move the knives away, it might not have occurred to him.

It does sound a bit lax on the safety front. Perhaps not thought through, given the target audience.
As your child sustained a minor injury, I wouldn't complain as such but I think you could raise the issue with organisers- they shouldn't allow toddlers on the work surface from a hygiene point of view, never mind safety. They need a rethink!

Was definitely cooking with toddlers- part of a playgroup. The kids were definitely supposed to be there.

Rather than making a complaint, offer feedback. If it was an interactive session, so expected that children would be around the counter, suggest that they do any prep with knives beforehand or away from the counter.

It's a genuine accident and no harm was done. Don't make it into a drama.

If it was aimed at toddlers why did they use sharp knives? A toddler isn’t going to be able to! Yes I’d complain as to what was the reasoning behind that (knife use) and did the teacher actually have experience cooking with children?.

@whattodowith

Bit busy with a screaming child with a bleeding hand. Just wanted to get him out of there, poor sod

How did a 2 year old reach a counter?

Eh? My 14 month old can grab things off the very edge of a kitchen counter - he's pretty tall for his age, but not taller than an average two year old.

I think the kids are your responsibility at that sort of thing. You could mention it to the organisers though.

I'm a bit torn on this one. I can see why you'd be annoyed that someone who was providing an activity aimed at toddlers was so cavalier about their safety. On the other, I can see the argument that the parents role in the class was to act in the supervisory role while the chef provided the entertainment.

What would swing it for me is that there are so, so few council led activities now surestart has been jettisoned and so I'd suck it up and not complain.

The whole concept gives me a slight panic attack and that isn't even with knives in the equation.

Yes, I would say something. It doesn't need to be combative but it could potentially end in a worse incident next time

Hmmm. Should be no knives at class where you supposedly to bring toddlers to play cook. I agree, do complain on safety.

Rather than making a complaint, offer feedback.

I think this too. There's a decent chance they will be apologetic, but don't go in looking for an apology - just offer it as 'something for next time'. What did the chef even use the knife for?

I realise I’m going to get my head kicked in for this... dc went to Steiner parent and child groups from 0-3 and it was routine to have sharp knives for communal fruit prep. It was up to parents to supervise and help and teach the kids to respect and safely use tools properly.

What would swing it for me is that there are so, so few council led activities now surestart has been jettisoned and so I'd suck it up and not complain.

They're not going to ditch the activity just because OP says it would be best not to leave knives within the children's reach, especially if she does so sensibly and calmly (ie no mad threats to sue)

Foods should be chopped before class start. No need for knives and toddlers there at same time.

I wouldn’t complain but provide “feedback”

They might if a volunteer throws in the towel when they're swamped under health and safety admin.