AIBU to think Coronavirus is not an excuse to exclude children from public places?

[RoseGoldCloud]

B&Q have banned children from their stores due to Coronavirus. www.diy.com/customer-support#icamp=HP_Cat5_shopsafely
I get that people are scared in public places. I also agree that anyone not respecting the social distancing should be asked to leave. I don’t understand why they are excluding one particular group based solely on age. The rules should apply to everyone and anyone breaking it should have to leave. I have seen many children behaving really sensibly and I’ve also had numerous adults stand right next to me, refuse to follow the one way systems, touching baskets that have been disinfected and then putting them back. Why are the adults allowed to ignore the rules? But all the children get banned? What are single parents going to do if other shops start doing this? And what next? Are we going to ban other groups that are cared for? If we find out certain population groups are more prone to covid will we be banning them too? Are we going to ban children from all public places? Shops? Shopping centres? Town squares?

I recognise that people are scared but I think we really need to remember that we are fighting a virus not other people or certain groups of people.

So AIBU to think we shouldn’t ban people from a public place based on their age?

It’s a case of majority being penalised by the actions of the minority. Parents should have their DCs holding the trolley or being very close to the adult. But unfortunately some parents just allow their DCs to use it as a play ground, running around the place and not respecting social distancing. I guess the other alternative would be to ask people to leave the store if their DCs are not behaving appropriately, but b&q might not want to invite the potential verbal abuse this would entail.

When peole say 'can't single parent jusy click and collect'?
Why is EVERYONE not doing that? Ah yes, information on th website isnt always acurate. It's impossible to see the quality on a photo or if it firs well in your hand etc...
The reason why single parents are shoping rather than click and collect is the same than everyone else. If its good enough for single parent, then it should be good enough for everyne else. Would people going to B&Q be happy with this? I doubt it.

For those who are saying they arent needed.
What about when couples go together shoping? That is allowed. Why is that seeing that clearly only one person is needed?

For the posters saying children don't respect social distancing
What about ADULTS? is it ok to stop a child form entering a space because they MIGHT not behave appropriately but we shoud leave an adult not following social distancing going in because???

I suspect once again that people who don't see the isue there are people who are not single parent themselves. As well as people who wouldn't actually expect to follow the "rule" themselves (because they know it would be a pain to do so. See only using click and collect)

More discrimination against single parents.

Stores need to minimise customer footfall whilst increasing sales.

Barring kids is a great way of doing that.
Why aren't couples barred from doing so too? It's not just kids that increase footfall.

No child needs to go to B&Q. They also do click and collect so no excuse for those who don't have anyone to mind their dc.
In that case why isn't EVERYONE using click and collect? I mean if it's good enough for single parents, it should be good enough for everyone, no? Why does B&Q even need to be open in the first place as they do internet shopping and people can get their stuff delivered after all.

Basically, it's easy to find reasons until you have to follow the rules you want someone else to follow me think.....

Personally I don’t think B&Q should even be open except for trade. It’s hardly essential shopping is it

Doesn't it depend if you are fixing something that is broken, or just decide to repaint your child's bedroom? To be honest I can't really see the harm in the latter, why can't people use the time to do something useful rather than sitting eating chocolate and watching Netflix the whole time?

Anyway I wouldn't have been worried if I couldn't have gone to B&Q as a child, it is soooo boring. I'd have been perfectly happy to stay at home or sit in the car in the car park with a book.

I think the "No Children" policy will be everywhere when things begin to open up. It will be impossible to have pubs packed with families or children running around shops. It's quite sad but hopefully not forever.

Why would the tip not let children in? They sit in the car, surely, so aren't a danger to themselves or anyone else.
But you're all right. Any single parent who wants to fix a leaking tap so it doesn't flood their kitchen should just piss off and put up with the inconvenience. Can't have your shopping interrupted by a two year old, can we?

I would also want to know, what defines a child?
Is it a one year old in a trolley not moving?
Is it a five years old?
Is it a 16yo coming to help a parent carry stuff?

Basically, it's easy to find reasons until you have to follow the rules you want someone else to follow me think

Exactly, i dont see anyone suggesting older couples dont go shopping together, yet that is exactly the same principle. Why should single parents have to shop online when noone else is expected to? what a load of hypocritical bollocks

Oh give over, with all that nonsense about discrimination against single parents. It’s got fuck all to do with that. They’re a business, not running a bloody support service. I’m a single parent with a disabled child, so I just suck up the fact that I have to restrict certain aspects of my life. Do you want us all to pick a day of the week and we’ll get the world to clap for us some night. 🙄

Anyway I wouldn't have been worried if I couldn't have gone to B&Q as a child, it is soooo boring. I'd have been perfectly happy to stay at home or sit in the car in the car park with a book.

You would leave a 5yo on their own at home or in the car whilst you go shopping?
And then expect them to sit ncely and nt do somethin stupid whilst you are in there for half an hour (or more due to the queues)??

They’re a business

Thats the entire point! They are a business and disallowing certain groups of people to enter the stores would reduce profits so of course they arent going to do that. From a business point of view, that makes no sense whatsoever

I would also want to know, what defines a child?

Under 16

I think they should ban anyone shopping with someone else in tow who doesn't need to be there. So husband tagging along for a mooch around, kids there for "a run out" etc should not be allowed. An adult who has to bring children (eg single parent) or a carer/caree should be allowed.

In turn, shops should be vigilant about throwing out anyone who's running around or getting too close to people. They should also, where possible, provide a "Click and Collect" service which does not require entry to the store (or at least where collection is within sight of the car park so older children could be left in the car while parent collects).

I have no problem with children going to B&Q - or anywhere else for that matter. It's the children who hare about the store when there are people buying long lengths of wood or drainpipe that cause issues. Or the children who chase about pubs while servers are carrying hot food. ( Sit down in your seat, or we're going home...)

I have no problem with children going to 'public places', as long as parents make sure they socially distance. It is really up to the parents, we can't expect our kids to think like adults. I'm sure you and your family will be fine.

Imagine people stopped having children? Wouldn't that be nice for you? Oh wait, itd be a children of men type situation. Not nice at all, you intolerant child catcher.

TBH a lot of places are now insisting on a one person rule. No partners etc. Aldi and Wilkes being two of them, but I admit B&Q aren’t yet, although I’m guessing a lot of places are going to adopt that rule going forward.

Thats the entire point! They are a business and disallowing certain groups of people to enter the stores would reduce profits so of course they arent going to do that. From a business point of view, that makes no sense whatsoever

Children are not their core market and if the parents decide to throw a strop because they have believed up until the pandemic struck, that their little darlings should go where they like, they can go to a builder’s yard. Oh that’s right, no kids there either.

What’s more important to you, the thought that the world should permit you to take your child anywhere you want, or ensuring that this virus spread slows down, which is easier done with less people mixing in one place? If the shop limits numbers, why should, for example, 3 paying customers have to wait outside because someone decided to bring three children with them, who won’t spend money. I think the shop knows which ones are the most financially beneficial.

This is a bloody pandemic and people want to drag their kids around shops. Can’t think why we have the highest death rate in Europe. JFC

Imagine people stopped having children? Wouldn't that be nice for you? Oh wait, itd be a children of men type situation. Not nice at all, you intolerant child catcher.

That’s the best one yet.

Mumsnet literally hates children. And single parents. God forbid someone else's child might come too close when you're doing your totally essential paint buying...

I think the "No Children" policy will be everywhere when things begin to open up

I think so too. It’ll be ‘But why do children need to be in garden centres?’ and ‘There’s no need for children to go to the library - you can buy books on Amazon.’

Except I see this as unfair and discriminatory, rather than sad and unavoidable. The over 70s are likely to be officially advised to remain indoors for much longer than the rest of us, but I’d never dream of enforcing this with bans from shops, or tutting whenever I saw elderly couples disobeying the ‘rules’.

It’s not practical to ban two people shopping together in any building store, as so many of the products are too heavy for one person to lift, such as wooden sheets, worktops, etc. It’s difficult enough to get physical help in B&Q at the best of time’s. You can’t expect staff to help you, when close proximity helps spread the virus. There’s absolutely no comparison between banning children and banning two people together in those types of stores.

Many supermarkets also discourage‘couples’ shopping but it is permitted if one is disabled, I’ll and needs assistance with shopping.

chocolatesaltyballs22 i agree with you, i hope they will be banned from pubs.

Mumsnet literally hates children. And single parents. God forbid someone else's child might come too close when you're doing your totally essential paint buying

Oh stop it! Please tell me you’re trolling now, or I’m going to run out of bingo cards. 🤣