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?

I can tell you why people take children.

I am working full time from home with 3 kids. So is DH. We divide the day up into precision slots of childcare/work, 7 days a week 8am - 7pm. If the person who is not doing childcare is at the shops, we lose a lot of work time.

There aren't enough hours. THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH HOURS. I am so happy for all you child free people who are finding lockdown a time of ease. GOOD FOR YOU. If I can take the youngest child with me to the shop we don't lose so much work time.

I take her in a sling, so we are still only one pair of feet on the ground and two heads that are very close together. The additional risk of spreading infection of having her with me is small, and the benefit to the family huge.

So YOU,get to go in shops and have a look around, make a choice from the selection available, you get to touch stuff and see colours put together etc etc. But me, a single parent, I just get to order online.

Just wow.

Nope. Widow with a disabled child, but I don’t believe that the world should bend to accommodate me, because my child is not their problem. 🤷🏻‍♀️

The UK is recognised as being quite anti-children; take a look at the comments here, many would have them banned from all public places.

Exactly; what strikes me is not what B&Q are doing, which might be necessary and sensible, but rather the dismissive tone of some posters, who seem to think children, and by extension their families, shouldn’t be seen out in public at all. People have already mentioned other shops and pubs. On another thread people were bemoaning the presence of small children in parks. This attitude won’t stop at B&Q.

B&Q is not a public place it's a private company. One that offers click and collect so no need for children to be in store.

I have 3 kids under 7, none of them have been inside a shop since before lockdown. Regardless of whether they can 'social distance' or not, isn't it obvious that they increase the risk for everyone - they make it harder for everyone else to maintain social distance, they are more potential sources and targets of infection. I agree it should be max one person from a household in a shop as far as possible, while recognising there are some exceptions.

I appreciate all your comments. There’s some interesting views. It’s not B&Q specifically I’m concerned about, I’m wondering if other shops and public places will follow suit and where we will find ourselves longer term with all of this. The idea that we can restrict the movement of one group while relaxing restrictions for others.

They are not open so people can decided which shade of grey paint the want but to keep part of the economy ticking over. If they need to close because it cannot be made safe or if the money taken is highly reduced that’s it’s not viable they will close. Which along with other businesses the economic downfall will be longer and harder especially on the young.

Maybe if certain parents actually taught their children to behave in public, then shops wouldn’t need to ban them. It’s the usual few, spoiling it for everyone else. Instead of blaming stores, you should direct your anger towards useless, over indulgent parents, who think their children are the second messiah, of which there are obviously a few on this thread.

Nope. Widow with a disabled child, but I don’t believe that the world should bend to accommodate me, because my child is not their problem

Your money is as good as anyone else’s however. It makes no financial sense suggesting single parents can’t shop here because they will need to bring their children with them. The whole point of shops opening at some level is to get the economy moving. I have a ton of decoration to be doing and plenty of money to spend. I won’t be spending it in your shop if you won’t let me in.

Maybe if certain parents actually taught their children to behave in public, then shops wouldn’t need to ban them. It’s the usual few, spoiling it for everyone else. Instead of blaming stores, you should direct your anger towards useless, over indulgent parents, who think their children are the second messiah, of which there are obviously a few on this thread

That’s not the fault of single parents, is it?

@Howaboutanewname yes during global pandemics the right of single parents to browse colour charts and plumbing fixtures in person may be limited for a few weeks. Is that really your biggest concern right now? Lucky you.

The thing is that some of the posters on here saying their DCs should be allowed to go to B&Q are ones that are also saying they will refuse to allow their DCs to return to school if they re-open at the end of this month due to wanting to keep them safe. And I think it should be just one person per household allowed to all stores and supermarkets, ie no accompanying adults or children.

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

YABU on the basis of your wording - as if shops have been waiting years to ban children and have suddenly gone 'a-ha!' with glee because they now have an 'excuse'.

Businesses will do what they need to do to limit numbers in their premises - this may inconvenience some, but we are in the midst of a pandemic. I'm sure they are keen to get back to normal. Shops like children coming in because of 'pester power' - even B&Q sells things like children's bedroom furniture and accessories - they won't want to exclude them for longer than they have to.

you’ve obviously not read the link. ‘Please be aware, we are not allowing under 16s in store at present.’ . It couldn’t be clearer that children are not allowed to enter.

I have read the link. I also have experience of the reality as DS works in B&Q. They are asking that under 16's don't go. They are not refusing to let them in. That said from what he has read on yammer it is very much down to the individual store, and even more so to the marshal on the door at the time. It does vary a lot.

Realistically if you have a leak etc and a 2 year one you will not be stopped from going in to buy a pipe or whatever.

Those of you who say "just teach your child how to behave" - would you like to tell me how? My 6 year old won't stay and hold my hand in shops or anywhere else. No amount of explanation, sanctions or anything else works. I totally agree parents should control their children, just don't know how to do it!

yes during global pandemics the right of single parents to browse colour charts and plumbing fixtures in person may be limited for a few weeks. Is that really your biggest concern right now? Lucky you

Yeah, vulnerable child, shielding grandparent, likely to struggle myself if I contract it. About to be pushed back into school by a public that doesn’t get how schools work. The likelihood of my children losing a parent has increased enormously.

But if I am marching on and pretending none of this is happening and so have money to spend then as a single parent, why can’t I spend it?,

my point is that the rule is stupid and doesnt reflect potential issues.....

You asked what defines a child. I said under 16 because that's what the website states. I didn't give my opinion on the rule. I just clarified what the website says. I think it's stupid too.

Why do children need to go toB&Q ? I appreciate single parents need to go to the supermarket band often have no option but to take their children ,it's it's a risk they have to.take So single parents can't leave their kids with anyone - against the rules, and if they have a maintenance issue in the home e.g. a leak then they just have to put up with it whereas people without children or couples are able to fix the problem. No discrimination there then.

I love my children too much to take them shopping. They are old enough to leave home so I’m lucky, but I see whole families out shopping and wonder why. I just think idiots. Single parents I understand, but the rest are just plain entitled to think they can.

I think the rights of people who want to shop, without having to wait for extra time in the queue, because the person in front have increased the numbers in the stores, due to bringing their children or to shop, takes president.

Also having shoppers feeling more confident that families don’t take up the whole isle, increasing the breaking of social distancing advice, takes precedence.

Having stores being able to continue staying open, is unlikely to happen, if the but I’ve got a good excuse for my child being permitted crowd get their way.

I need paint and paste in order to decorate my kitchen. Since I can’t go to B&Q, even though I’ve a trade card, I’ll order online. Because I don’t believe I should be able to whine at B&Q and other stores until I get my way. I think people’s lives are worthy more than that and I don’t want to put extra pressure on the already stressed staff.

So single parents can't leave their kids with anyone - against the rules, and if they have a maintenance issue in the home e.g. a leak then they just have to put up with it whereas people without children or couples are able to fix the problem. No discrimination there then.

You can order items to fix the leak through click and collect. B&Q bring it out to your car. Other hardware places are doing similar.

Why would a child need to be in B&Q?

Though when I was a kid it was a day out 🤣. I never take my kids in there, they refuse to go in and would rather stay in the car or at home.

Kids shouldn’t be in supermarkets either unless they really have to be (single parents can’t really leave them at home).

I love my children too much to take them shopping

So that’s my problem. I don’t love my children enough.

@FraterculaArctica try reins. A 6 year old who just cannot be made to understand that they must at times walk beside you is a great danger to themselves and now, potentially to others. Very unusual at that age, how do they manage at school?

YABU. There’s no need for children to be in B&Q and to be honest I think they should be banned from such a dangerous shop full stop in the first place.