Overzealous security guards?

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

So, I don’t know if I’m being unreasonable because I’m tired...but we went to Chessington today. Me, DP and DP's daughter were queueing fit a ride that my DCs (aged 11 and 8) didn’t want to go on so they were just waiting near the entrance IN MY SIGHT. Anyway, at one point I looked over and 2 security guards were talking to DCs. Apparently another visitor had expressed concern to a member of staff so security had come over to check it out. The security guards expressed surprise that the boys were as old as they were because they’re so tiny (they are both very short for their age) But I said I completely trusted them to stay where I told them to. Anyway security said I couldn’t leave them so I left DP and DSS to go on the ride and I waited with DCs. Then the security guard came over again and told me he had to give me a ‘warning’...though what the consequences were I don’t know.

AIBU to think I know my children and know if I can trust them?

Yabu, its their job.

They saw two, seemingly, young kids on their own.

You would be complaining if they were too young and nobody said anything when they saw them in the queue.

Do they have any rules about children needing to be supervised by an adult? I mean presumably 11 year olds would be old enough to go round in a group their own age but maybe there's a rule that 8 year olds have to be with an adult. If not then yanbu.

It's not about trusting them to stay exactly where you put them, what if someone comes along, sees them on their own and takes them!

They do sound far too young to be left alone in a public place like that, what if something happened whilst you were on the ride and no one knew where the parents were?

terms and conditions here referring to under 12s
"...whilst on site must remain under the control or supervision of an adult at all times. Merlin reserves the right, in its absolute discretion to change the age restrictions referred to in this condition, if any particular circumstances so require in the interests of safety and security.For the attention of parents and guardians:please do not leave your child unattended when experiencing our rides as we are unable to look after them whilst you do this."

So would you want them to not give a shit about kids standing around unsupervised? How the feck do they know you trust your kids to hang around at a theme park without you?

Kudos for shoehorning in that you have teeny tiny children though

Is this real? If so, your kids, your responsibilities

You clearly weren’t paying enough attention as members of the pubic were able to watch your kids without you noticing and liaise with security. If you didn’t notice a Good Samaritan staring at your kids, would you notice someone with bad intentions? Who would be less brazen as they attempt to cover their tracks and blend in?

You sound like one of those people who expect staff to randomly babysit and entertain your kids. Why are you even leaving them unattended to watch a ride? Worst justification ever

You're meant to be with your kids. Can't just leave them hanging around while you go on the rides!

Oh wait, going on a ride is even worse. You literally wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on them at all

YABU

You would be complaining if they were too young and nobody said anything when they saw them in the queue

Why?
It is Chessington I doubt that somebody is going to abscond with an 11 year old and 8 year old and get them to the entrance before they kicked to a fuss.
I am sure dc have been on a school trip to Chessington where they went around in groups in year 6 as it isn’t far.

What was the warning for and what did it
mean in the grand scheme of things.

Dd was riding the tubes, trains and buses to school and back on her own when she was 10 years old I think not being allowed to wait at the entrance to a ride in full view of your mother when you are 11 is a bit over kill

There is no way you can supervise your children while on a ride. What would you do if you were on the ride and saw them walking off with a stranger? There were 2 adults, common sense says one of you takes the other two children to go on a ride they want to go on surely?

YANBU for thinking that you know your children and can trust them.

YAB beyond U for leaving two under twelves who look young for their age to stand on their own and expect nobody to question who was supposed to be looking after them. If you were getting on the ride, they wouldn’t have been in your sight at all times. What if something happened to one of them? Would it be ok if the security guard said ‘oh yes, I was told by a member of the public that they were standing on their own but I didn’t bother to do anything about it because I thought that they must have a parent nearby’?

full view of your mother

You just have to laugh

YABU for picking the date/week that you went. The sheeple flocked to the theme parks on sparrow's fart like as if queuing up for the next iPhone. It's cold, it's dreary, utterly crowded. You would have been lucky to get onto 3 rides before the day was over. Not a nice experience.

As for the rest of us on here, just wait it out. Human traffic will peter out back to normal.

Literally doing their job. I’d be a little embarrassed maybe, but young kids on their own in a place like that could be at risk of all sorts. Good for them for being thorough.

@SmidgenofaPigeon

So would you want them to not give a shit about kids standing around unsupervised? How the feck do they know you trust your kids to hang around at a theme park without you?

Kudos for shoehorning in that you have teeny tiny children though

I'm not really sure why I get kudos for this. My kids are tiny...DS1 bought a hoodie today at Chessington aged 3-4 years and it fits him...with room to spare. He's normally in age 6 clothes and keeps asking me when he'll start growing

Ok so regulations say aged 12 so I take that on the chin. But DS1 is very, very sensible and I absolutely believe he'd never go off with a stranger it let his brother go with anyone. Maybe I'm naive, but I was allowed to roam the village I lived in unsupervised from about age 7 onwards.

Was your village a theme park with masses of daily footfall then? Must have been an interesting place to grow up.

If the 11 year old is wearing age 3-4 hoodies the security guards probably thought he was...well, 3-4!

But DS1 is very, very sensible and I absolutely believe he'd never go off with a stranger it let his brother go with anyone

There’s really no ‘but’. Your kids are tiny. What did you realistically expect a security guard to do?

Sorry- your ELEVEN year old wears a 3-4?

If he has a growth abnormality that makes him resemble a nursery-aged child then you really can’t blame the security guard for checking in.

You never know how your children will react until they’re actually in the situation, ie confronted by a weirdo, though. If they’re that tiny, presumably they could be carried out by an average sized man that could pretend to be their father

Pretty sure children under 12/13 are not allowed to be unattended.

...but there are lions and tigers at Chessington!

A 11 year old in a 3/4 year hoody? Did you mean the 8 year old?