Children running around restaurant WWYD?

[AutisticLegoLover]

Please could you tell me what you'd do in this situation:

In a hotel restaurant at breakfast there were two young children about age 4 running around and screeching. It wasn't clear where the parents/adults were that they were with. They were eating while running in front of guests who were carrying hot drinks and food from the breakfast buffet and going up to other tables and carrying on their screeching.

What would you do in this situation?

I think you did right thing speaking to staff. It really sound’s inappropriate and a safety risk not just a difference in parenting styles.
I’d guess all the other guests felt same but don’t say anything.
I’d go to hotel breakfast and try to ignore them.
Your conscience is now clear and if they are scalded then you know you tried.

Another thread about other people's badly behaved children?

He didn't HAVE TO!

CoffeeCantata - I wasn't suggesting anything but, rather commenting that a grown man intentionally hurting/embarrassing a child is not ok.

If i had witnessed this, then myself or husband would have made sure that man would not be doing that again.

On another note - i absolutely hate it when kids are running around and imposing themselves on other people.

Exactly. I see it a lot in both France & Germany, and people are usually much stricter & more straightforward with bad behaviour in children in those countries.

And neglectful parents are ashamed, rather than aggressive as in @AutisticLegoLover 's experience.

How horrible that he did this.

How horrible that children were running around in a cinema @Bellaboo01

Maybe if they had behaved appropriately, they would not have fallen over

Maybe if they had not disturbed all the other members of the audience, they would not have fallen over

Maybe if they had been quiet, or their parent taken them out until they were quiet, they would not have fallen over

It is really not a lot to ask that all members of a cinema audience, for a film for adults (it's not a children's film), remain quiet & still, so that everyone can watch & hear the film.

Why should we tolerate such inappropriate behaviour from children?

Bellaboo01 · Today 13:26

No problem - and I'm sorry if my post came over as accusatory!

I was really asking people generally what they thought would be a good approach to this issue. Obviously tripping up a child is at one end of a spectrum (and not a serious suggestion, I hope) and excusing and trivialising bad behaviour is at the other.

I wish everyone (parents, restaurants, cinemas etc etc) all had the will to tackle it together because what might be seen as cute (by dumb, lazy parents) at 4 or 5 will be a serious issue ten years later for them and society.

I agree with the poster who is tired of hearing that 'this country hates children'. It doesn't hates well-behaved children (and it probably only hates the parents of feral children) and if people are going to let your children run amok then they need to suck up the fact that others will intervene.

But I'm not hopeful for any consensus on this!

Sorry for awful typos and grammar soup in my last post...

Clearly he did

I had this this week, three kids (siblings similar ages), as we walked in one was just screaming making a noise for no reason, parents sat there and were saying nothing. Kid carried on all the time, staff sat everyone else up the other end of the (thankfully long) restaurant.

After about half an hour the kids were just running rings around the floor layout screaming for the fun of it, parents still sat there and doing nothing. Then they started climbing over the empty tables and over the backs on the chairs (think padded sofa type long chairs between booths).

Staff repeatedly asked the children to come off as they were set up for guests and they were messing everything up, children replied “no” or ignored them. Kids were about 18 months to 3.

The Dad just kept hassling staff for freebies I felt so sorry for the staff, they were helpless as parents didn’t do a thing except look mean and dispirited.

It was a great meal, but makes me sad and less likely to want to go out when you see this, plus I really feel for the staff.

I agrée, better behaved children would make everyone more tolerant and welcoming.

As above we had this, admittedly I could see the staff were trying to ask the parents which was a waste of time. Kids looked immaculate and matching outfits, hair curled and smart, just everything else was negative.
if we had been sat nearby I would have asked to move or left. As we were up the other end we could get on, when it started to affect us we were nearly leaving.

We have kids and I would have just walked out if I felt behaviour was bad, but if half way through eating I would have asked the staff, also as a health and safety issue for them.

Kids (and adults), are not perfect, but would be a great start for everyone to try and be considerate.

I have 3 DC, aged between 20 months and 6. I cannot stand eating out with them! I find it so embarrassing and I get anxious about it, as no matter what I take to keep them entertained, it’s just never enough!

The two older ones recently attempted to do what you’re describing whilst we were away with my MIL; I was telling them to sit back down as it was dangerous and there were people walking around with hot food and drinks, and that someone could get hurt. And also that nobody wanted children running about whist they were trying to eat their breakfast! My partner was also saying the same - then I overheard MIL speaking to him over by the buffet saying that they were just being children, playing it down and basically insinuating that we should chill out. I was livid - it’s not ok.

Obviously in your situation you couldn’t even see the parents, so I would’ve spoken to staff. Kids can be kids in an appropriate setting, but we need to try and educate them that in certain settings, they need to behave for health, safety and sanity reasons ☺️

I’m torn as to whether I should take my children out more often to get them used to these settings, or keep them home until they are a bit older and can understand a bit more, that acting feral is not ok 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ My 6yo would be fine on his own, but altogether they’re a pain in my butt 😅

I'd have ignored it and got on with my day. And lived a happier life because of it.

This is the thing: it's exactly the same people who don't want to tell their children off or for others to set boundaries who complain if something goes tits up because they are out of control. It's all about entitlement. Their children will also grow up to be entitled fuckers.

This is very true. I have a son who had boundless energy as a child. I would have to exercise him a lot before taking him to anywhere where he had to sit around for a while, like the cinema or a restaurant. If I did that he would behave perfectly. It's not rocket science.

Whhhaaatt?! OP that’s terrible & completely unprofessional behaviour from the staff. I’d kick up a massive fuss with management. They pointed you out potentially putting your safety at risk & they allowed the children to basically continue at a risk to themselves & others.

The staff should have spoken to the women & told her if she could not keep her children from running around in an unsuitable place & disturbing other guests then they will be removed from the hotel.

kids are kids but the dining area is not a playground & they do not have the right to disturb everyone else having breakfast. Parents need to take action. I’d be so embarrassed of that was my kid

I would also write a poor review on Trip Advisor. It's appalling that they treated you as if you were the problem. Other potential guests should be aware of their attitude. I wouldn't go to a hotel like that if I'd read your review.

I'm afraid i would have spoken directly to the litte brats and told them in no uncertain terms to go sit down with their family and stop running around as this isn't a flipping playground! I've done that before and i'd do it again i give zero crapola whether people think its acceptable to tell off others peoples kids or not, if you won't parent/supervise your sprogs then i will and i have no issue informing their parents of such either. Think in this country we have become too scared to open our mouths and speak up when we see things going on that are not right.

Some of you need to lie down in a darkened room or get some help for your stress levels because it can't be good for you to get so het up about some kids behaving badly.

Trip advisor reviews, written complaints, telling other people's kids off and generally kicking off...

How can you even be arsed?

This exactly.

I hate the term "Karen" but I can see why the younger generation use it about us given some of the attitudes on here. Just live and let live.

Why should other people's children ruin the enjoyment for everyone else ?
Christ , work in a school and see what this sloppy attitude to parenting results in
It's hell

It’s hard to ignore though if you can see an accident waiting to happen.
If a child is about to touch hot pan on a buffet, or run into people carrying hot tea and be burned instinct is to say something.
It’s hard to settle when you know what’s likely to happen. I think I have a general mum instinct even though mine isn’t small.

@Ceeceele and @LemonPeonies - can we get some peace and love on the thread please?

Why should other people's children ruin the enjoyment for everyone else?

Exactly. THere's a difference between children's normal high spirits which good parents enjoy but ensure that the DC don't become intrusive; there's a difference between that, and allowing your DC to dominate a shared public space, be it a restaurant or a swimming pool.

@rainbowboymama I'd suggest not taking them out to restaurants for now. As you say - running around is really dangerous, for them and for the staff. I've heard horror stories about permanent burns and disfigurements. It's just not worth it if they can't be corralled into a seat yet.