Page 2 | Kids should stand on public transport?

Loulou599 · 2023-08-10T15:26:43+00:00

I was on a crowded 1.5 hour train where half of the passengers were standing. There were 3 kids ( not together, each with an adult) who were sitting in a seat, I would guess they were all roughly the same age, around 6 years old. I thought that kids that age should either stand or sit on their parents lap (I know that's not the most comfortable but standing for an hour and a half isn't either). What do you think? I just thought it was messed up that these kids were chilling in seats while you had a lot of people in their 50s/60s (not old, not visibly in discomfort) standing, but then I wondered whether it's harder for a child to stand at that age (I don't have kids).

Sunshineclouds11 · 10/08/2023 16:46

Loulou599 · 10/08/2023 16:36

@Sunshineclouds11
When did you last catch a train? Book a seat? 😄 That's not how it works on regional trains

Last week 😅

If you can't/don't want to book, first come first served

ladeluge · 10/08/2023 16:46

Such precious children. We were given a clip on the ear if we didn't immediately give our seat to an adult standing.

No wonder some kids are such raving shrieking screaming monsters. They are indulged. Two younger kids could share a seat, and there are many ways around it, but the parents won't disturb their precious kids, because they are ENTITLED to their seat.

The foot stomping demanding horrors of the future are in the making, all because parents will not parent.

Sunshineclouds11 · 10/08/2023 16:48

ladeluge · 10/08/2023 16:46

Such precious children. We were given a clip on the ear if we didn't immediately give our seat to an adult standing.

No wonder some kids are such raving shrieking screaming monsters. They are indulged. Two younger kids could share a seat, and there are many ways around it, but the parents won't disturb their precious kids, because they are ENTITLED to their seat.

The foot stomping demanding horrors of the future are in the making, all because parents will not parent.

😂😂 good grief you sound fun

Everydayimhuffling · 10/08/2023 16:49

My DC are younger than this, but judging from the 4 year old I would really struggle to have a 6 year old on my lap for a train journey! Even with the 4 year old I could only do about 3 stops. Kids are heavy!

10HailMarys · 10/08/2023 16:49

Robinbuildsbears · 10/08/2023 16:38

First come, first served. Book a seat if you need one.

You can’t book a seat on local trains. They’re not like intercity services.

I personally would put a small child on my lap in this situation or make them stand, but it’s not compulsory and I wouldn’t expect anyone to make their child get up for me, only for someone who was elderly or disabled.

What does really piss me off is when a parent and child have seats on a busy train where people are standing, and the child then spends most of the journey getting up, standing on the seat, rolling about on the floor, running up and down etc and basically actually uses their seat for about five minutes out of an hour - I see that happening a lot on some journeys. If your kid can’t sit on their arse for more than two minutes, don’t waste a seat of them that someone else could use.

AliceMcK · 10/08/2023 16:50

For a short journey I would happily put my 6yo on my lap so someone elderly, pregnant or with clear disability to sit down. Long journeys no, I have an invisible disability and would not be able to manage my dd for more than 5-10mins. My 11yo, again for a short distance I’d expect her to give her seat up for the same reason but only if she was right next to me, she has a cardio health condition that could effect her, but to an outsider she looks fit an healthy. Her knew high school expect children to give up seats, I’m happy for this but the school know of her condition so if she’s feeling she can’t give up a seat she won’t get into trouble. My 9yo probably no, unless she could squeeze next to me, she can fall over thin air and no balance or coordination. I’d happily squeeze the 4 of us into 2/3 seats as long as it was for a short journey. Id more likely give up my seat in most instances than my children give up seats, I’m old and far more practise on public transport and able react far quicker than my children

I would absolutely NOT give up a seat for someone who looks visibly fit an able bodied ( ironic given my invisible disability I know), but I’d not expect anyone to look at me and offer me a seat. Id also not expect my children to move if we were in prepaid seats.

WhatNoRaisins · 10/08/2023 16:51

I wouldn't be able to manage a 6 year old on my lap for long, they aren't toddlers. Don't get why you'd want someone smaller and less able to balance to stand for you.

bimbodoc · 10/08/2023 16:51

I always thought that a child's fare was because they would stand or sit on a lap if seat was needed by someone playing full fare or a pensioner.

Hillarious · 10/08/2023 16:51

Sunshineclouds11 · 10/08/2023 16:48

😂😂 good grief you sound fun

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@ladeluge is of the same generation as me. We were always made to stand on buses if an adult needed a seat.

Mycatsgoldtooth · 10/08/2023 16:52

A fat woman fell on my child on a bus when he was standing and the bus breaker. He got hurt as he’s quite slight. I never let my children stand now and always book and pay for seats if we go on a train. The entitlement of people who think children should be standing for adults. The elderly, I’d rather give up my seat.

SomewhereWithSomeone · 10/08/2023 16:53

Such precious children. We were given a clip on the ear if we didn't immediately give our seat to an adult standing.

No wonder some kids are such raving shrieking screaming monsters. They are indulged. Two younger kids could share a seat, and there are many ways around it, but the parents won't disturb their precious kids, because they are ENTITLED to their seat.

The foot stomping demanding horrors of the future are in the making, all because parents will not parent.

Yeah, let’s go back to the days where we smack our kids. 🙄

I find most kids/teens to be very polite to older people. Maybe because I don’t insist on thinking bad of them.

tattygrl · 10/08/2023 16:53

When I was a child my mum or dad would always insist I sat down instead of them if there was a seat. I do the same for children in my care now. If a person came along who was in greater need, it's my responsibility as the adult in charge to free the seat for them, if I deem it safe for the children in my care to stand.

Susuwatariandkodama · 10/08/2023 16:55

No.
Children get tired very quickly and don’t have the same balance as adults, some children also have hidden disabilities.
My children could not have stood on a train at that age, especially my youngest due to him having dyspraxia, there’s also several reasons as to why a parent wouldn’t have their children on their lap, I wouldn’t have been able to cope with my child on my lap, especially as I have two, would you have expected one on each knee? When they were young they shared a seat or I stood so they could sit, it’s much safer for them that way.

Original poster

Loulou599 · 10/08/2023 16:56

@Sunshineclouds11
You can reserve seats on your regional train system? I've only ever been able to do that on cross country trains eg London to Newcastle etc

OP posts:

CandleWick4 · 10/08/2023 16:57

Loulou599 · 10/08/2023 16:35

Hmmm thinking about it some more actually I don't expect them to stand as its true I guess it would be hard for them to keep their balance. But I expect them to sit on their parents lap I think

I can’t understand this attitude at all. Why do people see children as some sort of second class citizen? If I’ve paid for seats for my children then they are sitting in them and have as much right as anyone else to. I’m sorry but there is no way I’d make a long train journey with my 9 year old sitting on my knee if I’ve paid for her seat.

Original poster

Loulou599 · 10/08/2023 16:58

@bimbodoc
That's a good point actually re cheaper fares

OP posts:

Invisimamma · 10/08/2023 16:59

Small children (under 5) should go on the adult's knee, under 12s I feel should get the seat. But I'd stand myself and let other passengers sit down.

CandleWick4 · 10/08/2023 16:59

Goes without saying - there are exceptions (elderly/disabled/pregnant woman) but I’m not making my children move for an able bodied adult.

HelpMeGetThrough · 10/08/2023 17:06

What do you think?

No, they should not.

Whoever gets the seat first has the right to stay in it and shouldn't be expected to move. Nobody else trumps them.

AchyBreakyCold · 10/08/2023 17:06

my kids always stood for adults (either moving to my lap or standing themselves). They'll still stand today if someone looks like they need a seat. They are in their 20s now and I do think you rarely see children standing for adults anymore.

eddiemairswife · 10/08/2023 17:08

I grew up in London and used the bus to get to school from the age of five, on my own like many others. It was understood that children were expected to give up seats for adults. Perhaps we had better balance than today's children; you just learned to cling on when the bus went round a corner or was braking. Sometimes a stranger (HORROR!) would offer a lap to sit on.

PetersSpecialCheese · 10/08/2023 17:08

CandleWick4 · 10/08/2023 16:59

Goes without saying - there are exceptions (elderly/disabled/pregnant woman) but I’m not making my children move for an able bodied adult.

Same.

Seats should be offered to elderly/disabled/pregnant women, but I don't think able bodied adults are more entitled to a seat than a 6 year old.

Robinbuildsbears · 10/08/2023 17:11

eddiemairswife · 10/08/2023 17:08

I grew up in London and used the bus to get to school from the age of five, on my own like many others. It was understood that children were expected to give up seats for adults. Perhaps we had better balance than today's children; you just learned to cling on when the bus went round a corner or was braking. Sometimes a stranger (HORROR!) would offer a lap to sit on.

Can't tell if that (HORROR!) is meant to be sarcasm. Definitely don't think it's a good idea to get children doing that again.

gogomoto · 10/08/2023 17:12

Depends if they had reservations for one ... whenever I travelled with my kids I always reserved seats with a table, my eldest is autistic but you can't tell looking at her! Her balance is affected as she also has dyspraxia.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 10/08/2023 17:12

Such precious children. We were given a clip on the ear if we didn't immediately give our seat to an adult standing.

But why?! Why on earth would an able-bodied 30, 40 or 50 year-old need or deserve the seat more than a child? It's not because the child is 'precious', it's that there is literally no logical reason for it whatsoever! I'm 51. It wouldn't remotely occur to me that a child should give up their seat for me on a train. First come, first served!