Children on train seats!

[gg45]

It drives me mad when I see children over c6 yrs old not offering train seats to adults (esp older adults) standing in aisles on commuter trains (I have no problem with longer journeys when people have booked seats- but several commuter options you can't). When I was brought up we were expected to stand for elders. What is wrong with the world? AIBU??

As the adult has paid a full fare and a child half fare the adult should get the seat. The child could sit on the parents lap or if 2 DC share a seat.

Well, tough!

I find 60 year olds demanding seats from kids annoying.

Fortunately, most modern parenting doesn't focus on teaching children they just aren't as important as adults.

Never seen a child fall on a train or tube.

I agree. Children should either sit on parents laps, squish into other seats with siblings or give up their seats on crowded trains. It's old fashioned but, in my opinion, it is the polite and well-mannered thing to do. But I will definitely be in the minority these days.

What about older people who have free or cheaper tickets?

@MariaVT65
And when was the last time you witnessed that?

Completely agree, OP.
Aside from the fact a young child either travels free or at a significant discount, a child of that age will be travelling with a parent. So if the parent insists on their child being seated then they should either give up their own seat or have the child on their lap. Obvs if there are multiple children per adult it's a little different but I'd still expect a child (with a massively lower centre of gravity and therefore less likely to fall on a moving train/bus than an adult) to stand rather than an adult.
We didn't have a car when I was a small child and so we travelled everywhere by bus/train/tube. My mum always made me give up my seat for adults; that was the norm and I don't know when it changed.

I’d say the opposite, I always offer my seat if the train/bus/tram is full and someone with a child gets on! I’d say in terms of seat priority it’d be: disabled people (regardless of age), elderly people, pregnant people, able bodied kids, then able bodied adults last…”respect your elders” is such a boomer concept - the elders of people born in the 40s/50s/60s had been through two wars, they deserved a hell of a lot of respect for that…but “elders” now? Why are they any more special or more deserving of preferential treatment than anyone else?!

Probably because their parents have ensured they have a seat.

What the hell? Why should a 6 year old stand for an adult? I always stand for kids.

Sorry OP but I think you’ve lost the plot. Children are human beings too and more than deserving of a seat. It’s first come first served, I don’t understand this thought process that children need to be automatically respectful of adults that show them zilch respect in return.

I would ask mine to move or double up on seats by sitting on knees etc if an elderly person, disabled or pregnant woman got on etc. But for any adult simply because they’re 20/30 years older than my child. No I would I wouldn’t make them move.

And what have you done, that is so worthy that you feel you have the right to demand the respect of a 6 year old who you don't know and you are a complete stranger to? Anything else you want a six year old to give you that is rightfully their's?

When society realised that children are at greater risk of being hurt on public transport than able bodied adults.

Yeah & on a very regular basis, weekly I'd say. Not necessarily the same person, but bloody hell im fed up of the constant threads about this. Just to get a nice but if frothing.

I am more than shocked that any adult can possibly think that any child should stand ip for any adult, nevermind the age or the physical condition.
Adults should stand up for others: elderly, disabled, broken limbs, pregnant and CHILDREN!

Spot on @Fallingthroughclouds

I think @Loulou599 is delusional 🙄

This age DH and I often gave up our seat instead - not now they are teens - but this age because we don't drive and were often walking miles after the train/bus journey and them being over tried made everything harder for us - so yes it was better and easier for everyone if they sat.

Did encounter a few odd balls over many years who got upset by this - but then I've had many arguments over train seats over the years often with people insisting they had booked seats we had proof we'd booked then finally finding out they'd booked other trains or if different carriages - and those have been much more common.

I think we have explained our reasoning once or twice - usually when adults were clearly upsetting our kids - sometimes sat opposite table and constantly telling them to get up - we say have x miles to walk with cases and kids are too big for us to carry - they usually shut up then.

Did once have to perfectly health adults kick our youngest of our booked seats - the train was packed and they'd been only one we could get near and we'd been push further back near bags and other older child - they really upset our kids really had a go at them - I wanted to have words but train was packed kids upset and DH said leave it - but I think that was plain bullying not "teaching respect".

Agree with this and then all able bodied (of any age) should offer up their seats.

But I am not asking my children (whose seats I have booked and paid for) to shift for any fit and healthy adult who is perfectly capable of standing.

Sorry, let's go back to the days of molly coddling older people, ensuring they can shove whoever they like out of the way, take seats from vulnerable people and be rude to whoever they want just cos they're old.

Where did i say i have ever demaneded a seat, but i do judge a parent that allows a child to sit when adults that may need the seat more than they do.
I am insulin dependent diabetic and hot trains make my blood sugar low , thankfully i get offfered seats on a regular basis without asking, i never ask for a seat in the first place.
I havent taught my dc that adults are more important than they are. I taught them manners from a young age so now they are grown up thankfully they are not entitled adults.

Sorry to the older generation that their parents didn't prioritise their safety over showing 'respect'. Such a shame.

Fortunately the people who believe children should stand on public transport, usually aren't the ones who actually get to make that decision.

They are not less steady on their feet

Sitting in a seat isn't hogging it, you have no right to it. Is everyone else hogging their seats or just these children you belittle. You are incredibly disrespectful.

No i see plenty of children standing , they dont fall over. I use train and tube on a very weekly basis.

I don't care if you judge me. I do care if my child is safe, and fortunately I get to make the decision, not you.

I would give up my seat for someone who needed it more and keep DS sitting down, therefore leading my example.