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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be disgusted by parents and children at holiday parks?

180 replies

ToffeePennie · 04/04/2026 21:06

I am so disgusted by Utterly gross behaviour of young children and their parents on holiday parks.
We’ve been at our favourite campsite since Friday night and so far I’ve been punched and smacked by numerous little kids, this is clearly kids trying to push past in queues or when waiting for entertainment etc to start and it’s not eagerness, it’s a massive case of “I’m entitled to be first!”
We were sat towards some stairs at a table and chairs, clearly the “space” is designated for the table. Sadly, dozens of kids have climbed the stairs, stuffed themselves in a tiny gap and literally kicked/punched my kids to try and get up/down the stairs. I ended up moving my seat to cover the gap and got kicked repeatedly by small children trying to squeeze into a gap that wasn’t there.
A man then saw his daughter pick up a lolly off the floor and put it in her mouth. Instead of throwing it in the bin 2 paces behind him, he threw it back onto the floor. When I told him, he said “well you throw it away then” how vile and disgusting this man is I cannot tell you. I literally wanted to punch him. (I did put the gross lolly in the bin, because the staff shouldn’t have to clean that up)
why can parents not keep an eye on their kids, apologise when they hurt someone, check they know where their kids are and ensure they aren’t engaging in gross behaviours? I have noticed it’s gotten so much worse since Covid, it seems people are stuck in their own bubble and don’t care about anyone or anything else.
It’s so vile the amount of selfish and entitled behaviour I have seen makes me so sad.

OP posts:
socialdilemmawhattodo · 04/04/2026 23:26

sweeneytoddsrazor · 04/04/2026 21:44

I work in a supermarket and we occasionally have had customers be sick and wander off leaving it. We do have cleaners but body fluids are the responsibility of the first aider to clear up, whether or not first aid has been given.

Interested to know what rate 1st aider is on, to be the only one to deal with that delight?

Ooihuko · 04/04/2026 23:27

ToffeePennie · 04/04/2026 21:51

Well considering I put the lolly in the bin and didn’t expect staff to do it. Considering I wasn’t the one vaping in an entertainments building and shouting at security when politely told to stop.
Considering I felt like it and didn’t action it, I would say it’s a much higher plain that I exist on. But I can see you are trying to goad me for a response, so I will refrain from any further.

Show quote history

Well I'd hate the environment too. It sounds awful. But i don't think I'd want to hit someone. I'd struggle with people who have a violent attitude as well.

Hohumitsreallyallthereis · 04/04/2026 23:27

It happens everywhere. We were at a museum recently in the kids exhibit which has lots of interactive experiences. My two were lining up with kids trying to shove them out of the way. I ended up telling one particularly physical kid off. Generally I expect my kids to stick up for themselves but he was a little thug. Parents who don’t parent and don’t want to know.

Youshouldbestrongerthanme · 04/04/2026 23:32

Yet another reason I'm glad I'm no longer teaching - behaviour is just getting worse and worse.

Twooclockrock · 04/04/2026 23:33

Bluehousewithbluewindows · 04/04/2026 23:01

Where was this 🤣 was it Alton towers?

Show quote history

It was not.. 😂Alton Towers would be a Black Tie Country club event compared to where we were today😂

EwwPeople · 04/04/2026 23:33

YANBU , as that IS awful behaviour.

However , I’ve been to plenty of holiday parks and AI holidays and I’ve never seen such behaviours.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 04/04/2026 23:45

socialdilemmawhattodo · 04/04/2026 23:26

Interested to know what rate 1st aider is on, to be the only one to deal with that delight?

Show quote history

£10 a month

GreenCaterpillarOnALeaf · 04/04/2026 23:48

To be fair when my dad used to take us away in the caravan in the early 2000s we had similar issues. I was small for my age and specky so I was always getting battered around. My parents have always been the type to tell off other people’s kids, and I think in these environments you definitely have to be that parent. It has definitely gotten worse, but it’s always been there.

Paveparadiseputupaparkinglot · 04/04/2026 23:56

Please tell us where you are so we can avoid as it sounds like hell!

Darkcarpark · 05/04/2026 00:00

Twooclockrock · 04/04/2026 22:49

We have just been to a major theme park today and the queue to get in was an eye opener.
Men with turkey teeth and multiple tattoos shouting at the staff, teenagers being arrested at the gates, single lone men with trousers pulled down so you can see their pants entering the park carrying plastic bags, groups of young teens with mini skirts and fake caterpillar eyebrows and a ton of fake tan, there was a discarded empty bottle of vodka on the queue floor, people with one tooth, no teeth or gold teeth arguring with each other. One very large man had a gold chain and gold bracelet so large Mr T would be jealous...
It was quite a sight to behold...

Travellers have meet ups in uk theme parks on the Easter holidays. It certainly is a sight to behold!

Newswatch · 05/04/2026 00:02

Another reason why i dont have or want kids, also i book adult only holidays.

PurpleNightingale · 05/04/2026 00:10

sweeneytoddsrazor · 04/04/2026 21:44

I work in a supermarket and we occasionally have had customers be sick and wander off leaving it. We do have cleaners but body fluids are the responsibility of the first aider to clear up, whether or not first aid has been given.

That's awful. My husband was sick on a day out this week (migraine led to nausea and he only just made it outside to be sick on the path) and we stayed with the sick until a member of staff arrived with the soapy water to make sure noone stood in it. (We did offer to clean it but they insisted they would). I can't imagine just leaving it there! I agree some basic considerations have disappeared from our society. Our cafe lunch yesterday was unpleasant listening to the loud kids videos playing on someones phone at the next table.

80smonster · 05/04/2026 00:55

Have you tried not going to holiday camps? i refuse to go to anywhere populated by total povvos. I save myself the mock indignation, I’m already certain some people are unbearable. Same for super shitty cheapo package holidays, they just attract awful people (and their kids).

Kimura · 05/04/2026 01:27

A generation of shitty parents raised a generation of useless kids who are now even shittier, more useless parents to their own offspring and it'll get worse as each new generation breeds.

The only way to avoid them on holiday is to go to places where you can't get a Full English and a pint of Fosters for breakfast.

Calliopespa · 05/04/2026 02:04

This thread is comedy gold!😂

Tamtim · 05/04/2026 02:09

ToffeePennie · 04/04/2026 21:06

I am so disgusted by Utterly gross behaviour of young children and their parents on holiday parks.
We’ve been at our favourite campsite since Friday night and so far I’ve been punched and smacked by numerous little kids, this is clearly kids trying to push past in queues or when waiting for entertainment etc to start and it’s not eagerness, it’s a massive case of “I’m entitled to be first!”
We were sat towards some stairs at a table and chairs, clearly the “space” is designated for the table. Sadly, dozens of kids have climbed the stairs, stuffed themselves in a tiny gap and literally kicked/punched my kids to try and get up/down the stairs. I ended up moving my seat to cover the gap and got kicked repeatedly by small children trying to squeeze into a gap that wasn’t there.
A man then saw his daughter pick up a lolly off the floor and put it in her mouth. Instead of throwing it in the bin 2 paces behind him, he threw it back onto the floor. When I told him, he said “well you throw it away then” how vile and disgusting this man is I cannot tell you. I literally wanted to punch him. (I did put the gross lolly in the bin, because the staff shouldn’t have to clean that up)
why can parents not keep an eye on their kids, apologise when they hurt someone, check they know where their kids are and ensure they aren’t engaging in gross behaviours? I have noticed it’s gotten so much worse since Covid, it seems people are stuck in their own bubble and don’t care about anyone or anything else.
It’s so vile the amount of selfish and entitled behaviour I have seen makes me so sad.

I agree with you, some people are awful and they do not teach their children basic manners. And I agree that it’s become worse since Covid.

DBSFstupid · 05/04/2026 02:09

CrispySquid · 04/04/2026 21:47

Behaviour of some children and parents is awful at the moment. It used to be a tiny minority but now it’s a significant minority. No accountability or consequences. No sense of shame. It’s a crisis in schools, public transport, public spaces etc.

And why is that? The trend for liberal schooling and parenting and allowing the child to do what they like without disciplining them. This has been going on for the last couple of decades and the fruition of that is I'm having to work with these young adults that are entitled, do not take feedback in any form or learn from it and have no idea how to behave in the work place. I'm sick of it and I'm not the only one.
You reap what you sow.

Ilovelurchers · 05/04/2026 02:11

I trust you are reporting the reprated assaults you are suffering to the police?

I would also go home ommediately. You aren't obliged to stay somewhere you and your family are being regularly subjected to physical attack - I'm amazed that you have done so.

I am quite surprised to see someone dropping a stick on the floor as comment worthy, when you and your kids are being subjected to violence. I mean I don't love litter myself, but it's hardly on the same level.....

Ilovelurchers · 05/04/2026 02:12

Repeated, sorry.

PollyBell · 05/04/2026 02:50

Any where there is massive crowds with children and parents it is feral same reason soft play didnt happen for us and no I dont see what is enjoyable for anyone to subject people to this so if it is not working why stay?

LilyBunch25 · 05/04/2026 02:53

Because those parents are "bringing" their children up to be the same as them. That's your answer.

Ghht · 05/04/2026 03:31

Thetreeisdownnow · 04/04/2026 21:34

Yes, we were at a holiday park last week and a kid was badly sick right at the entrance to the playpark. Mum just stuck her into the shop and told dad that their daughter had “spewed everywhere” and they needed to go and just left. No attempts to clear it up or even tell staff and loads of the kids running in and out of the playpark stood in it.

This happened at an indoor trampoline park that I went to the other day. Left their kid cry
ing and spewing in the middle of the cafe part of it and then left. I had to go and get the manager to sort a proper clean up because they just wiped the sick (which seemed like mostly watery stuff, but quite a fair bit of it since I heard the splat on the floor before looking over. Sorry tmi) with some tissue and left! Mind you, there were 4 adults from the family crowded around the child…one of them could have alerted the staff themselves. There were people all around eating food and they all seemed to think brushing a bit of sick away with tissue would be fine where people eat!!

Parents aren’t exactly setting a good example!

Zanatdy · 05/04/2026 03:52

Unfortunately caravan / holiday parks you see some awful behaviour. Mine are young adults now, but we used to go a lot on long weekends when they were little. We used to tend to avoid the evenings after a while, as that’s when you’d see the worst of the behaviour. Parents getting plastered, leaving kids to do what they like. We used to go swimming, use the arcades but then did our own thing the rest of the time as I couldn’t stand how some parents let their kids do what they like.

ThatLemonBee · 05/04/2026 04:17

And that’s why I don’t holiday in the uk

Chigreenen · 05/04/2026 04:33

DBSFstupid · 05/04/2026 02:09

And why is that? The trend for liberal schooling and parenting and allowing the child to do what they like without disciplining them. This has been going on for the last couple of decades and the fruition of that is I'm having to work with these young adults that are entitled, do not take feedback in any form or learn from it and have no idea how to behave in the work place. I'm sick of it and I'm not the only one.
You reap what you sow.

Show quote history

My child was bullied at school. The school behaviour policies are all about helping the bully. Except they’re not called a bully, because that would be discrimination. And my child wasn’t ’the victim’ because that’s not allowed either. The school couldn’t give any meaningful consequences, they just had a chat with the bully, who kept beating up their classmates.

Children who bully need to be suspended for a few days. If it happens more than a free times the need to be removed from the school permanently. These are the sort of consequences children understand. Cosy chats with the head do not work.

I live in Scotland and you’d pretty much have to murder someone to get a prison sentence if you’re under 25. So anyone under 25 can do what they like. An under 25 got away with raping someone recently. No prison time. Where’s the deterrent? Apparently kicking kids out of school or putting them in prison could give rise to a lifetime of prison for the perpetrator. I DON’T CARE. Build more prisons! Far better for society than having endless victims of crimes and bullying.