Adults at petting zoos/farms/kids days out

[ExtraHotDoubleShot]

Has anyone else noticed a massive uptick in grown adults (many in late teens and 20s) going on days out aimed at kids/young families? I’m finding it increasingly irritating - small children having to queue behind grown adults to stroke rabbits or see tanks of fish.

(Exception where there is clearly a disability at play)

Oh well, each to their own.
However, you seem to disagree with that! 😁

Nuclear?
Such hyperbole.

We're all different, part of life's rich tapestry.

Oh this is hilarious!

I might have guessed you would also not get Lego and I bet the OP is the same.

FWIW, DH(69) and I(64) are both Lego fans. We mostly buy online but do go in a Lego shop when we see one. I very much doubt you would see any difference in the way we dress or communicate from any other 60- somethings you encounter. And if you think that is strange then you haven't been paying much attention to the Lego offerings for adults, many of which are targeted at 18+ and cost £££s.

Oh and we were Lego fans long before COVID.

If you think it's childish just try having a go at one of the bigger more complex sets one day.

I'm hoping to go cow cuddling with my adult DD sometime soon. It's adults only though, is that suitable OP?

I think that's brilliant! 😁

Petting zoos are quite clearly marketed for children and families. It’s a safe way for young kids to explore and find out about animals.

Adults, if they take an interest in animals, have a number of avenues that are not available to young children, such as:

• owning their own farm animals, pets and exotic animals
• volunteering at shelters or farms
• adult/older child experiences such as horse riding and llama walks.
• Paid work/professional job working with animals

Why there’s quite so many offended posters on here claiming that it’s perfectly normal for grown adults to be petting rabbits while toddlers, young kids, whom these experiences are designed for, should have to wait, is utterly embarrassing.

Yes I know according to this thread I am being VERY unreasonable! I accept that but still feel the same!

That's fine, your opinion, it's as valid as anyone's. I just think that there are actually some nice stories on here, so maybe it's not just children who benefit.

I’ve never been to a zoo or a petting farm, it’s on my to do list. Don’t really care what people think
I also play netball, went to a friendship bracelet making night and am off to do animal yoga next month

You forgot another one... they can go to a petting zoo.

It was the other comments from OP that I took umbrage with... saying that adults who go alone to petting zoos must "have issues", or that she assumes they have disabilities of some kind.

Animal yoga?! Do tell

I'd guess that a large proportion of these adults have some neuro divergence going on.

I’m not what one would call a ‘snowflake’ generally but I find this whole thread has turned rather unkind. Sneering at pyjama choices among other things and what people choose to do in their free time is just all a bit odd 🤷‍♀️ Some of what has been laughed at on this thread (Disney, Lego etc) wouldn’t appeal to me at all but I wouldn’t judge those who do enjoy those things.
FWIW have young children and I wouldn’t bat an eye at having to wait our turn because an adult wants to pet an animal - even my youngest understands we wait our turn. I can understand why there’s so many entitled children around if this is the attitude that surrounds them.

You asked if you were unreasonable to be irritated by the presence of other adults in those spaces meaning that your kids had to queue.

Answer is still yes - they've as much right to be there as you and your kids, and you aren't in charge of what gets designated as a kids' or adults' activity.

It's a known fact that stroking animals is good for stress,anxiety and those who feel lonely. It's the whole reason for therapy dogs being taken into hospitals.

Plenty of lone adults including the elderly don't have capacity to care at home for an animal so why shouldn't they go to interact with animals at a petting zoo. I don't understand why you are so aggressive about it. It isn't "childish" if you would like a pet but can't have one.

Scary.

I'd run a mile I cross over the road if they look at me from the meadow

Why is a petting zoo childish yet cat and capybara cafes fine for adults to go to?

Don't mess with the bovines

I work in the theatre, and sometimes, not every night, but sometimes, I feel that sense of magic that children feel. A feeling of wonder and escapism that theatre brings.

I think every adult should be able to feel that, and if that comes from animals or Lego or Disney, that’s fucking brilliant. Life shouldn’t become dreary over the age of 18.

I’m glad I don’t know you, OP. Your life sounds restrictive and dull.

So petting a rabbit is infantilising, I've heard it all now.

Adults, if they take an interest in animals, have a number of avenues that are not available to young children, such as:

owning their own farm animals, pets and exotic animals we have neither the space nor the money for such things. And I'm pretty sure my landlord would object to capybara/goats in the house.

volunteering at shelters or farms They aren't local/accessible enough for this.

adult/older child experiences such as horse riding and llama walks. not the animals he's interested in.

Paid work/professional job working with animals really really competitive. And again, not always possible to access.

But we can do occasional day trips to such places. So we do.

Yep. Was just told by someone with a 5 month old baby (her first), they are going to pumpkin patch on the weekend as they go every year. I am a similar age and been with my husband for around a decade and I can tell you we wouldn’t be spending our weekend at a pumpkin patch after a working week pre-kids. We did more stuff like eating out in expensive places, travelling, clubbing, sports. Not really rubbing shoulders with little ones at a pumpkin patch…🥴

Of course they can, but it’s not a space designed for adults. It’s designed for small children.

The point that OP was making in the post, was that adults, are taking advantage of facilities that are designed to introduce small kids to wonder of animals, in a very safe way.

That doesn’t stop adults going, but with the sheer number of avenues available to adults who have an interest in animals, family and child focused spaces is an odd choice.

In the same way, adult expenses such as Llama walks- there will be a minimum age. Zoo keeper experiences have a minimum age. This is for safety and to get the full experience. These aren’t small children spaces. These spaces should not be open to small children.

Small kids have very few spaces that are for them, why would adults want to use that?

Sorry are you taking about an adult or a child?

19 year old. Sorry, though lt it was obviously an adult. Otherwise he'd be "allowed" as per OPs rules to be at the wildlife park/petting zoo.

Mind you, we strongly suspect he has some kind of ND condition. So maybe he's allowed.