There are quite a number of Toy "R" Us stores in Singapore and often enough I get to see some unsightly scenes such as this:
I would not blame the lack of staff or store management. The fault clearly lies with the SHOPPERS! Although a toy store is for kids and kids would love to get their hands on toys and play with them, it is totally unacceptable to create a big mess like that in the photo.
So the fault lies with the kids right? No. The fault lies with the adult parents. Now I use the word "adult" parent because I want to emphasize on the responsibility of being an adult first. Many a times I see parents getting away with their kids behavior. Though kids misbehave at times, it is the responsibility of parents to correct the behavior of their children in public.
Some parents are simply not doing enough and some are over protective of the kid pride. Some parents even stand on their kids mistake to argue their way out. I have met a number of such parents. Shame on them. As much as parent are protective about their kids, they are robbing their kids a chance to realize their mistakes and the need to correct it. The issue here lies with the parent and it is their responsible for their children behavior. If they are not, who is?
Parenting issue aside, let's move on to the responsible adult. I was at another retail toy department the other day and I witnessed a mid forty year old man accidentally pushing the shopping cart into a shelf of Ben 10 toys. A civic minded person will stop his cart, pick up the toy and place it back to where it should be, but not this man. He kept pushing like he was day dreaming away. If that didn't get his attention, he would have known what happened when his leg kicked on the fallen toys on the floor. Now this should get him to pick it up since he did stop and look at the fallen toy? Instead, He look at it and carefully step over it! The two ladies with him witnessed the knocking and walking over the fallen toys and they kept mum about it. It is upsetting to see such irresponsible behavior.
Whatever it is, such action only shame themselves and one day they will reap the full aspect of that action.
I would not blame the lack of staff or store management. The fault clearly lies with the SHOPPERS! Although a toy store is for kids and kids would love to get their hands on toys and play with them, it is totally unacceptable to create a big mess like that in the photo.
So the fault lies with the kids right? No. The fault lies with the adult parents. Now I use the word "adult" parent because I want to emphasize on the responsibility of being an adult first. Many a times I see parents getting away with their kids behavior. Though kids misbehave at times, it is the responsibility of parents to correct the behavior of their children in public.
Some parents are simply not doing enough and some are over protective of the kid pride. Some parents even stand on their kids mistake to argue their way out. I have met a number of such parents. Shame on them. As much as parent are protective about their kids, they are robbing their kids a chance to realize their mistakes and the need to correct it. The issue here lies with the parent and it is their responsible for their children behavior. If they are not, who is?
Parenting issue aside, let's move on to the responsible adult. I was at another retail toy department the other day and I witnessed a mid forty year old man accidentally pushing the shopping cart into a shelf of Ben 10 toys. A civic minded person will stop his cart, pick up the toy and place it back to where it should be, but not this man. He kept pushing like he was day dreaming away. If that didn't get his attention, he would have known what happened when his leg kicked on the fallen toys on the floor. Now this should get him to pick it up since he did stop and look at the fallen toy? Instead, He look at it and carefully step over it! The two ladies with him witnessed the knocking and walking over the fallen toys and they kept mum about it. It is upsetting to see such irresponsible behavior.
Whatever it is, such action only shame themselves and one day they will reap the full aspect of that action.
Comments
It's a norm thing, people should realize that and they should realize it fast, because the effect can go far with this unsettling social behavior.
I recalled my mom used to correct me and told me She loved me and therefore she care enough to correct me.
I guess it really take care to correct someone and when that someone become defensive and not humble or being appreciation and still don't see any wrong, we just gave up.
have encountered such things before and i must say these things sure as hell put a dent on your shopping mood and ambience. and yes indeed it is appalling to see adults doing that. in fact, more than often i've seen adults use their kids as an excuse, and i completely agree with you.
three cheers to this post mate!
Thanks bro. Just want to get this out of my chest. :)
@Dennis
Amen to moral courage. We need to walk the walk especially for parents. :)
Will you really YELL at them SK?
I've seen the aftermath of what you have pictured here and I agree with you. Excellent post. I would add that here I've seen parents turn there kids loose in the toy department to run around and pull things from the shelves while the parent does nothing. It gets to the point that I do not enjoy going down the toy aisle. I'm all for kids running and playing, but on a playground not a store, my son didn't act like this and I expect other s to parent their children as well.
Side note I've corrected adults who I've seen knocking figures off the pegs looking for "rare" figures, of course I'm not a small person so I think they may have been a little intimidated, but there should be no excuse for that behavior.
You got it right. it is a toy department and it is not a playground! If the kid messed around should be penalize! Do that at their home and not in a public area. >.<
I am taken a back when parents go telling their kids as Princess and Prince. Like they are higher than them. That is just wrong! Well good luck if they do that. They will later question how come their kids became a monster and a king over their life.