Would you patron a business more (restaurant, theatre, gym etc) if they banned kids

[Tradesman]

Here's the rule I think everyone should follow with restaurants in mind. If there are no pictures of food in the menu's, then leave the kids at home (under 10).

[NG]

My children are. I have zero qualms disciplining my children ANYWHERE, and that includes public areas. My wife thinks I am a bit of a hard ass, but so be it. I am NOT my children's bestie or equal. I am their parent, and I flat refuse to have arrogant and self entitled children that do not know how to behave. There is a time to play and there is a time to focus and be courteous of others when it is not playtime.

That's great but still...more places for adults to be adults would be most welcome. Frankly I don't know why more businesses haven't adopted this - even for just certain nights of the week.

Here's the rule I think everyone should follow with restaurants in mind. If there are no pictures of food in the menu's, then leave the kids at home (under 10).

Under 10 would be an improvement but I'd be great if they adopted an over 19 policy.

I know the movie theatre industry lost my business by catering to the kid crowd.

[Kukuman]

To be fair, some adults are more annoying then kids.

[tranquility922]

Your not. I was at a restaurant awhile ago and these 2 kids were being loud, disruptive and just annoying in general. Where were the parents? No idea but I was extremely pissed.

Btw parents are not always to blame. Alot of the things they do they get from school and friends.

Unfortunately, I would have to disagree. I think that parents are ultimately to blame; when kids are born they are just a blank slate. If they have a good, solid foundation from the start at the family level, then it wouldn't matter what type of negative influences kids would be subjected to from external factors such as schoolmates, friends, media, etc. Crappy parents beget crappy kids most of the time, unless the kid is smart enough to figure it out on their own.

As to the poll, I wish that ALL businesses would be 'kid-free' lol. I can't stand those little buggers.

[exlant]

I know of one business that I frequent often that does ban kids on a certain night, Scotters Roller Palace in Mississauga has a Sunday night skate(8pm-11pm) for 18+ no exceptions. When my 7 year old son wants to go skating I take him to the Family skates Sunday afternoon.

[boyoflondon]

Yes and Yes

[AsuranZala123]

To be fair, some adults are more annoying then kids.

+1

You will find all sorts of annoying people everywhere you go not just kids. It's a good start but its not fair to well behaved children and families.

[NG]

+1

You will find all sorts of annoying people everywhere you go not just kids. It's a good start but its not fair to well behaved children and families.

Why's it fair that *I'm* expected to adjust how I comport whenever someone has their kid around?

Not to have conversations with someone I'm with because they're not "child friendly"?

Not use language in casual conversation just because someone and their kid is sitting next to me?

If I went into Mc Donalds or Chuck E. Cheese and casually had convos of an adult nature of course that'd be out of line.

There are plenty of places like that which are specifically geared to kids yet, unless it's a bar to drink (and sometimes people bring their damn kids in there), there's almost nowhere for adults to go to be adults.

[Jimboski]

It would nicer If there weren't kids, Sometimes they aren't that bad though.

[NG]

I know of one business that I frequent often that does ban kids on a certain night, Scotters Roller Palace in Mississauga has a Sunday night skate(8pm-11pm) for 18+ no exceptions. When my 7 year old son wants to go skating I take him to the Family skates Sunday afternoon.

If we can get more businesses in this thread from other members that do this I'll organize it all into a list.

[celtic-redhead]

I would absolutely patronize a business that bans children. In fact, my husband and I would go out of our way to do so, and would return frequently just to support the business.

I can't stand going to the theatre any more, unless it's for an 18+ movie (even then, adults are a$$hats too, but not nearly as bad as the under 18 crowd!) I detest going out to eat, only to have the entire meal disrupted by some little brat that can't sit still, or screams at the top of their lungs. Last month it was a toddler standing and jumping on the bench seat of the adjoining booth, and the parents letting it happen even after we asked them (and asked the server to ask them) to stop. It's bad enough if it's a "family" restaurant -- but if I'm spending more than $80 for dinner for my husband and I, I would hope that the other idiots in the restaurant would leave their spawn at home. (Hell, if I'm spending more than $50 for dinner for two, it's not the kind of place I want to deal with kids at.)

We've tried everything to avoid these brats -- going to places that aren't near some sort of family entertainment, having a late dinner at 9 or 10 p.m. to avoid the kiddie hour, going out on a school night instead of a weekend. I've even gone so far as to loudly request that the server seat us somewhere else if there are kids in the adjoining or nearby seats. Or, on some occasions, to request that they seat the family somewhere else if we're already seated when the little terrors come screeching towards us. Despite any attempt to avoid it, our displeasure is the restaurant's loss though. If we didn't have to deal with brats running wild, we'd be more likely to enjoy an appetizer, dessert and coffee etc. Rather than just rushing through everything to get out. During a busy service the turnover works in the restaurant's favour, but in these economic times I haven't been to any place that has been at more than 60% occupancy on any given night. So if we spend an extra $30+ on drinks or dessert, it is in their best interest.

So yes -- absolutely YES -- I would support an establishment that bans children. I would shout it from the rooftops and give them rave reviews and advertise for them for free and make sure that everyone knew where they could go to escape bad parents and their even worse children. At the very least, restaurants should have at least one night a week when kids are not permitted. Then they can judge for themselves how much better their sales are that night. And, though many of my Facebook friends protest and claim that their child is well behaved, and how dare anyone discriminate against them, I have no problem pointing out that they are part of the problem if they have such little concern for how their behaviour impacts others.

[Tabooger]

Absolutely. I can't stand them, and my entire experience gets ruined by these buggers. I'd even go as far as saying I would love it if there was a kid free section at the library. Just the other day I was reading a book, and these 2 kids come in with their gameboys with sound maxed up playing on it. The mother just sits them down, and goes off to look for books. I eventually told them to turn down their volume. It's stuff like this, the kids nor the parents have no awareness when out in public. Of course kids aren't going to get banned at libraries and we're talking about paid places, but it's just the same everywhere else. Can't have a normal conversation at a restaurant because this child has a huge mouth and can't shut up, and their parents think the world revolves around her. It was a high end restaurant where it was a relatively quiet place. Movie theater lines where my friend and I zig zag through the place holders and this mother and kid just crouch down and crawl to the back of the line. Really? Parents are to blame, and the kids are annoying as hell.

Though to be fair, I have seen a few parents where they're absolutely stern with the kid, and I always want to get up and say thank you (I don't). Wish kids would behave better when they're out!

[TrevorK]

I've even gone so far as to loudly request that the server seat us somewhere else if there are kids in the adjoining or nearby seats. Or, on some occasions, to request that they seat the family somewhere else if we're already seated when the little terrors come screeching towards us.

Do you ever think that your negative attitude towards children in public places leads towards you having to deal with more negative situations involving them? I do. I bet it's completely transparent to the families around you the attitude you portray and you bring it on yourself quite often.

I would suggest you focus on mellowing down and enjoying yourself in the situations you are in rather than focusing on all the negative around you.

[NG]

. If we didn't have to deal with brats running wild, we'd be more likely to enjoy an appetizer, dessert and coffee etc. Rather than just rushing through everything to get out. During a busy service the turnover works in the restaurant's favour, but in these economic times I haven't been to any place that has been at more than 60% occupancy on any given night. So if we spend an extra $30+ on drinks or dessert, it is in their best interest.

So yes -- absolutely YES -- I would support an establishment that bans children. I would shout it from the rooftops and give them rave reviews and advertise for them for free and make sure that everyone knew where they could go to escape bad parents and their even worse children.

Absolutely. I can't stand them, and my entire experience gets ruined by these buggers.

Agreed about the experience of going out being ruined by damned wiener kids everywhere. That's why I stopped going to the movies all together.

It sounds like many of us don't say anything - we just buy less and get out quickly and perhaps even not return.

I wonder if businesses realize how much business they might be losing by letting kids run around their business like rats. After all kids tickets for movies and meals are often cheaper so I assume they're making more money off adults.

Either way it's interesting we've got so many commenting in this thread how they'd like it if kids were banned from public places and exiled to 'kid zones' like Chuck E. Cheese and Mc Donald's or at least to have adult only times set up yet, despite seven people voting they'd avoid a business like this, nobody is really stepping up to defend these brats.

Perhaps they know that these little bastards are a hell to deal with and they're indefensible?

[Kris81]

To be fair, some adults are more annoying then kids.

This is true, but at least Adults can be held accountable by the establishment.

I.E if I go to a really swanky high end restaurant, i'm expected to dress & act a certain way, if not i'm probably not allowed in, or being kicked out. If you're looking for a really swanky & high end environment and are turned off by annoying adults at Crocodile Rock on Firefighter night, well then you're in the wrong place! lol

To me, nothing more annoying than parents with their untrained children at the grocery store. Do you know how much it pisses me off when some stupid mother is too busy ignoring her child, and I can't move my cart around because her stupid little kid is running in the middle of the aisles falling over? I usually mutter something under my breath like "thank god my kids aren't like that" loud enough for them to hear, but quiet enough that I didn't want them to hear it.