Forum Topic

Parents and their children.

I ventured out to M&S on Saturday for the first time in a week.  There was a longish but well distanced queue being supervised at the door and it did not take long to get in.  Inside was a civilised collection of people but I was appalled at the number of people going round trailing children.  In the half hour I was in there, at least 5 children aged between 5 and 12.2 men with a boy being dragged around protesting as he was on his iPad and none of them distance aware.  Another man with a bored child who was touching everything as he went alongBoth parents shepherding a boyA very nervous looking woman of Chinese origin holding tightly onto an equally nervous girl of about 10Not one of these children had any form of of protection - no gloves, no masksCheck out meant many people completely disregarded the distancing rules.Why are such people so disregarding of the safety of their children in enclosed spaces and also of the well intentioned recommendations for the public at large.

Elizabeth Ross ● 2411d12 Comments

Not one of these children had any form of of protection - no gloves, no masksI understand the concern re kids running around albeit I have sympathy for the parents however I don't follow your concern re masks and gloves.  Gloves collect germs which are then transmitted when one touches their face,  best remedy there is to wash/cleanse hands.  Masks are not good at prevention,  they are not effective when they get wet as the cheaper ones would and you are more likely to touch your face with a mask on.

Matthew Swain ● 2411d

Elizabeth — as it was your first journey out of the house in 7 days, did it ever occur to you it was the same for those parents and children that you observed?

Angela Knight ● 2411d

To misquote Jane Austen re the general public...“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that no matter how hard you try, no matter how much good information you supply and no matter how sensible the message - you cannot herd cats.."

Stuart Kerr ● 2411d

All the comments occurred to me.How about the 2 males and 1 childThe mother and father with their child who was the worst at touching everything and trailing his hands over all surfaces in reach.Outside on the Common were quite a few single parents playing with their children and keeping away from others as it should be.There will always be exceptional circumstances but 3 of the five were definitely not.It is ridiculous to suggest that gloves and face masks are useless.  It is how they are used.  Eg. I have 3 pairs of clothe gloves which are washed after each use.  Depending on the masks paper, cloth, industrial, etc.  Common sense tells you that they should be discarded or cleaned/washed after each use.  These are not foolproof but do go some way to avoiding contact or droplet contamination and are better than nothing at all.

Elizabeth Ross ● 2411d

I understand that Waitrose are only allowing one adult to do the shopping in the shop perhaps to stop what you described. M&S should so the same, it means they can get more shoppers through. If a couple no kids then one stays outside, if couple with kids then one parents entertain the kids one shops. If single parent with no support in the same household and kids under 14 then they may have no choice but to drag their kids around with them.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2411d

Quite.

Elizabeth Ross ● 2411d

Maybe children can be tied up outside the shop to one of those handy metal rings or pushed round the shop inside the shopping trolley.

Peter Evans ● 2411d

'Why are such people so disregarding of the safety of their children'?Children do not seem susceptible to the virus. It's rather us who need to be protected from them.

Susan Kelly ● 2410d

I have a 3.5 yo and would like to make a couple of points.  1. - it’s not always possible for people to shop without their children. My LO and I live with my elderly mother.  I cannot leave my child with her to do the shopping, she has to accompany me. Often people won’t have their children with them by choice / it’s because there’s no alternative. 2. - I have tried and tried to find a mask for my child, as well as little gloves.  It is a sheer impossibility.  If anyone knows where I can buy some, please let me know, because I’d be first in the queue. Not withstanding the above, when I did venture out I put my LO in her buggy and secured the straps.  She is too old for this kind of treatment, but I bribed with chocolate buttons and it did stop her being able to touch anything. Adults were certainly more guilty than us when it came to the invasion of personal space.  It is essential we don’t bring contagion back into our house because of my mother.  Consequently, we no longer tosh going out at all. 

Alison Foy ● 2410d

"of chinese origin" ... ?First they came for the joggers.Then they came for the dog walkers.Then they came for the parents with children.Then they came for the Londoners.....Less finger pointing. Most are doing the best they can.

Caroline Carrington ● 2410d

She was what she was.  Perhaps she was thoroughly nervous of the people of British origin given the way some Chinese have been attacked on the streets recently.Get a grip

Elizabeth Ross ● 2410d

PS I am currently making German potato soup which will have frankfurters sliced into it by what was a German company but sadly trademarked by Nestle SA.No discrimination here then

Elizabeth Ross ● 2410d