Shop Owners Complain As Parents Dump Their Kids At Their Shops To Go For Coffee

One of the shops being targeted by parents to dump their kids as young as two to keep them occupied is a pet shop, with children being easily entertained by animals.

Pets R Fun store proprietor Peta told News Corp how parents turn their store into makeshift babysitters for their kids.

“It happens on a daily basis, there is a glass wall between us and the beauty shop and the mums think it’s OK, but it’s not safe.

“Other parents come in and say, ‘do you mind watching our child while we pop down to the shops’ and we have to say no, it’s very busy and we can’t do that.”

With this growing trend, some stores are forced to place signs on their windows, warning parents not to leave their kids unattended for any amount of time.

News Corp also reported that lifeguards have also complained of some kids wandering beaches unattended as parents have been seen leaving them between the flags, thinking they are in good hands and not realising the severe danger they are putting them in by doing so.

However, there are some stores that see this as a money-making opportunity and turned parts of their stores into “Drop N Shop” casual childcare centres, such as the Monkey Mania, where parents can drop their children off at their play pits for three hours for $26.50. “We put a yellow vest on the children that are being cared for. They are very visible. It works well for everyone.”

Yet, generally, many stores are standing by their decision: “Our staff aren’t babysitters,” a shopping centre spokesman said.

Source: Au.news.yahoo.com