how do you politely tell people to control kids?

Question

at my job i find a lot of people let their kids run wild and do not control them. as i have no kids myself and i am not a parent how do you ask someone to control their kids without offending them? i am not just hating children, these are kids that are loud and obnoxious and the parents don't seem to notice or care... i am frustrated because i don't know what to say to these people but it is business not a daycare!

Answer 1

I don't think that there is a polite way. I've had to deal with that situation, and the parents just don't get it. If they did, they wouldn't allow the kids to run wild in the first place.
I'll bet not all kids run wild, do they? So their parents must have brought them up to act decently in public - especially in a business setting. I would straight out tell the parents that the kids must quieten down, or they will all have to leave. Tell them that you cannot have this kind of commotion in a business setting. It doesn't matter if the parents don't like it. They're not doing their job, and should be called on it.

Answer 2

I've worked in retail. Since the department I worked in was right next to a busy photo place, we had a lot of children hanging around while waiting to get their pictures taken. I'm also a parent.

When on the job, I loudly tell the children not to run or to quiet down. Usually the parent hears and starts controlling the kids themselves.

There have been a few times where the parents have completely ignored what was happening. So I either go up to the children and let them know that they are not allowed to act that way in this store. If they don't listen, I talk to the parents. I tell them that their children cannot act wild because the place is not set up for children. The displays are not stable and are dangerous. The children can get hurt. Most people understand.

If the children are your co-workers, then talk to your co-worker, let them know that you cannot concentrate on your work with the children acting all crazy. They should be understanding, they work there too. If they are not understanding, then talk to your boss.

I think you should only worry about offending the parent when you are not working. Like if you were shopping or in a park. If your at your job, you have a right to be able to do your work.

Answer 3

You don't or if you really must show them some respect by kindly going up to them and saying can I ask you for a favor, is it possible to ...

I have a son with Autism/ADD and I get stares at the mall, however no ones approached me. However, last saturday at Walmart while I was speaking to the girl at the counter about my daughters passport pictures. Apparently, it greatly disturbed the lady in another line for the portrait section that my son was hopping around like a bunny. First, off my son is pretty high functioning and because Autism is not a physical disability people can't see it. So in her defence she didn't know and even if she did I don't know that it would make a difference. I turned around to see her scowling at him, so I asked what the problem was and she said voice her distaste. I simply told her if she would like to trade places with me for a day or if she thinks she can do better then feel free to do so. I cannot leave him alone at home and I cannot afford to pay a babysitter just to go grocery shopping or run errands etc.

My thing was he wasn't bothering her because he wasn't jumping on her or around her. Why was it bothering her? He looks big to her and she thought it was inappropriate for a boy his age and that may be so but she did not take into consideration that developmentally he may have been 5 years old or ill or brain injured.

You don't know why the child is misbehaving and its not always the mothers fault. Its hard enough parenting and parenting a special needs child that you can see is disabled or not. I wish people would mind their own business.

Answer 4

I would talk to your supervisor and ask them to speak to the other employees about children being present at work. If this is something that is accepted at your place of business, there need to be guidelines for the children who will be in attendance, for example, they should not be allowed to disrupt business of other employees, they must maintain a calm atmosphere, and they must show respect for others. If your place of work is allowing many parents to bring their children to work, you also might want to suggest an in office day care system, or just hire a few people (teenagers off for the summer) to provide some simple activities for the children throughout the day, like crafts, book time, or a movie.

If your supervisor is not willing to speak to the parents, you need to. I wouldn't worry about offending anyone, they haven't worried about whether or not their children are being obnoxious or disruptive. Good luck.

Answer 5

Depending upon your office space or the space in which the children go crazy, you can have a children's zone where they can play or be distracted...like a playhouse - all kids like that. I couldn't stand the little rotters until I had my own and now I appreciate how difficult it is to take kids out and keep them under control without being dragged into the courts for belting them across the head when they act up.

Answer 6

There is no polite way to say this. These people don't know the meaning of Etiquette so quit trying not to offend them. When I go out to stores or restaurants with my kids I'm often baffled at the people who come up to us to congratulate us on our kids behaviour in public. It's nothing special-kids should know how to behave publicly so I blame the parents who don't demand it of their children. They are the rude ones so don't worry about offending them-they need to be told that this is not socially acceptable.

Answer 7

I have my own business, and there arethose parents who are totally oblivious to there childrens antics. If I watched them run wild long enough, and the parents havent spoken to them, they arent going to. I simply walk up to the kids, place a hand gently on their shoulder, look them straight in the eyes and tell them they have to have a seat. Then I show them where they can sit--give them a book, etc. I dont ask them to----i tell them to. Most of the time this brings the parents out of their coma, but not always.

Answer 8

Keep asking the parents to repeat themselves while the kids are being loud. you'll be able to tell when they are getting annoyed about having to keep repeating themselves. then say something like I'm sorry I'm not used to having all this confusion around when I'm trying to work, I'm having a little trouble concentrating. You'll seem like your taking the blame, but if these people have any brains or common sense they will tell their kids to shut up or maybe keep them at home.

Answer 9

You can pick up a sign (I think spenser's sells them) that says, "Unattended children will be sold as slaves". Put it up where everyone can see it. When the little brats start in, just start talking like an auctioneer.
Or you can do what I do when other people's kids get on my nerves, tell them to be quiet because it's a place of business.
I, like a lot of parents, have learned the fine art of selective hearing. We can't hear our kid next to us screaming. "Please mama, please please please can I have one??" but you let the sound of a match being struck from 100 yards away and we hear that loud and clear. Sometimes, it's easier on the parent for someone else to tell their kids hush because we all know, kids don't listen to their parents.

Answer 10

You don't want to lose your cool. No matter how annoyed or frustrated you get, it's best to not let it boil over and you get mad -- it seems like two wrongs don't make a right. Just tell them that you find the behavior of these folks to be very disturbing and could they do something to make the situation less disturbing? The key is to assert yourself clearly without seeming too angry.