I have a 3 year old daughter and my sister has a 3 year old son. We all went to a christening today and after the church everyone went to a restaurant to eat.
I brought a Dora doll and a travel Aquadoodle for my daughter and my sister brought a little box of plastic building toys for her son. And we didn't see even one other child/parent with a toy, stuffed animal, book, etc.
There were about 9 kids under 5 years old at the restaurant and EVERY one of them fought with our kids for these toys. One woman actually took the Dora doll off of our table and took it back to her table, telling my daughter that her son "really loves Dora and needs to play with it for a few minutes."
I just don't get it. If you're going somewhere with your child and you know you'll be gone for several hours, how can you not bring something for them to play with? Or a coloring book ... something?
2007-02-11 16:19:57 · 15 answers · asked by tgfann 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Oh, I did go and get it. After she said that to my daughter I was kind of speechless. I just looked at my husband and said, what just happened here? After a few seconds, when that wore off, I went and got it.
2007-02-11 16:35:26 · update #1
I don't do it every time I go somewhere,but if it were an event like you attend today where the children need to sit still not to disturb others around them,or if I know it's gonna be a long day where they would get restless,then yes I do bring a few things.And that lady you are talking about taking your child's doll...I don't think I could have dealt w/ that!!
2007-02-11 16:25:37 · answer #1 · answered by molliehollie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most of the time I do. We have a DVD player in the car so she stays calm on the rides to and from places. If I don't bring a toy she will be running around everywhere. If I don't bring one then I usuallt stop by the dollar store to get a little toy for her. But for the most part we have toys in the car for just in case. That lady was rude. I would have gotten upset and said something to her. If her sone loves Dora so much then she should have brought a toy for him. People just don't learn. I went to a pizza and game place about 2 weeks ago and I had a smiliar incident. When my daughter was playing a game some other little girl took the tickets that my daughter had won and wouldn't give it back. The parents weren't doing anything about it and I had to tell the girl that those were not hers and that they were my daughters. I finally got them from her but I still can't believe that her parents didn't say or do anything. But anyways my daughter always has something to play with or something to draw on no matter what.
2007-02-12 15:09:13 · answer #2 · answered by wishbear3687 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never go anywhere without toys! We try to bring things to entertain our son everywhere we go. Face it service in resteraunts is slow and little people get bored easy-so why not bring things to do. I always think other customers must appreciate a wave and smile from a happy child vs screaming and yelling from a bored child. And the woman taking Dora-I would have been speechless to for a minute. Who takes a childs toy, I don't care how much your kid likes them-that child will grow up to be a winner.
2007-02-12 09:57:01 · answer #3 · answered by VAgirl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter won't leave this house without her Dora doll and her Curious George stuffed animal. This are her comfort toys, I never take her anywhere without these. I understand how you feel though, my daughter is the youngest of all of my friends children and when we get together they would try and bully her toys, but I talked to my friends about it, now all the girls bring a toy with them.
2007-02-12 07:04:34 · answer #4 · answered by Cocoa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a 3 year old son and a 5 month old son and EVERYTIME we leave the house we are armed with our "travel bag".
It contains diapers/wipes (for the little guy), extra underwear, change of clothes for each, a snack/bottle, a book, and 1-2 toys for each. More often than not, we go out to run a "quick" errand which ends up taking much longer than we expected. Or we run into someone and end up going for an impromptu visit.
It helps to always be prepared. Especially with kids in tow as you can never know what to expect!
2007-02-12 00:28:43 · answer #5 · answered by devils'littleangel 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, i bring toys with my boy when we go out... only because i know that the toy will have his attention and i would have time for whatever or where ever i am.... i think that the mother who took your child toy should have not done that... if her kid 'loved' dora so much, why couldnt she have bought her child the toy herself... I think that you are just being a good mom and caring more about your child's need before your own....next time you go out and they try to take something away from your kids just because YOU prepare your child for this, tell them NO.... good luck
2007-02-12 00:27:52 · answer #6 · answered by molly_tony 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes I always have a few toys stashed away in my purse (actually messenger bag) I carry thomas trains one of those small mini things that light up and spin around.
Its just so convient when the little one gets tired of playing with crayons to whip out a small toy.
Depending on the resturant (how nice it is) I'll sometimes bring our portable dvd player with some learning DVD. My son loves the little einstiens.
2007-02-12 00:36:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd bring my sons something to play with. I can't believe the nerve of that woman that took Dora! This seems to be a bunch of people that need to learn to disipline their children not to go up to strangers and take their things.
It is not cute. It is dangerous! They seem like the type that let their kids be everyone else's problem. Then, they get mad when someone complains about them running loose.
2007-02-12 00:29:23 · answer #8 · answered by Tumbleweed 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I always have a bag of toys for my kids wherever we go. ESPECIALLY if its going to be a place we don't want them running around like a restaurant. However, if any parent took my kids toys away, I would have no issue going back to go get it. I am a protective mother bear when it comes to that kind of thing. I have no problems teaching my kids to share as long as the other kids are sharing with my kids too. Best of luck!
2007-02-12 00:26:17 · answer #9 · answered by welch1198 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Oh my Gosh...I would try not to loose it, but I would've given that family a peice of my mind!! Something simular happened to me when my preemie was 5 months old....the family next to us, who was filthy and their kids were licking their fingers, wouldn't stop touching my baby the next table over. The parents did nothing as they were barely watching their kids anyhow and they were running around like crazy!
As for the bringing toys....always! To the store, friends houses, families houses, church, the park in case she needs to rest and just read a book then play again for awhile, etc.
2007-02-12 01:14:54 · answer #10 · answered by Mom of One in Wisconsin 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋