kids being left alone, have we learnt nothing?

Question

I took my 9 year old to library yesterday, the kids section is upstairs in a large room and is isolated from rest of library. I walked in and there was a little boy about 3 all alone, no one else was in this room. We stayed for 20 minutes and watched this baby figdet in his chair. Later that same day I was walking up the road and could hear a child sobbing, I looked over at a parked car and this kid about 5 or 6 was crying her eyes out, the windows were down and she was alone, she had obviously been left whilst parents had gone into shops. The case of the 10 yr old boy who jumped into a pond to save his 8 year old sister and sadly drowned, where were his parents, my daughter is 9 and I certainly wouldn't let her play alone near any water. Why do some parents take these risks because when it goes wrong it always seems to be everyone elses fault but theirs.

I did tell librians about little boy on way out. The girl in car I informed security at the shop.

snook - I have 5 children all well balanced and independent and I have never left them in public places alone or near dangerous water unless I was with them.

nomad this was water that adults would not go into as it was considered dangerous.

Answer 1

I despair with you. I don't know why people go through the effort of having children only to ignore or abuse them from neglect. My own personal belief is that too many people have a knee-jerk reaction that they must have children, and then find themselves completely without the skills -- or desire -- to raise and nourish this spirit. It's heartbreaking.

Were I to see a small child alone in a car in a carpark, I would ring the police. It would be rough justice, but it might be a wake-up call.

Answer 2

I see this sort of thing happen all too often.I have lost count the number of times I've seen a small child crying for it's mum at the supermarket.One chap that worked with my husband told us about his wife and daughter.His daughter being about 3 at the time had fallen asleep in the car on the way to the supermarket with her gran and mother.They stupidly decided to leave her in the car while they went into the shop.About 15 minutes later over the shop tannoy a voice asked for this little girls mother.She had woken up, panicked, and gone into the shop looking for her mother.Just outside this supermarket is a huge drop into a dock yard and into the sea.She could easily have fallen in there.Some parents need a good slapping!
As for the little boy who drowned.It's too easy to blame the community police for not getting him out.But after watching the news, I see it was not possible as the boy was nowhere in sight.Kids draw to water.They don't see the danger.It was a tragic accident, and I don't think the parents blaming others helps.I feel sorry for them, and I don't know what to say about it.I just know that my kids aren't allowed places like that, and they have been warned.We live near a canal and they are aware of the dangers.We got a stick one day to see how deep it was, and the stick wasn't long enough.The weeds in there would pull them under the water, so I've made sure they know all too well how dangerous it is.

Answer 3

Mind boggling isn't it ?
My youngest is now 13 and I still worry.
While you can't keep them under your wing all the time there are precautions that should be taken anyway.,
As stated the kids in the water were just being kids - sometimes they listen when you tell them not to do something but it's in their nature ( in all of us really ) to push the boundaries. It was a tragic accident but an accident nonetheless.
The matter of little kids being left in public places or in cars while parents go shopping is totally different., I wouldn't do that with my dog let alone a child. It's just parents being lazy - easier to leave the kids somewhere than tow them round the shops and you don't even have to pay a sitter !
Some people will just never learn.

Answer 4

As a librarian I can assure you this is no isolated incident. We frequently come across children sent to the library and left to their own devices.

Even middle class properly spoken (IE it isn't just the great unwashed) do it. One woman dropped her 2 kids, 3 and 6 of and we heard her saying 'I'm going to do the shopping, see you in half an hour'.

It puts us in a horrible position. Libraries are meant to be friendly places and we are happy to see children in there but legally all kids under 8 should be accompanied. If we put a child under 8 out where are they going to go? Surely they are safer sitting in the library colouring in so we are put in a horrible position. On the same hand we can in no way be held responsible for the safety of that child.

I've seen kids to young to even know their own names sent to us with a key to the house on a bit of string round their neck.

Rest assured the librarians will be keeping a check on these actives. Like everyone we are constantly aware of the risks some kids are made to face and follow multi agency reporting procedures when we feel the need.

Answer 5

Children will always go out to play. If something happens to them, anything at all, we blame the parents. Parents cannot play out with them or watch them 24/7. Can you honestly say you did not climb trees, or some other thing that would have given your parents a heart attack. Lets live in the real world here. The cases that you mention are of course wrong, but even with the best will in the world you will never stop the attraction that water has for children.

Answer 6

my children are 4 and 2 i would never ever leave them for a split second when they are in bed if no one else is in our house i dont leave that house but i agree with want your saying you would think that people would learn form the maddie case. i think the problem is every one believes it will never happen to them but i see similar things at the school my son goes to i see 5 and 6 year olds walking them selves to and fromschool but the most shocking part of this i the fact that two weeks ago we had a letter telling all parents that a suspicous male has been hanging around the school at home time and still these children are walking home on there own. i find it unbelievable parents need to take more responsablity of there children you had them so you look after them. My son aslo recently got invited for tea at a childs house thathe made friends with but i refused for the simple fact i dont know his parents instead we agreed we would all meet up at the park that i can get to know my sons friends parents and visa versa moral of the story is people need to act more responsable with their children instead of dumping them at every oppertunity they get.

Answer 7

My ex sister in regulation used to constantly ***** that she had 5 young ones so she couldnt do what the rest people could desire to.That being suggested,here is a few historic past of her.She could constantly bypass away the oldest in cost from the time the baby became 9.between the infants became basically there two times a 12 months because it became from her husbands previous marriage.That technically basically left her with 3 whom the oldest helped lots with.sometime,I proved to her that having 5 young ones is not any diverse than having one or 2.I took all 5 young ones plus my twins to the park and Chuck E, Cheese with surely no help.I videotaped the completed time.Then,some weeks later,I did an identical ingredient with in basic terms my twins.I then performed the tapes for her.She found out that in case you cope with each and all of the infants the two,it does no longer count what number young ones you have.Assign initiatives in accordance to age and ability,and study to micromanage some time.that's in truth an identical ingredient as in case you have a number of laborers under your care.you basically take the time,and in case you ought to bypass away the dishes for some hours or permit the infants get their outfits out of the dryer on social gathering,then that's what it takes.no you possibly can cope with each thing everytime,no count what number young ones they have or how lots help they have.

Answer 8

Every ones fault. Because society is a tribe of people co-joined. Society abandons the individual first. and the parents are the last in line for accusations and to hold the guilt ball because society will not want to take it back.

Answer 9

Yes children are very precious and I agree,it is up to us adults to take responsibity and care for them. With very young children,they should be watched at all times.My daughter is ten and I think at her age a little freedom is good for her. She is young enough for me to need know where she is at all times.But old enough to let out on her own with me knowing where she is and who with. It is a scarey world to let our kids out into and it is up to us to protect them.But we also need to let the reins loose a little so that they learn some independance and skills too.I am not looking forward to my girl getting to teenage years when she wants more freedom,yet I know what is about at her age including temptation and the people and things she could be exposed to. Once a parent we will always worry about our kids-no matter what age they are. Parents have a variety of different rules and standards where responsibity stand regarding children and what is right and what isn't.

Answer 10

So your parents never let you play out then did they ? what a sad childhood you must of had ! i suppose you are going to tell me that you NEVER let your kids out of sight ??? you don't send them to school, after school clubs, play at friends houses or leave them in the kids club on holiday ?? DO NOT MAKE THIS TRAGEDY INTO ANOTHER WITCH HUNT !! these kids were doing what tens of thousands of other kids were doing, playing, unfortunately the 8 yr old was not wise enough to stay out of the water, something her mother had probably told her to do a million times as she ran out the door with her friends to play. my daughters are 9 and 6 and i wouldnt let them out to play like that either but that is due to an irrational fear that someone will take them and their childhood is all the more worse than it should be. freedom, the chance to explore and asses risk, to develop social skills and to have fun is denied todays children and i think that for everyones child that is incredibly sad. leave the parents alone to greive for their very brave son who they should be very proud of.