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Local pet stores have reportedly become makeshift baby sitters for children as young as two, while their parents duck out for a coffee.

“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,” Pets R Fun store proprietor Peta, told News Corp.

“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.”

Some retailers have even been forced to place signs on their windows, warning parents not try and leave their kids unattended for any amount of time.

“Our staff aren’t babysitters,” a shopping centre spokesman added.

The beach is another place parents manage to drop off their kids and run.

Lifeguards have complained of children wandering beaches unattended, with parents not realising the severe danger they are putting them in by doing so.

News Corp reported that parents have been seen leaving their children between the flags, assuming they are in good hands.

Parents who want to drop and shop need to visit places like Monkey Mania, who for a cost of $26.50, parents can drop their children off at their play pits for three hours.

“We put a yellow vest on the children that are being cared for. They are very visible. It works well for everyone.”

Best idea, try and take the kids to the park and enjoy some time together. You might be surprised how relaxed you feel.

Share your comments below.

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  • I feel such deliberate acts of neglect should be reported to Shopping Centre Managment and the Police. I know some children will attempt to esacpe to a spot they are attracted to (ours did it once in the middle of a shop that had a mirror on a post and….. got a lecture about it). To make a habit of it is irresponsible. What about health & safety of the staff and customers, and where applicable pets too. If you can’t find somebody responsible to care for them, don’t leave them. Maybe a system could be arranged that parents care for the other one’s children in turns.

    Reply

  • I cannot believe the lack of common sense in some parents. Seriously, it is never ever ever ok to leave your children unattended

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  • “Local shops”?
    This article lacks telling us where this “local” occurrence is happening!
    I can tell you now it’s not happening locally to me! I have never heard of “Monkey Mania” and definitely don’t know what it is!

    However I don’t know why parents think it’s ok to do things like that!
    However just the other day we went to our local swimming pool and met a 10 year old girl there (who we didn’t know) who was there completely alone. Parents were picking her up in “about 3 hours”! And no, she wasn’t there with a friend or with another adult who was keeping an eye on her.
    Some parents just don’t seem to get these things aren’t ok.
    (We found out later that when mum came to pick her up and the pool staff realised she’d been there alone, mum was told her daughter shouldn’t have been there alone)

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  • Unbelievable !! Very irresponsible !

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  • Absurd. I would have never imagined it’s happening so often. Even at the beach???

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  • I work in a pet store and yes you do get a lot of parents letting their kids walk in while they duck out to another shop. We get toys broken and balls thrown everywhere. They bang on the glass of the fish tanks and birds. I have no problem at all with kids coming in they brighten my day. But I too have my own kids and would never do this as I know how excited my 2 year old can be around new pets. Let alone breaking toys and bowls in shops.


    • Would people like it if this was reversed and these actions occurred in their workplaces. It disrespects your work and your place of employment too.

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  • A terrible and irresponsible action.

    Reply

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