# Places kids don't belong? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 22, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820 "2011-05-22T21:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/121 "2011-05-25T03:28:13Z")
nota bene: I pretty much universally dislike children. that said, apart from the obvious places like tit bars and such, I don’t really care where you bring your kids as long as they can behave appropriately. If it’s in a high-zoot restaurant and your 6 and 9 year olds can dine quietly with their family, hell, points to you. if you think a classy restaurant is a great place to let your kids run around harassing other diners, well, fuck you and your spawn. If it’s at, like, McDonalds, well, they have a “playplace” so hell let them run wild. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/122 "2011-05-25T12:16:29Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > Don’t edit. It’ll help convince that couple to find a sitter next time. 😉 Those people never catch on - they think they are doing their kids a favor. Then their kids grow up too fast, and you have to listen to the parents whine about the string of boyfriends at fourteen, drinking at sixteen…😉 ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/123 "2011-05-25T14:40:01Z")
A few art galleries aren’t very good for most kids - they get too bored of looking at picture after picture with nothing else to do. But they tend to be very small, so the kid won’t be in there long and TBH they’re not the kind of places many people would take an uninterested kid anyway. The best art galleries and museums, as far as kids and people with kids are concerned, are the ones that give kids something to do; they keep the kids occupied and the adults often find those kid-friendly exhibits more interesting too. The Science Museum is London is one of the best to ever visit simply because it has two dedicated sections for kids, so the rest of the museum (except for those areas leading to the kids’ sections) tends to not be over-run with them. At most (actually, all of the 42 I’ve visited so far this year) of the London museums during half-term there’ll be kids’ workshops and guides and activities, so the parents take their kids there. This means that, at larger museums, a few sections (like the Chinese porcelain section at the V&A) are invariably kid-free even at the busiest times. Parents are of course free to take their kids into those sections, and kids are free to ask to go there, but they probably won’t be the unruly kids that would disturb your quiet cultural day out. The larger museums also have regular adult-only evenings. So if any art galleries or museums are inappopriate places to take kids, it’s because they haven’t planned properly. There is no intrinsic reason kids shouldn’t look at art or learn about fossils. With obvious exceptions like the Sex Museum in Amsterdam. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/124 "2011-05-25T14:52:09Z")
Dog parks. Our local off-leash dog park has a sign in front stating the rules…and then, because they know people won’t read it, another one on the gate itself. Prominent among these rules is NO children under the age of 8. It is _roundly_ ignored by a certain subset of parents – presumably, those with children under the age of 8. Rambunctious dogs _can_ mix with children under the right supervision; large crowds of rambunctious dogs, many of them present at the park because they were “acting up” and need to blow off steam,do NOT mix with young children, especially the little toddlers with questionable balance and paper-thin skin. Kids are going to get intimidated, jumped on, or knocked down. If they flee or cry they may attract attention from whole packs of dogs, and even innocent concern from a whole pack of panting dogs will scare a small child. One time I saw a lady sitting on a bench inside the dog park nursing an infant (under a towel). Dogs started to realize she was doing something unusual with a small critter, and they gathered around the bench, gazing at the baby with intense interest. She became increasingly nervous as the circle of dogs grew. The rule is clear, clearly marked, and it’s there for a sensible reason. But because the dog park is entirely fenced, it _looks like_ a good place to let little kids run around – they can’t get into traffic even if Mommy is playing Farmville on the iPhone. It’s almost an [attractive nuisance](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attractive_nuisance_doctrine). ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/125 "2011-05-25T16:05:09Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You’re thinking of MP17. R rated means anyone under 17 has to have a parent/guardian/adult with them. MP17 means no one under 17, period. But those are very rare, right? Interesting though, thanks. > [@MLS](#): > > My older child was, really, a complete angel as a baby and toddler. We could – and did – take her anywhere. She slept through town hall and school board meetings. She sat in her car seat, stowed on a chair in a high-end restaurant, and either gnawed zweibeck or slept. When she was walking age she loved to get dressed up with us and go to nice restaurants. She ate restaurant food and did not whine for french fries and chicken nuggets. Gosh, this is easy, we thought. I was going to ask you to have more children until you said your youngest is now a working adult. Drat! Last night at dinner (an Indian buffet) there were a handful of kids who were super well behaved. The infant screamed just once but the toddlers were wonderful. I wonder if this has to do with the fact they got to eat as _soon_ as they arrived, no rumbling tummies causing anger or tension. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/126 "2011-05-25T16:12:59Z")
The Straight Dope Message Board. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/127 "2011-05-25T17:27:33Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Last night at dinner (an Indian buffet) there were a handful of kids who were super well behaved. The infant screamed just once but the toddlers were wonderful. I wonder if this has to do with the fact they got to eat as _soon_ as they arrived, no rumbling tummies causing anger or tension. “No rumbling tummies” has a _lot_ to do with it! If you’re taking a young child to any restaurant where you have to sit and wait for your food, you can always request some crackers, or better yet, be smart and travel with little snacks and toys in your purse! A hungry, bored child is _very_ prone to melting down! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/128 "2011-05-25T17:40:18Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > But those are very rare, right? Interesting though, thanks. Yeah, they pretty much are. I can’t remember the last MP17 movie that was released. I think it was a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/129 "2011-05-25T17:42:35Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > I think there are two extremes here, and people tend to be irritated at one extreme or the other. > > One extreme is people who are offended by the very existence of children: if they go to an art museum or a nice restaurant or a bookstore or a wedding and they see kids–even perfectly behaved, polite children, their evening is ruined. The very existence of the child irritates their sense of propriety, and they worry inordinately about what the child _might_ do. People like this are really very rare, but they can be vocal and hurtful. A couple experiences with these sorts of people can leave parents very defensive about their child’s right to be anywhere. > > At the other extreme, you also have people who will take a child anywhere, anyhow and do not monitor their behavior at all. This can go from the unsafe (baby in a smokey bar) to the royally annoying (three year old having a full-fledged tantrum in a restaurant). People like this are also rare but memorable, and tend to encourage people to make blanket statements like “Kids don’t belong in X”. > > Most people do not fit either of these categories, but they feel very strongly about one or other other. Personally, I think it’s best to admit that both are assholes and neither should be indulged. Well put. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/130 "2011-05-25T17:51:05Z")
Smart parents know that when bringing kids to a restaurant, it pays to go somewhere where they can eat as soon as you sit down. Buffets are great, and dim sum is also perfect. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/131 "2011-05-25T17:51:27Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > We have parties where people were welcome to bring their kids - I’m familiar with that - very familiar. Two years ago our big house party became adults only after I discovered someone’s kids had been in the basement digging through storage boxes and had a HUGE mess, and missing and broken items. > > Its a matter of what the invitation says, not the circle of people you are in does. If the host says “no kids” its “no kids” If the host says “bring your kids” you can bring them or not. > > Some parties are “bring your kids parties” and its FINE when you bring your kids to a “bring your kids party” (we are having one this weekend). Some parties are “grown up parties” - no matter what happens in your circle of friends, if the host declares it to be a grown up party, find a sitter or don’t go. I don’t think I’ve ever been invited to a formal-type party where the host specified that no kids were welcome (or indeed mentioned the issue one way or another) - usually the deciding factors are the circle of friends involved, and generally the sort of party at issue (one in the day, or starting in the evening and going late? Is it your friends who have kids themselves?). The only sorts of “parties” I’ve been to where no kids would have been welcome, were parties of the sort where the main purpose was to meet others for pick-ups and/or get drunk and/or high - not something I’d want to attend myself, these days. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/132 "2011-05-25T17:56:58Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > I’ll second this. I’ll also throw out another place where most kids don’t belong: museums, specifically art museums. Oh holy crap. Art museums?? And kids will learn to develop an eye, enjoy art of all kinds, learn the sanctity of art and any museum, love creativity as represented by works of artists…where?? I could not disagree more vehemently. Kids DO belong in art museums. And you know what? Art Museum Administrators who want to know why attendance is so down in the 30 and under age group need only consider the attitude expressed above. A kid who is bored with 90 % of what they are “dragged through” a museum to see will have their eye fall upon a work that they will never forget until their dying day. What price, that ? ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/133 "2011-05-25T18:01:58Z")
I have never heard of MP-17. The noone under 17 allowed in rating is called NC-17. And, yeah, they are rare. Most times films will be resubmitted to the board until they can get an R rating. It’s difficult to distribute NC-17 movies. As to the rest of the thread I think Dangerosa makes excellent points, so I defer to her and her obviously correct opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/134 "2011-05-25T18:06:40Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > I have never heard of MP-17. The noone under 17 allowed in rating is called NC-17. And, yeah, they are rare. Most times films will be resubmitted to the board until they can get an R rating. It’s difficult to distribute NC-17 movies. > > As to the rest of the thread I think Dangerosa makes excellent points, so I defer to her and her obviously correct opinion. :smack: You’re right, it’s **NC** -17. Duh. Never mind. I was probably thinking of a video game rating I saw. :o ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/135 "2011-05-25T18:37:19Z")
> [@](#): > > I have never heard of MP-17. The noone under 17 allowed in rating is called NC-17. And, yeah, they are rare. Most times films will be resubmitted to the board until they can get an R rating. It’s difficult to distribute NC-17 movies. Many theaters have clauses in their leases that prohibit showing NC-17 films. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/136 "2011-05-25T19:41:05Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Oh holy crap. Art museums?? And kids will learn to develop an eye, enjoy art of all kinds, learn the sanctity of art and any museum, love creativity as represented by works of artists…where?? > > I could not disagree more vehemently. Kids DO belong in art museums. And you know what? Art Museum Administrators who want to know why attendance is so down in the 30 and under age group need only consider the attitude expressed above. > > A kid who is bored with 90 % of what they are “dragged through” a museum to see will have their eye fall upon a work that they will never forget until their dying day. > > What price, that ? I’ll add that more and more museums - including art museums - are putting into place resources specifically designed to attract kids in. Obviously, those who run such institutions do not share the notion kids ought to be excluded. See for example the art museum in my city: [http://www.ago.net/family-friendly-activities-in-the-galleries](http://www.ago.net/family-friendly-activities-in-the-galleries) ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/137 "2011-05-25T22:07:31Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever been invited to a formal-type party where the host specified that no kids were welcome (or indeed mentioned the issue one way or another) - usually the deciding factors are the circle of friends involved, and generally the sort of party at issue (one in the day, or starting in the evening and going late? Is it your friends who have kids themselves?). > > The only sorts of “parties” I’ve been to where no kids would have been welcome, were parties of the sort where the main purpose was to meet others for pick-ups and/or get drunk and/or high - not something I’d want to attend myself, these days. Our circle has both types of parties - kids welcome, kids not welcome. And we do drink, but we don’t get high and most of us have been married for years (we aren’t swingers either). We didn’t all breed at the same time - which I think is part of it. Those that have kids in college now are so over having kids all over the house - and there are some people who still have small kids. When our kids were small, we didn’t mind having a lot of kids around during a party…but ours are past the “spread toys all over the place” stage - and well past the “have to be supervised” stage. We’ve also moved onto wanting to do a different kind of entertaining…wine tastings, for instance. A friend of mine rents a hall every year and throws a grown up dance party (no kids) for 200 people. You get different people at your parties depending on the child status. If you really want the entire set with young kids, you’d better make it a family friendly event - they don’t hire too many sitters. But your less likely to get the child free. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Krebbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@Mr.Krebbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Krebbs)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/138 "2011-05-25T23:54:26Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > :dubious: $25-$30 is \*hardly \*fine dining. Now if you’re paying upwards of $50-$100 a plate, then yeah I’d agree with you. As far as I recall, $25 is about the lowest cost of an entree at one of the fancier places in my area (I thinking of [Clinkerdagger](http://clinkerdagger.com/page/home) in Spokane, WA specifically). ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/139 "2011-05-26T00:08:54Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever been invited to a formal-type party where the host specified that no kids were welcome (or indeed mentioned the issue one way or another) - . For a formal party you don’t specify who is **not** invited, at least not by traditional etiquette. You send the invite to the adults of the household. If the kids names aren’t listed, and there’s no mention of “Kid’s welcome!” then the kids are not formally invited. This is something I’ve read multiple places in wedding planning, it’s actually not something I just made up. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820/140 "2011-05-26T00:12:28Z")
Kid’s fingers do not belong up my asshole, but yet that is my life every day here at a Japanese elementary school. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/places-kids-dont-belong/582820.md?page=8)