Toy Shop Owner Shames Parents Who Leave Their Children In Her Store - While They Go Shopping Elsewhere

A toy shop owner has publically complained about the number of parents who treat her store as a free childcare option, while continuing their shopping in other places.

Ginette McGee, 40, has shamed irresponsible parents who leave their children – as young as one – in her shop. The businesswoman, who owns Toytown in East Sussex, used Facebook to post an open letter to the parents who leave their children indirectly in her care.

“It’s not a crèche, my staff have other jobs to do,” says McGee. “They leave their kids on our premises, say to the kids ‘back in a bit, stay here’. We don’t know these children and we don’t know who to contact if something happens.

“The youngest ones are between 18 months and two years old.”

McGee says she doesn’t mind if eight and nine year olds are left in her shop, but says it’s ‘worrying’ when younger children are temporarily abandoned there.  

And it’s not just McGee’s toy shop that’s experienced this ‘dump and shop’ attitude from parents. “I have heard from other people in the toy industry, and this is a surprisingly common problem in toy shops around the country,” she says.

“I will be speaking to both police and social services as to the best course of action.”

McGee’s post to Facebook has received plenty of support, with some people suggesting she should hand the children over to police.

“Some 'parents' need to realise it is a shop not a babysitting service, what the hell is wrong with people?,” wrote Samantha Washer. “No need to be polite about it, next time just tell the so called parent the police would be called if you can't even look after your child. Seriously some stupid people out there.”

But there are those that think toy shops are the ideal place for children to gain some independence.

Tanya Beck wrote, “I understand the sheer inconvenience to the shop and staff at having young kids left for a bit, but police and social services, seriously? This is the perfect place for kids to start learning to be independent. Do you want them to be stuck to your apron strings until they're teens?”

What do you think – irresponsible parenting or not? Let us know in the comments.

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