Parental Control of Child Visitors

[SHAVINGTONZOO]

I was in the Butterfly House at Chester today. Very enjoyable as usual until .....

A butterfly landed on the window of the rearing room. A child nearby (not tiny, perhaps 8 or 9) decided to flick at it with his hand, poke it and - I suspect - squash it. I reached out to protect it from him. In the end, having taken a small piece out of its wing he desisted.

The astonishing thing (to me) was that an adult, presumably his mother, stood a couple of feet away throughout, watching and without saying a word.

Sometimes I despair!

 

[bongorob]

I was in the Butterfly House at Chester today. Very enjoyable as usual until .....

A butterfly landed on the window of the rearing room. A child nearby (not tiny, perhaps 8 or 9) decided to flick at it with his hand, poke it and - I suspect - squash it. I reached out to protect it from him. In the end, having taken a small piece out of its wing he desisted.

The astonishing thing (to me) was that an adult, presumably his mother, stood a couple of feet away throughout, watching and without saying a word.

Sometimes I despair!

Typical attitude, and from my experiences at London on Wednesday school teachers are even worse. Kids running amock, pushing their way through the crowds, barging into anyone in their way, banging on the glass. And the teachers just look on and do nothing.

 

[ISOE2012]

I always say that children are like the ultimate animal deterant. Screaming and running around in walkthrough exhibits...

 

[Gigit]

I came across a school group of 5/6 year olds recently. One of them was pulling the tops off some newly planted grasses so, on the spur of the moment, I gently said she shouldn't be doing it. She carried on doing it and then a nearby teacher came and took her by the hand. I suspected it wasn't to stop her but because he thought I had unhealthy intentions.

 

[Jackwow]

If it was up to me children wouln't be allowed in zoos, neither would their parents for that matter, all they do is run around and scream and their parents, mothers usually, take no notice of them and just talk to each other without even looking at the exhibits!!

On second thoughts though, perhaps children are ok in aquariums.............they'd make great shark food.

 

[Brum]

When we go to a zoo our kids seem to be extremely well behaved, I've tried to instill a decent amount of animal awareness into them. They realise that if you're loud the animals stay away. Having said that, show them a play area and they become demons!
I do get annoyed when parents just let their own children run amok, I bet they wouldn't turn a blind eye in the supermarket or somewhere similar. Why is it ok to do it when you're on a family day out?

 

[Themistocles]

If the children acted like that both them and the parents should be kicked out. Any damage to an Animal or Plant on exhibit is intolerable. How would they like it if we just went over to their house and starting ripping little pieces out of their artwork.
Then make them right a letter of apology before they can come back again.

 

[Arizona Docent]

Not sure if Le Parc Des Felins is typical of behavior at all French zoos, but if so then the French know how to teach their children to behave much better than Americans and British (the only countries I have zoo experience in). Even though the exhibits are huge and the cats have plenty of flight space, the children are well behaved and any that start to yell or increase their voice are immediately hushed by their parents.

 

[Chlidonias]

Not sure if Le Parc Des Felins is typical of behavior at all French zoos, but if so then the French know how to teach their children to behave much better than Americans and British (the only countries I have zoo experience in). Even though the exhibits are huge and the cats have plenty of flight space, the children are well behaved and any that start to yell or increase their voice are immediately hushed by their parents.

back in the old days French parents used to threaten their children to keep quiet by telling them they would make them eat snails and frogs legs if they misbehaved. Then one day one parent actually carried through with the threat, and served the child up a plate full of snails and frogs legs and made him eat it. The child took a few mouthfuls and said (in French) "hey, this ain't half bad", the adult tried it, and thus was born the French cuisine.

True story.....

 

[Waddi]

You can tell which kids are mine at the zoo, they're are the ones telling adults to stop banging on the glass and correcting people that chimps are not monkeys. I try to teach them to respect their elders and not be cheeky to adults but times like that at the zoo I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, because they are right.

 

[Indlovu]

I had an experience at Chester the other week where I (as a 15-year-old) took a group of friends for members' day to show them the zoo and give them a bit of an insight as to why I have such a keen interest in zoos and animals. They did enjoy it and conducted themselves very well - as I would come to expect - however our visit did clash with several large secondary school/college visits where students weren't quite so well behaved, some (most probably a small minority) being loud and rude not only around exhibits but towards other visitors and staff.

Now the unfortunate result of this was that a portion of the staff seemed incredibly skeptical of all young people who were visiting's intentions. When trying to enter fruit bat forest (I was clad with Chester Zoo cap and 75-300mm camera lens, just to clarify my status as a regular visitor), we were greeted by the accusation of "Excuse me, you're only allowed in with a teacher or lecturer, and you know that because you're trying to sneak in." To say the least I was rather offended by the notion, but having explained myself to the member of staff and being reminded of the rules in return, we were allowed in.

So could it therefore be suggested that teachers struggling/not bothering to control some of their students not only has negative repercussions for other people trying to view the exhibits, but for other children and young people who end up being tarred with the same brush?

 

[epickoala123]

Not sure if Le Parc Des Felins is typical of behavior at all French zoos, but if so then the French know how to teach their children to behave much better than Americans and British (the only countries I have zoo experience in). Even though the exhibits are huge and the cats have plenty of flight space, the children are well behaved and any that start to yell or increase their voice are immediately hushed by their parents.

I second this, I've been to a few French zoos and every time the local's behavior has been impeccable. The only problem I've had was with tourists.

 

[Javan Rhino]

9 times out of 10 then I find children to be far better behaved [a bit loud and boisterous, but just because they're excited. Not causing harm to animals, property, visitors or staff though, and if they do the parents often say something] at the zoo than teenagers of the 'TOWIE Generation' that just go to the zoo to cause trouble.

One issue that there is in the butterfly house that is kids though is swinging on the ropes. Most stop when they're told not to, but some carry on because they know it gets a reaction out of other people.

 

[Pertinax]

however our visit did clash with several large secondary school/college visits where students weren't quite so well behaved,

This has been discussed here before. Particularly it is this time of the year-the end of the summer term - when many schools traditionally organise 'outings' to the Zoo for large numbers of their children- not just smaller 'educational' parties. Many years ago one visit to Chester Zoo stands out in my memory simply for the hordes of out-of-control secondary school children running wild in the grounds. Things only returned to normal after they reboarded their coaches at about 3.p.m. I had younger children with me at the time(still got them but bigger now) and they were quite intimidated by it all. I complained when we left but of course knew that nothing would be done and things it appears are still just the same some years on.

 

[Pertinax]

I second this, I've been to a few French zoos and every time the local's behavior has been impeccable. The only problem I've had was with tourists.

Children in European zoos seem far, far, better behaved than here in the UK. I noticed it some years ago visiting a few Dutch zoos. What do we do wrong that they can get right?

 

[Pertinax]

If it was up to me children wouln't be allowed in zoos, neither would their parents for that matter, all they do is run around and scream and their parents, mothers usually, take no notice of them and just talk to each other without even looking at the exhibits!!

I have to say I have noticed that is pretty typical behaviour for many schoolteachers in charge of schoolgroups too. Its as if they are having a day off too and mentally switch off from the children in the outdoor surroundings.

 

[TARZAN]

I have to say I have noticed that is pretty typical behaviour for many schoolteachers in charge of schoolgroups too. Its as if they are having a day off too and mentally switch off from the children in the outdoor surroundings.

By far the worst behaviour I have ever experienced was at London when they were all sent free of charge by Mr. Livingstone, an excellent socialist idea in theory, but in practice another matter, I don't think many appreciated it, their behaviour was despicable and to make matters worse the teachers did absolutely nothing about it, it was heaven at about three in the afternoon when they were all packed off home in their coaches, how peaceful the place became, in contrast, I always found the behaviour of the children visiting Edinburgh on school trips to be generally good.

 

[Pertinax]

By far the worst behaviour I have ever experienced was at London when they were all sent free of charge by Mr. Livingstone, an excellent socialist idea in theory, but in practice another matter, I don't think many appreciated it, their behaviour was despicable and to make matters worse the teachers did absolutely nothing about it, it was heaven at about three in the afternoon when they were all packed off home in their coaches, how peaceful the place became, in contrast, I always found the behaviour of the children visiting Edinburgh on school trips to be generally good.

Apart from that one 'Chester experience' I mentioned above (very similar to what you describe here), London seems one of the worst in this respect. Lots of screaming and shouting and banging glass etc. Due to many of the kids coming from inner city schools perhaps? Last time I was there I was forced out of the Reptile House by the increasingly bedlam-like din they created. No teachers in sight. Where do they go- the cafe?

 

[mazfc]

Typical attitude, and from my experiences at London on Wednesday school teachers are even worse. Kids running amock, pushing their way through the crowds, barging into anyone in their way, banging on the glass. And the teachers just look on and do nothing.

I'm a school teacher and I would never let my class behave in this way. Please don't generalise like this, I'm actually offended!! As I'm sure some parents on this thread are too!

 

[canaryboy]

i think it is absolutely ludicrous that children should be banned from zoos. Zoos are important to educate children on the world around them, therefore it is down to the teachers, parents and zoo to make sure the make sure that objective is fulfilled. Alot of children might misbehave because they are not excited by what the zoo has provided for them. Sometimes maybe informative signs on animals aren't gripping gripping enough for a toddler.