This was a very sad incident, and was avoidable too. I have read conflicting accounts (there was a fence around the acrylic sheet, there wasn't) so won't comment on the case.
I do agree with you that restaurants need to implement stricter safety regulations and, maybe, need to pass through a tougher scrutiny before they get their license. They should also think about providing some activities for the kids ON THE TABLE.
But, I don't agree about the bit where you say a restaurant should provide baby-sitting staff to keep the kids occupied. Yes, they should provide coloring or other activities to keep the kids' attention but the ultimate responsibility for the kids' good behavior and their safety is with the parents, in my opinion. The restaurant staff should not have to babysit boisterous kids.
You know my little one (M) is a handful but we make sure she remains seated in her chair, or just plays around where we are sitting in a restaurant. If she starts running around, we tell her we will leave (and we mean it). And on an occasion or two we HAVE left a mall after warning her enough times, so she knows that we mean it. So far the threat has been enough but if the day does come when it isn't, we WILL walk out of the restaurant after paying for the food we didn't get to eat. You do that enough times, the kids get the message.
What I mean to say is - parents have the responsibility to keep an eye on their kids. If the kids just won't sit still, don't take them along or, in the most extreme cases, don't go out until they learn to. Order takeout. Go to kid-friendly places. Or, take turns watching the kids. We have done all of the above and you know the lack of family support we have out here.
Sorry to take up so much of your comment space K :P But I had been thinking all this for a long time :D
The US is a very litigious society. Hence they place yellow cones even on wet floors in public places with a "Caution Slippery floor" sign.
Read the article in the TOI "By mistake he stepped on an acrylic sheet that was covering a gap which caved in—Aditya went down breaking the sheet, pieces of which were later found scattered around."
I would put the blame on the construction company for sure.
Gettingtherenow: Restaurants which encourage family dining should definitely do something to keep kids occupied. Those which position themselves as fine dining should have an explicit policy which states "Children below 12 not allowed." I'm not saying they should provide babysitting, I'm saying they would be a hit with nuclear couples dying to eat their meal in peace if they would. You know. Like the playpens in Food Malls. And yes, that is what I did say too, parents have the ultimate responsibility of looking after their children. What happened was tragic and definitely a safety lapse, but I do see this happen all the time. Parents eat and the children run around. We are not strict enough to ensure our children sit with us till our meal is done.
ggop: As it turns out, the entire restaurant was unauthorised. A sad commentary on the state of affairs here.
Kiran, the way I see it, what we need is better childcare options than restaurants bending over backwards to accommodate parents who wouldn't/can't control their kids. I do realize that the reason you and I are disagreeing on this one point is that I do have easy access to good childcare (even if I choose not to use it to leave kids and go to restaurants) while you don't. I agree with you on everything else you said in your post regarding safety and regulations.
As for this particular case - yes, very sad state of affairs that the entire restaurant was unauthorized. I do not deny the restaurant's responsibility at all though I read (in Hindustan Times, I think) that there WAS a fence around the acrylic sheet and the child climbed it to hide there. The restaurant could have done better than put in a flimsy acrylic sheet, in the first place. I don't know what is true and what is not in this case. But I also read accounts of all the kids playing hide and seek there. That, I think, could have been avoided if the kids had been told (and taught) to play quietly (or maybe not so quietly) AT (or around) THE TABLE. "Don't run around" SHOULD be implemented at least to a certain extent, even if just for the sake of other diners. EVEN if it is a child friendly restaurant.
Ggop: I agree totally that US is a very litigious society - way too much for its own good. But at least one thing has come out of it - people have become more aware of the safety pitfalls AND more aware of their right to expect businesses to follow the safety rules and regulations. I wish a few companies would face litigation in India and have to pay up big bucks just so others sit up and take notice (and shape up).
Gettingtherenow: Exactly, In the US, if you take your child to a restaurant it will be a child friendly restaurant. Here there is no concept of children not being allowed in restaurants, except a few because we dont have the concept of leaving the kids with the babysitters and going out to dinner. The kids are tagged along everywhere. It is a cultural difference in mindset. And yes, of course, parents do need to ensure that children learn how to stay put in public, and not make the dining experience hell for other dinners by their running around and game playing and such like. Not everyone might appreciate it. Some restaurants I notice, have fish ponds, mechanised motor games, and video game consoles designed to keep kids engaged. The concept of babysitting does need to come in, in India.
8 opinions:
This was a very sad incident, and was avoidable too. I have read conflicting accounts (there was a fence around the acrylic sheet, there wasn't) so won't comment on the case.
I do agree with you that restaurants need to implement stricter safety regulations and, maybe, need to pass through a tougher scrutiny before they get their license. They should also think about providing some activities for the kids ON THE TABLE.
But, I don't agree about the bit where you say a restaurant should provide baby-sitting staff to keep the kids occupied. Yes, they should provide coloring or other activities to keep the kids' attention but the ultimate responsibility for the kids' good behavior and their safety is with the parents, in my opinion. The restaurant staff should not have to babysit boisterous kids.
You know my little one (M) is a handful but we make sure she remains seated in her chair, or just plays around where we are sitting in a restaurant. If she starts running around, we tell her we will leave (and we mean it). And on an occasion or two we HAVE left a mall after warning her enough times, so she knows that we mean it. So far the threat has been enough but if the day does come when it isn't, we WILL walk out of the restaurant after paying for the food we didn't get to eat. You do that enough times, the kids get the message.
What I mean to say is - parents have the responsibility to keep an eye on their kids. If the kids just won't sit still, don't take them along or, in the most extreme cases, don't go out until they learn to. Order takeout. Go to kid-friendly places. Or, take turns watching the kids. We have done all of the above and you know the lack of family support we have out here.
Sorry to take up so much of your comment space K :P But I had been thinking all this for a long time :D
The US is a very litigious society. Hence they place yellow cones even on wet floors in public places with a "Caution Slippery floor" sign.
Read the article in the TOI
"By mistake he stepped on an acrylic sheet that was covering a gap which caved in—Aditya went down breaking the sheet, pieces of which were later found scattered around."
I would put the blame on the construction company for sure.
Or if it was not the construction company the restaurant. The area should have been clearly cordoned off.
Gettingtherenow: Restaurants which encourage family dining should definitely do something to keep kids occupied. Those which position themselves as fine dining should have an explicit policy which states "Children below 12 not allowed." I'm not saying they should provide babysitting, I'm saying they would be a hit with nuclear couples dying to eat their meal in peace if they would. You know. Like the playpens in Food Malls. And yes, that is what I did say too, parents have the ultimate responsibility of looking after their children. What happened was tragic and definitely a safety lapse, but I do see this happen all the time. Parents eat and the children run around. We are not strict enough to ensure our children sit with us till our meal is done.
ggop: As it turns out, the entire restaurant was unauthorised. A sad commentary on the state of affairs here.
Kiran, the way I see it, what we need is better childcare options than restaurants bending over backwards to accommodate parents who wouldn't/can't control their kids. I do realize that the reason you and I are disagreeing on this one point is that I do have easy access to good childcare (even if I choose not to use it to leave kids and go to restaurants) while you don't. I agree with you on everything else you said in your post regarding safety and regulations.
As for this particular case - yes, very sad state of affairs that the entire restaurant was unauthorized. I do not deny the restaurant's responsibility at all though I read (in Hindustan Times, I think) that there WAS a fence around the acrylic sheet and the child climbed it to hide there. The restaurant could have done better than put in a flimsy acrylic sheet, in the first place. I don't know what is true and what is not in this case. But I also read accounts of all the kids playing hide and seek there. That, I think, could have been avoided if the kids had been told (and taught) to play quietly (or maybe not so quietly) AT (or around) THE TABLE. "Don't run around" SHOULD be implemented at least to a certain extent, even if just for the sake of other diners. EVEN if it is a child friendly restaurant.
Ggop: I agree totally that US is a very litigious society - way too much for its own good. But at least one thing has come out of it - people have become more aware of the safety pitfalls AND more aware of their right to expect businesses to follow the safety rules and regulations. I wish a few companies would face litigation in India and have to pay up big bucks just so others sit up and take notice (and shape up).
Gettingtherenow: Exactly, In the US, if you take your child to a restaurant it will be a child friendly restaurant. Here there is no concept of children not being allowed in restaurants, except a few because we dont have the concept of leaving the kids with the babysitters and going out to dinner. The kids are tagged along everywhere. It is a cultural difference in mindset. And yes, of course, parents do need to ensure that children learn how to stay put in public, and not make the dining experience hell for other dinners by their running around and game playing and such like. Not everyone might appreciate it. Some restaurants I notice, have fish ponds, mechanised motor games, and video game consoles designed to keep kids engaged. The concept of babysitting does need to come in, in India.
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