Parents bringing children to the gym

Red Alert

Bit of a rant...

Yesterday I visited the gym. Yet again, the visit was spoilt by a mob of unruly children who were let run riot under their parents noses. First, they ran around the weights area roaring and screaming. Then one kid started trying to get up on treadmills even though they can’t reach the control panel.

I decided to have a soak in the hot tub after I’d done my workout. I discovered, to my horror, that parents now seem unable to read as well. The parents of these three children, who were doing lengths in the pool, must have walked by three signs telling them that under 16’s were not permitted into the hot tub, sauna or steam room. However, they seemed to have little problem with their awful children drinking the hot tub water, spitting it out and then running in and out of the steam room while throwing swim floats around the place. The final straw was when a female patron got hit on the head with swim floats that they were throwing around the place. And did the parents say anything? No, they were letting the children ‘express themselves’, I was told.

It’s shocking how some parents think that their kids are above the rules, and let them show such disrespect towards other customers who’ve paid to come there too. Sadly, this is part of the whole school of parenting that lets the children ‘express themselves’ at all costs, without regard to any basic discipline. Do they think the place is a creche or what?

Hanley

What did management have to say when you informed them of this?

Cookie_Monster

Red Alert wrote: »

I decided to have a soak in the hot tub after I’d done my workout. I discovered, to my horror, that parents now seem unable to read as well. The parents of these three children, who were doing lengths in the pool, must have walked by three signs telling them that under 16’s were not permitted into the hot tub, sauna or steam room. However, they seemed to have little problem with their awful children drinking the hot tub water, spitting it out and then running in and out of the steam room while throwing swim floats around the place.

Just tell them to get out and point at the sign if need be...:rolleyes:

Red Alert

Hanley wrote: »

What did management have to say when you informed them of this?

The staff say that if they tell them to get out then the parents complain to the manager... catch 22 situation. I'm going to ask the manager to deal with it if I'm there midweek.

brianthebard

"accidentally" leave a dumbbell in the way of the kids when they are running around...

dioltas

That's a disgrace. Definitely warrants a complaint to the manager or a change of gyms. Besides being a pain in the hole, those children could have easily injured themselves or someone else if they were messing around with the machines and weights. Wouldn't want to be halfway through a heavy squat and have one of them run in to me or something.

aoibhebree

There is no way the staff in any gym I've been to would put up with that! If I were you and this was happening on a regular basis, I'd look for a refund on my membership and go elsewhere.

joes girls

get out of their thats not a gym bloody playschool whats wrong with these mums i go to my the gym to get away from my lot.....

rubadub

Red Alert wrote: »

The staff say that if they tell them to get out then the parents complain to the manager... catch 22 situation.

I don't understand how that is catch 22?

You are telling the staff that people are breaking the rules, and the other people compain about you complaining?

You have a reasoned complaint, what on earth are the parents saying to the manager?

"mr manager, I have a complaint"
"yes, what is the matter"
"a man is complaining about me breaking the rules, its just not on..."

Red Alert

No, what happens is when little Johnny or Mary is acting the bollix and the staff tell them to get out the parents cause hassle then. So the staff say there's not much they can do. Grrrr.

Hanley

Red Alert wrote: »

No, what happens is when little Johnny or Mary is acting the bollix and the staff tell them to get out the parents cause hassle then. So the staff say there's not much they can do. Grrrr.

Family membership > single person, unfortunately.

Johnny Storm

I'm no expert but I would have thought that the gym management would be very concerned about insurance if one of the little darlings got whats coming to them tragically hurt themselves.
FWIW my wife was told in no uncertain terms that one of our little darlings was not allowed in the gym in Westwood Leopardstown

bubblewrap

brianthebard wrote: »

"accidentally" leave a dumbbell in the way of the kids when they are running around...

Or next time they are in the tub, spit the water into their faces.

God I hate kids like that, you can't even clip em round the ear or hold their heads under the water :rolleyes: (joking! )

Kimia

What gym is this?

I'd give it a very wide berth.

WolfForager

I know how you feel. Was doing some weights last week and a 8 year old (ish) walked in. He stared at me for about 5 minutes and when i put down the dumbells he grabbed one of em and tried to drag it off. Seeing as i hate kids it took every part of my being not to scream at him. I grabbed it back off him and he went back to staring at me. When his dad came in i gave him the "you should be ashamed of yourself" look. Felt good!

injured365

sounds like another place that parents are trying to take over as a free creche.......and the manager of that gym doesnt sound like much of a manager if hes more worried about losing some members than potential lawsuits from children being injured

vibrant

Name and shame the gym! That is totally out of order. I won't be able to sit in a hot tub without imagining a little kid spitting into it now

Who knows, if you complain loudly enough the family could have their membership revoked.

Hanley

vibrant wrote: »

Name and shame the gym! That is totally out of order. I won't be able to sit in a hot tub without imagining a little kid spitting into it now

Who knows, if you complain loudly enough the family could have their membership revoked.

Hanley wrote: »

Family membership > single person, unfortunately.

It's a sh!t deal, but the gym is a business which is going to pick the person/people who'll generate higher revenues. Families are typically more inclined to use ancillary services provided by most gyms too (cafe's, drinks etc, swimming lessons, creche and what not).

vibrant

Hanley, I totally see your point.

It's a pity that people are let away with so much all in the name of € though.

aye

Hanley wrote: »

It's a sh!t deal, but the gym is a business which is going to pick the person/people who'll generate higher revenues. Families are typically more inclined to use ancillary services provided by most gyms too (cafe's, drinks etc, swimming lessons, creche and what not).

completely, i was in the gym a few weeks ago and there was a freaking bouncing castle on the gym floor.
A Bouncing Castle!!! FFS.















* actually it was cool, i joined in :P

iregk

Red Alert wrote: »

they seemed to have little problem with their awful children drinking the hot tub water, spitting it out

Pi$$ is the hot tub next time as your getting out. Its not going to solve your problems but will put a smile on your face!:D

arse..biscuits

iregk wrote: »

Pi$$ is the hot tub next time as your getting out. Its not going to solve your problems but will put a smile on your face!:D

i bet the kids beat him to it

az2wp0sye65487

Red Alert wrote: »

Bit of a rant...

Yesterday I visited the gym. Yet again, the visit was spoilt by a mob of unruly children who were let run riot under their parents noses. First, they ran around the weights area roaring and screaming. Then one kid started trying to get up on treadmills even though they can’t reach the control panel.

I decided to have a soak in the hot tub after I’d done my workout. I discovered, to my horror, that parents now seem unable to read as well. The parents of these three children, who were doing lengths in the pool, must have walked by three signs telling them that under 16’s were not permitted into the hot tub, sauna or steam room. However, they seemed to have little problem with their awful children drinking the hot tub water, spitting it out and then running in and out of the steam room while throwing swim floats around the place. The final straw was when a female patron got hit on the head with swim floats that they were throwing around the place. And did the parents say anything? No, they were letting the children ‘express themselves’, I was told.

It’s shocking how some parents think that their kids are above the rules, and let them show such disrespect towards other customers who’ve paid to come there too. Sadly, this is part of the whole school of parenting that lets the children ‘express themselves’ at all costs, without regard to any basic discipline. Do they think the place is a creche or what?

Next time they're there why don't you express yourself and let roar at them and the parents for not following the gym's rules?

IIMII

vibrant wrote: »

Hanley, I totally see your point.

It's a pity that people are let away with so much all in the name of € though.

Tell them you are cancelling your membership