The top 20 ways young children embarrass parents
Millions of parents are left embarrassed by their ‘spirited’ children almost every day.
A survey of 1,000 parents of kids aged 2-13 revealed they’ve been left chasing them as they’ve wandered off – or red-faced when kids commented loudly on others around them.
And two thirds find their kids’ embarrassing behaviour stressful.
Some of the most common places parents are left red-faced by their kids were found to be supermarkets, cafes or restaurants and public transport.
But nine in 10 parents use phrases like ‘energetic’ and ‘spirited’ as polite ways of describing their ‘wild child’.
Chessington World of Adventures, which commissioned the research, has teamed up with South Western Railway to create a dedicated ‘Noisy Carriage’ on trains for families visiting the park – complete with DJs and dancing, toys, games and entertainment.
Ramesh Ganeson, from the adventure park, said: “Our research shows that parents can feel embarrassed about their kids being noisy in public.
“We always have parents’ backs, so creating a dedicated space where kids can let loose on the train from London Waterloo made perfect sense.”
The study also showed a third struggle to get their children to sit still and keep quiet while getting about on trains or buses.
And 27 per cent wish there were more public spaces where their kids could run riot – free from judgement.
It also emerged 23 per cent have had someone comment on their child’s bad behaviour in public.
Which is perhaps why 28 per cent resort to ‘bribery’ like sweets and screen time in a bid to keep kids quiet.
The research, via OnePoll.com, found kids were most embarrassing between the ages of two and four, followed by the next age group up, five to seven.
Other top ways children leave parents wishing the ground would open up include needing to be carried off during a kicking and screaming tantrum (23 per cent).
The same amount hate it when they spill food or drink everywhere in a restaurant or café, and 21 per cent get wound up when their own kids are being horrors – but all the others nearby are behaving like perfect angels.
And one in 10 said their offspring singing at the top of their lungs is a source of embarrassment for them.
The ‘Noisy Carriage’ [www.southwesternrailway.com] will depart from Waterloo from 9.17 on Monday 29th July and Wednesday 31st July, arriving at Chessington South 36 minutes later.
Ramesh Ganeson, from Chessington World of Adventures, added: “All parents recognise ‘the fear’ of a pending trip on a bus, train or plane.
“Our results found this is a particular pain point when it comes to embarrassing behaviour, so we’re happy to be able to offer a safe space for mums, dads, grandparents and any other guardians.
“With any luck, with that and a full day at a theme park, at least the journey back will be quiet – because kids will be fast asleep.”
TOP WAYS KIDS EMBARRASS THEIR PARENTS:
1. Running away or wandering off when they’ve been told not to
2. Screaming
3. Commenting out loud on other people around them with no filter
4. Having to carry them kicking and screaming in public
5. Spilling food or drink everywhere in a restaurant/café
6. Kicking off when every other child is behaving perfectly
7. Having a strop by sitting down and not moving
8. Clinging onto you and refusing to let go when they don’t want to do something
9. Refusing to let another child have a turn on something
10. Repeating a private conversation they weren’t supposed to share
11. Opening the toilet door when you’re on the loo and other people are there
12. Knocking something fragile off a shelf in a supermarket or shop
13. Repeating something you’ve said in front of the person you were talking about
14. Swearing without realising they’ve said a rude word
15. Hiding in rails of clothes in a shop and jumping out at strangers
16. Singing at the top of their lungs
17. Having to clean up when they’ve been sick
18. Wetting themselves when they’re too old to be doing so
19. Calling you fat in public
20. Arguing with a sibling
