Parents reportedly dumping kids at shops, beaches to go for coffee

It appears multitasking is fast becoming too much of a challenge for some parents who have reportedly been caught dumping their young children at shopping centres and beaches to keep them occupied.

With children easily entertained by animals, pet stores have reportedly become makeshift baby sitters for children as young as two, while their parents duck out for a coffee.

“It happens on a daily basis, there is a glass wall between us and the beauty shop and the mums think it’s OK, but it’s not safe,” Pets R Fun store proprietor Peta told News Corp.

“Other parents come in and say, ‘do you mind watching our child while we pop down to the shops’ and we have to say no, it’s very busy and we can’t do that.”

Lifeguards have also complained of children wandering beaches unattended, with parents not realising the severe danger they are putting them in by doing so.

News Corp reported that parents have been seen leaving their children between the flags, assuming they are in good hands.

Some retailers have even been forced to place signs on their windows, warning parents not try and leave their kids unattended for any amount of time.

While other stores have taken the exact opposite approach and after seeing a demand, turned parts of their stores into “Drop N Shop” casual childcare centres.

For $26.50, Monkey Mania allow parents to drop their children off at their play pits for three hours.

“We put a yellow vest on the children that are being cared for. They are very visible. It works well for everyone.”

However, for most the message remains clear.

“Our staff aren’t babysitters,” a shopping centre spokesman added.