I can understand excluding children from some venues, not everything is appropriate for children. I do think it is excessive to ban children from grocery stores and restaurants though. Personally, if I came across someplace which banned children, I wouldn't do business with them.

Oh, yes, we agree 100% with the Brat-Ban, altho we also agree maybe another "label" might be in order. We have had our dinner ruined more times than I care to remember by a crying, screaming, running around the table child. You want the manager to throw them out, but he/she can't cause it will cause issues, altho many have agreed with us that it would be a good idea. Souplantation in Temecula is a frequent offender. We've asked many a parent if the restaurant appears to resemble a McDonald's play area. The parent is probably upset with us, but doesn't want to admit it!!

You make a lot of interesting points. I believe due to circumstances, it is ok to have an option of banning children. I say this, but let me make sure that with that I also say that I enjoy and love children. The real problem is in the parents. Some people are too tired, too unaware or just too much in denial to be responsible for their children. When children act inappropriately, responsible parents do what you have stated you have done (leave the restaurant/store) or dealt with the situation and turned the inappropriate behavior around. Some parents are not responsible and decide to ignore it (stay in a movie theater while the child is crying/ be oblivious as a child carries on at a resturant) or they want everyone else to appreciate their child even though they are acting inappropriate for their surroundings. I understand that some parents are tired and overwhelmed, I get that, but if that is the case, those are ones that need to be respectful of others and not subject inappropriate behavior on others. As most people from my generation were being raised, we would not act inappropriately due to the fact that it would only take one time, and then our parents would be all over us correcting the behavior. We as children knew how to act and how not to act for the most part. Was it fear that made us act correctly? Probably, but it sure helped to raise responsible adults.

Kids today are no more bratty than in my day or in other earlier days, but one ingredient missing, or in shorter supply today, is a demonstration of respect for others. I think the lack of respect shown to others started with the Baby Boom Generation, of which I am one. It got to be known as the "Me Generation" and certainly deserved the title. Unlike our parents and grandparents who lived through a terrible Great Depression, followed by a terrible World War which cost more than 400,000 American lives and 50 million lives worldwide, we had it pretty soft. Unlike my mom when she grew up in the 1930s, I knew where my next meal was coming from: It was coming from mom when she returned from the store. Baby Boomers had it good, were spoiled, then turned around and spoiled their own children. Isn't if funny that you can tell someone their dog is spoiled rotton and they will smile with pleasure, but if you suggest their child may be spoiled or a little bratty, the response is different. Although we Baby Boomers were spoiled, it was imparted to us by our parents to show respect for others, at least while we were children. We didn't have to "feel" actual respect for others, teachers, etc., but we had to at least "show" respect. I don't think children today get that lesson so much, and parents or "lack of parenting" I cite as the reason. My parents showed good manners when dealing with others and I saw and acted that way too. I think there is less of that type of parenting today.

Logistics! I've been in restaurants in the pass area where the tables are crammed close together, the acoustics are terrible, and the service is none too speedy. The Calamesa library has no separation between "story time" area and what reading area there is. Architects listen up! Form follows function. Design interiors with "lively" youngsters in mind. Of course the touch of claustrophobia I have tints my opinion and I know that.

I must say that I agree 100% I am a mother of three kids and if one misbehaves in the very least they are immediately removed from where we are at, there is one thing that I cannot stand is a bratty kid in the grocery store, and when you look over at the mom shes just shopping away giving no mind to how wild their child is acting and getting in the way of others shopping. There is one thing that I make sure of with my kids is that they do not act up. I do understand that the "brat-ban" isn't appropriate for the grocery store but as a restaurant YESSSSSS all the way, especially if it's a higher end restaurant and the venue is a little more quiet. I HAVE been at a restaurant where I see kids act like wild animals! come on now parents need to show discipline to their youngsters! I honestly do believe that this problem stems to the parents and their lack of authority, kids these days I see more and more do not respect their parents thus have an affect on the respect they show to other adults let alone their peers. Although, some restaurants are family friendly I wouldn't mind a night out with my hunny in a kid free zone! I think that if your a parent and go through all the stresses and real life issues with raising kids, you're entitled to a night out in a kid fee restaurant. One reason that parents go out to dinner alone is to get away from the kids for a while, so why would one want to go into a area to have to hear someone else's child screaming and acting up!?

Completely for a Brat-Ban... any brat, any time, any where, and their inconsiderate, sense of entitlement filled parents as well! Wherever brats are not allowed, sign me up!

My work makes me travel, so I eat out often. If there is a consideration for any type of "rules of conduct" it should apply globaly, not just children. I have encountered maybe as many or more adults that are brats who need a good sense of respect for others, and many children that have far better manners than adults. So focus on the issue, not the symptom; the issue is poor conduct, poor manners, or lack of respect by anybody. If you cannot apply a solution like this you have not addressed the problem.

I want to jump on the behavior bandwagon here. I don't care the age, gender, skin tone or whatever other factors may apply to someone who cannot behave or will not behave in public. It is all about the behavior, and when it comes to parents of children, I blame them when their child makes a scene that disturbs everybody else in a public place and they do nothing about it. I cannot blame the parent for the outburst itself, but what happens after does matter. When a parent removes a screaming or otherwise bratty child from a restaurant, I say "there goes a good and responsible parent." My wife and I once had a bratty dog who just didn't seem to like other people. Guess what? He only went out to visit the vet or the groomer and when someone came over to the house, guess who got stuck outside? The dog we have now loves to be around everybody and is a pleasure to be around, so guess who gets to stay inside when people come to visit?