“What’s the matter with kids today and why doesn’t anyone want them around?”
Yahoo naturally goes to the extreme with their lede, but their article does illustrate an apparently growing phenomenon. And as Mark Steyn would say, it’s the Demography, Stupid. With a large dose of the “Me Decade” mentality that began with ’70s-era Boomers mixed in as well:
Even running errands with toddlers may be changing. This summer Whole Foods stores in Missouri are offering child-free shopping hours (kids are allowed inside but childcare service is available for parents who want to shop kid-free.) Meanwhile in Florida, a controversy brews over whether kids can be banned from a condominium’s outdoor area. That’s right, some people don’t even want kids outdoors.
When did kids become the equivalent of second-hand smoke? Blame a wave of childless adults with money to spare. “Empty nesters continue to wield a huge swath of discretionary spending dollars, and population dips in first-world countries mean more childless couples than ever,” writes AdWeek’s Klara.
Catering to the child-free community may be good for business but is it good for parents? It could help narrow choices and make kid-friendly environments even kid-friendlier. And let’s be honest, babies won’t miss flying first class. They won’t even remember it. But their moms and dads will.
Most parents with young children have self-imposed limits on spending and leisure. This new movement imposes limits set by the public. And the public isn’t as child-friendly as it used to be. As businesses respond to their new breed of ‘first-class’ clientele, are parents in danger of becoming second-class citizens?
Probably not, as there will be plenty of places that still cater to families with small children. But read the whole article and then explore in the comments. I’d love to know what the PJ Lifestyle readers think of this trend.
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