Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

Parents in Park Slope are discussing a ban on ice cream carts in a Prospect Park playground because of the choice they have to make between letting their ravenous progeny wail or opening the gate to a lifetime of obesity and hypertension. And there is no middle ground.

The Post found an entry on Park Slope Parents (the posting eludes us) from a mother named Sarah who recalled a recent day at the park spoiled by those sugar-slingers. “Along with the first truly beautiful day of the year, my son and I had our first ruined day at the playground,” she writes. “Two different people came into the actual playground with ice cream/Italian ice push carts. I was able to avoid it for a little while but eventually I left with a crying 4-year-old.” No doubt the boy will recount the injustice on a psychiatrist's couch for years to come.

Not all the parents at the playground fit the stereotype (one noted that “People just need to say no") but those are the type of families who probably buy Israeli products at the co-op.

"Nobody wants to be a crank," Sarah Schenck, co-founder of parentearth.com says, "But one in three kids are going to be obese or diabetic by high school. When my kids see other kids get ice cream, they just start begging me." Perfectly rational. You want to teach your kids about fairness but—wait, what is THIS?

gothamist.com

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I think it is unfair...They are trying to make a living.. Having an ice pop or ice cream once in a while isn't going to hurt anyone! JMO.. I love when the ice cream man comes to the park.. Gives us a chance for a break.. If you don't want your kid to have it, then tell them NO... Are they going to kick and scream, maybe. But it is a part of life.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

Just because you cant say NO to your little brat doesn't mean that my kids should miss out on some cold deliciousness on a hot summer's day.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I see the point, kind of.

But I am a pill.

I hate having to say no, I hate the sadness after saying no, I hate seeing some kids want ice cream while other kids are sitting there enjoying a huge ice cream cone, I hate how they don't take debit or credit and sometimes I don't have cash, I hate when I'm on a diet and I want a treat, and I hate how every single day at 4:30, the ice cream man comes around.

Then again, what are you going to do?

If I go to the mall, there's the play place. There's the yummy pretzel stand.

One time I bought ice cream for my niece and some stupid kid knocked it out of her hand because he wanted it.

First world problems, I tell ya. Kids are starving in Africa but we whine over an abundance of food available at all hours and all places.

Can't win.

Message edited 4/2/2012 1:53:57 PM.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I have no problem saying no, which I do DAILY when he drives by my house with music blaring, but its a nice treat at the park or at home when I don't say no. Kids can't always get what they want and while it may be annoying to fight over it, eventually its not such a big fight....its just no, not today.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I give my kid plenty of crap but I also kind of cringe when the ice cream man "comes". I guess I just dislike the whole luring my kid in with the music, etc. It's almost like twisting my arm to get him some and although I usually do get him some, maybe we had other plans for that day like a trip to the ice cream parlor later, a big birthday party, a nap, or a nice outfit i'm not looking to destroy. My kid is only 2 though so right now saying "no" can go either way and if it sends him into a tailspin tantrum it totally stinks for me. But what can you do? I still don't think we should throw out the ice cream man haha and i'm hoping that saying "no" maybe eases up as he gets older though I fear the worst!

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I have no problems teaching my DC that sometimes "No" is the answer, and if I say No, I'm not going to budge. IMO, it will help them for the rest of their lives by learning to deal with not getting everything they want.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I feel like Park Slope is so hip that they should propose a vegan treat truck. I bet it would do well. I can see it now... soy cookies made with dates and nuts, maybe seaweed shakes.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

While I don't think there should be a ban, I do kind of see their point.

The Ice cream truck sits at the park by our house all summer. No driving around, he just sits there. When we go to football or baseball practice, again the ice cream truck parks right there.

It's a PITA for me. My kid always wants to get ice cream. I do say no most of the time, but I hate seeing my kid upset for no reason.

Not really a big deal either way but I can see why parents want the ban.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I think this is ridiculous. Why should some kids suffer bc another child's parent feels bad putting limits on his/her kid. When will people stop with all of this nonsense? If you don't want your kid to have it, learn to say "no" and deal with it. Why must "they" institute a ban just to make their lives easier by A) not having to be inconvenienced by an upset toddler and B) because they can't effectively regulate their child's behavior and eating habits.

I personally can't wait for the ice-cream truck to come down our street so I can buy our DS (almost 2.5) his 1st treat off the truck. Will I buy him a treat every time, no. I don't have any issue saying no to him. Yesterday we went to the zoo with friends. The other 2 children were drinking apple juice. DS pointed to the box and said "apple juice." He only gets water so I offered him his water and he drank it happily. Did I feel a little bad, sure, but I don't usually give him juice. Period.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I can't really say too much since DS isn't much into sweets

On the other hand.. to me the fun of the park, soccer field, football field, etc is the ice-cream man waiting with the music playing.

It always went hand in hand to me. First off, if the kid is running around on the playground or playing soccer, ate a healthy lunch, drinking water than why not get a special treat of ice cream after.
I think it's a little ridiculous. My friends and I always got some cash to get ice cream and none of my friends are obese. We got it after playing or practicing soccer for a couple of hours.

I can only speak from my experience. I love the summer time. Getting my boys outside to play, run, exercise, is important to me and then if they're good then they can get a special treat.
If the parents give it to their kids excessively all the time then there's a problem and that's why the child is obese.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I totally see their point. I for one hate being in a situation where I'm the bad guy for saying no. But I also think that it is what it is. My belief's are just that mind. And if I disagree about something I don't have to do it. DS loves when the ice cream truck comes around but he doesn't get any ice cream ever, I'm not sure he realizes I can buy him some . I;m sure that will change, but I wouldn't want to ban them just because I didn't want a whinny ds.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I’m well documented on my ‘no sweets’ type mentality but even for me this is way over board. I can and do tell my child No on a frequent basis. Its not a problem. She cries. Fine, big deal. Tears won’t melt the fabric of the universe. The world will be here tomorrow.

I would share a scoop with her but only after she’d played so much that I need a break or got bored. It’s a nice way of getting her to sit still. But there’s no negotiation about that. You play first, treats afterwards. My way or the highway. You want to throw a fit you get neither playground OR ice cream and get stuck inside. Neither Ice Cream or play ground is a right, just privilege.

She has been learning she can NOT have everything that others have. Life is cruel. Mama is poor. I can’t afford every whim. That goes in and out of the park. Her expectations are set accordingly. She appreciates more the rare treat because it is rare.

That’s my responsibility as a parent to teach my child how to deal with “no” and disappointments in life. It’s my job to learn how to deal with her in temptation situations and to teach her how to deal with them too.

Let the ice cream man do his business. That man has plenty of my quarters. Its an honest living! If he can’t sell to children at a playground, what’s next? No ice cream man down streets from 3pm-5pm? No candy stores in malls? No quarter rides where kids can see them? No free cookie in the grocery store (even AJ gets this one).

Come on, kids should be kids. Just we need to learn to teach them Moderation. Notice I said “we need to learn” because heck even I have self control issues on ice cream on a hot day!

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

if you look at it that way, then so many things would be banned. for example- any of the treats/candy at the checkout lines. everytime i wait on line my kids see 100 things they want. i say. no. or i say, that's $5--do you have $5 on you? they say no, i say well, then, how can you buy it? sometimes they start to throw a fit, but i have to explain it, they eventually understand, and it gets better.

but really, everything in moderation. (unless you have a kid with an illness that can't have sweets, but then you need to have your child understand that). an ice cream every now and then at the park is not a terrible thing. it won't make you a have a fat kid. likewise, saying no to the ice cream every now and then is also ok. maybe then the tantrums when you do say no will stop....

i don't know- i have a fondness for the ice cream trucks. at home, i give my kids healthy treats as much as possible. but the ice cream truck is such a spring/summer symbol and we love it. we run they get an ice cream, everyone's delighted. it's at most once a month for a few months out of the year.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I ate ice cream all the time as a kid and still do now- and i resent that they say that will lead to a lifetime of obesity.
I am far from obese.
This kind of shyt annoys me.
Control your kid.
Don't punish the rest of us.

And what about learning moderation? It is totally unrealistic to think that you or your child will NEVER eat ice cream, cake, fast food.

Message edited 4/2/2012 3:33:51 PM.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

Just. say. no.

This generation of kids is being ruined by their parent's inability to deny them ANYTHING.

I have no problem saying no to ice cream at the park. Once in a while we get it on a hot summer day, it's a treat. And I have nothing against sweets-- my kids frequently have a couple cookies after dinner, etc. I just hate paying for ice cream from the truck when we could walk home and have a bowl of whatever flavor's in the freezer.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I hate when the truck comes to the playground! Its a huge disruption, The truck has to drive up a huge hill through a big parking lot to get to the playground. My ds sees all the other kids screaming, running, some crying lol. I feel bad saying no, it's one thing for them to go to residential streets. But to come to the playground, is just beyond annoying.

I end up going to the truck , waiting on a long line, buying it, so my kids take 2 bites and I have to eat the rest last summer my kids were 1 and 2 yo so they would get upset if I said no to the icecream truck.

I would be happy to see a ban on park grounds, not for obesity reasons. But the whole playground just turns into kiddie choas

Message edited 4/2/2012 3:53:03 PM.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

Posted by jacquig

Posted by GioiaMia

Just because you cant say NO to your little brat doesn't mean that my kids should miss out on some cold deliciousness on a hot summer's day.

What about parents learning to say no and sticking to it. Since when do kids have the rule of the roost. Such b.s.

Also ice cream once in a while does not open up the door to obesity. Parents should control what their kids eat. Come on..people are so ridiculous

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

in my house my father continoously quoted Mick Jagger in that "you cant always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need."

my parents had no problem saying no to icecream some days. Parents need to stop coddling their kids and learn how to say NO.

My coworker, whose son is a college dropout now, insisted that she never used NO with her son. that it was always..maybe, i'll think about it, etc. Im like..Oh, I have no problem telling my kid NO when he asks for a lollypop for breakfast, or asks for cookies or does something he shouldnt.

These folks are also trying to make a living selling their icecream.

I bet these are also the park slope parents I see in articles giving their kids mini-cappucinos???

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

Posted by cncforever

I feel like Park Slope is so hip that they should propose a vegan treat truck. I bet it would do well. I can see it now... soy cookies made with dates and nuts, maybe seaweed shakes.

Re: Parents trying to ban ice cream in parks/playgrounds? Gothamist article.

I wish we had more ice cream trucks. My son doesn't like sweets so it has never been an issue.