taiboo

Mine does here in NJ and i am soooooooo thankful they do too. We were there today and my daughter went straight to it to play lol

sabrinaquilts

Not many in my area has toy box available. However, the ones that do are not very good. They make unsafe mistakes like placing the play area near an outside door where kids can easily slip outside. I have even been in a shop where the play area is not properly lighted so the kids are too scared to stay. Not to mention it smelled like mildew. It looks like the owners don't seem to take the time to make that area more comforting to the children so the kids would like to stay and leave their mothers alone to do more shopping. When my kids do go with me to shops and play in the toy box, I always make sure my kids put all the toys back. I make sure the place is left in the condition we showed up to. I also make my kids thank the shop staff when we leave. Having worked in retail I understand how unbearable it can be for the staff to hear unruling children one after another. When I was working I vowed never to be one of those moms that let their children treat stores like a playground or think their children couldn't possibly do anything wrong. Like shoplifting or knocking down displays. My oldest is ADHD so I have to make sure he does not leave the store. My second oldest has butterfingers so I have to tell him to stop touching stuff unfortunately he is very texturally absesses. My third oldest is affraid of everything. So he usually is attached to my leg unless the shop has Tootsie Rolls then he just sticks close to me like my shadow. My youngest likes to rearrange the stores' displays, give the patrons hugs whether they are expecting it or not, and he thinks his dimple is his VIP access to everywhere. I try to go LQS shopping solo. If I do have to bring my entourage I only go if I have something specific like buying batting.

wambrita

My LQS that I'm about 1.5 miles away from does not have a toybox.

However, the quilting/textile goods store that's about.. 2-3 miles away has a lego table at the back of the store. I went in there with my oldest daughter about a month ago while my husband and my younger daughter waited in the car -she had fallen asleep- and told my daughter to stay at the table and play with the legos. I kept going to periodically check on her, and she was super quiet and playing by herself nicely. Then when I was ready to check out, I told her as soon as I was done paying for my stuff it was time to go. She actually was ok with that and I didn't have to fight with her to leave.

There's also a scrapbooking store near my old apartment on the other side of town that even had a little 4 by 4 area with toys too, and it even had a gate, so the kids couldn't take off and create havoc in the store. I think it's okay for kids to touch fabric -as long as their hands are clean. Before taking my girls into a fabric or craft store, I always wipe their hands and faces off with a baby wipe to make sure there's nothing that can stain or dirty stuff up.

I think it's a fantastic idea, and more stores should do it. Even if it's just a small box of toys in the classroom area -so it doesn't take up retail space- would be perfect!

katiebear1

I used to live in Denver too, but back then I didn't quilt. My kids still live there. Next time I go visit I will have to go there. Do you remember what part of town it was in?

Luckynumber7

My LQS has some dolls and doll cribs, but I don't think they're used very often. It also has a husband's area, which has a good view of the cash register LOL.

Chrys

Not our local one, but I think it's a great idea! There was a store in the next town over that had a large bucket filled with buttons that she would throw change in there and tell the kids to go "fishing" any money they found was theirs to keep. Too bad she had to close down the store.

amma

I don't think that I have ever seen kids in any quilt shop either....

jolo

Yes my LQS has an entire corner boxed in with fabrics on one side of the cabinets and the inside is a play room for kids, It is close to the cutting table and the cutter will police the action, If a child gets mean,she will call him down, Once a mom got upset because someone else called her son down. The owner said politely that it would happen again if he threw the toys at others and if she didnt want it to happen, not to bring him the next time. She has been back with him several times. lol

quiltmom04

Yes, ours does. It helps keep kids out of the threads!!

isewhegolf

Bad idea! With everything going around, imagine what your child or grandchild could pick up! Nasty, nasty. Best idea is to leave the children home or shop while they are in school. :thumbdown: