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Chuck E. Cheese Kid Check Not So Effective
Categories: Preschoolers, Kids 5-7, Places To Go, Health & Safety
I, like most parents, have experienced the horror that is Chuck E. Cheese -- the restaurant-slash-playground that features kid-sized Habitrails, video games, and something that could, if one were feeling generous, be likened to pizza. Regardless of what parents might think of the place, kids seem to enjoy it.The times we've had to go (for birthday parties and the like), I've kept a close eye on my kids to make sure that they aren't bothering anyone else, that no one bothers them, and that they don't get lost or hurt. Still, when they disappear into those big, generally opaque tubes, it can be difficult to keep track of them. That's why I've been glad they have their kid check system in place. Everyone in a group gets stamped with a number and kids are not allowed to leave unless they're with an adult with the same number. At least, that's the way it works in theory.
A television station in San Antonio, Texas, acting on a tip from a viewer, tested the system at the five Chuck E. Cheese locations in the area. Of those, four allowed a child to leave with someone other than the adult that brought them. I'm sure that the restaurants in question will tighten up their security and that there will likely be a memo sent to all the stores, but the lesson here is don't count on the kid check program. Keep your eyes on your kids.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Crystal 11-24-2008 @ 6:22PM
Funny you should blog about this...
We went to Chuck E Cheese last week. The stamps they use, at least in our local CEC, can only be seen under a blacklight.
With that said, when we were leaving the attendant barely even checked our hands. And I looked at my own stamp under the light and could barely see anything. Never mind an actual number.
The attendant never questioned us, and we just walked out.
You advice is correct. Watch your children.
Reply
angie 11-25-2008 @ 5:53PM
we also have it buy me and half the time there isnt even any one by the doors
Jimmy Barnes 11-25-2008 @ 9:53PM
yes I have personally expierenced this as well, MY 3 year old son was climbing on the large slide,climbing area when he went out of my site(which is easy since you cannot see everywhere on there) well as I am waiting for him to come down we hear a screeching in the busy parking lot where to my horror when I looked out I seen my crying 3 year old walking around the parking lot, When I confronted the staff and management about this all they could say is sorry and I should have watched him better.(he was able to walk out right past the so called kid check) So I have never returned.
elaine rau 11-25-2008 @ 10:17PM
A group of us went to Chuckie Cheese with my Granddaughters. My younger daughter joined us later. When we left my younger daughter (who had a different number) was carrying one of my granddaughters and was stopped by security since the numbers did not match. That was in Patchogue, NY. The security was very good!
Krystine 11-24-2008 @ 7:41PM
I think it's great that you just widened the scope for all the bad guys out there. Now they know, too, that Chuck E Cheese doesn't really check who's leaving with who. Hey, bad guys, go on ahead and find that one birthday party where WAY more kids showed up than RSVP'd, so there's not enough adults to watch all the kids they're responsible for. Good Job ParentDish!
Reply
Deidre 11-25-2008 @ 5:18PM
I think the point was not to let the bad guys in on it, but to remind parents that, whatever the system may claim to do, they still have to keep a better eye on their kids then they have been. I, for one, am glad to know this, so that if I do find myself taking a group of kids there, that i know I can't count on the employees to do what they say they do.
Catherine 11-25-2008 @ 5:32PM
Parents should NEVER expect someone else to be responsible for their children. At a Birthday party, the parents of the Birthday child are naturally going to be paying more attention to their child than the guest, so the parents of the guest should stay to help chaperone their children.
Parent Dish did not do anything wrong to report this, they just informed the parents who were not watching their children because they thought it was OK to depend on Chuck E Cheese employee to do their job for them. Believe it or not, there are plenty of parents out there who just let anybody run around with their children.
Missy 11-25-2008 @ 5:35PM
Krystine,
I'm sure the bad people have already scoped it out and know, so I don't think the article clued to many of them in. They're(bad people) probably online now on MySpace or Facebook trying to get your kids address.
Bryan D 11-26-2008 @ 3:58PM
Seriously, what kind of irresponsible parent would even think to go to CEC and leave their kids unattended. It's not a matter of whether or not the attendants that don't give a damn are checking, it's whether or not the parent(s) are stupid enough to let their kids roam free in these kinds of places. I know when I was growing up those couple of years ago, my older sister and I were constantly watched by our parents, and when my younger sister came along, we all took turns watching her and still do today. I may be the ripe age of sixteen, but trust me, when the encounters were only months at most ago, you tend to see things much more closely than the oblivious adults that make up our society
Jason 11-25-2008 @ 7:41PM
If some sick tool is looking to pick up kids then i am sure they already know there are lots a this place. Its clear that there doing something good by bringing it to the attention of the company and the parents. Just the fact that the article was writen and there are parents reading it will probably send hundreds of parents into action pushing them to call there local chucky cheese and demand they do something about it if they are going to step foot in there. Much more good will come out of an article like this than bad thats for sure.
Kori 11-25-2008 @ 9:24PM
heaven forbid..... I think the big picture was to warn all the parents that it isnt as effective as we would like to think. I mean youre right though they shouldnt post this!!! NO they shouldnt... instead it would be a lot safer (and less pedophiles would know) if they just stood outside every Chuck - E - Cheese and let the parents know.... Smart thinking
CW 11-24-2008 @ 11:36PM
We were just at Chuck E Cheese a week or so ago - they were STRICT about checking our hand stamps and we were there in the middle of the afternoon on a school day. There were like eight people in the entire place. Way to go to our local Chuck E Cheese.
Reply
Laura - DashinFashion.com 11-26-2008 @ 12:30PM
The concept of having a kid check is a good one but it seems like parents can feel overly comfortable that there kids don't need to be watched. Sounds like a good wakeup call to us all and Chuck E Cheese that they need to follow strict procedures if they are going to offer a service like kid check.
Laura
http://www.dashinfashion.com
http://dashinfashion.blogspot.com
http://www.mykidsfashion.com
Reply
Emily 11-25-2008 @ 11:54AM
The one time I went there, they didn't bother checking the stamps. When I went to leave with my daughter, they simply said, "Since you two look alike, you are probably together" and they let us leave. The only feature that my daughter clearly got from me is blonde hair. I live in Minnesota, where at least half of the people have blonde hair.
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Becca 11-25-2008 @ 4:09PM
The last time we were at CEC they were VERY strict about the whole thing. My Nieces Husband arrived late for their son's Party, they almost didn't let him in at all, because he was a young male arriving alone, but with verification from 3 or 4 of us that he was indeed with our party he was allowed in. When it was time to go, he was not allowed to take either of his two kids out the door because his stamp did not match theirs. Their Mother had to take both of them while he brought up the rear with all the kids stuff in his arms. However, it is still a parents responsibility to keep track of their own children and keep them as safe as possible.
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ann 11-25-2008 @ 4:10PM
you should keep your eye on your own children. it's nice they offer this service, but what about the restrooms? What about in the tubes? What about behind the games? people go there and act like the teenage employees are babysitters. I've also noticed people letting their children run around hotels and shopping centers. I take my child to the swimming pool and I feel obligated to watch all the kids, because none of their parents are. maybe these people have really good life insurance on their children.
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jipsydancer 11-25-2008 @ 4:26PM
WATCH YOUR OWN KIDS!! AT OUR CEC IN NEW LONDON, CONN. AT CHRISTMAS TIME, EVERYONE IS HAVING HUGE PARTIES..............IF YOU LOOK AROUND THERE ARE THE ADULTS AT THE TABLES CHIT CHATTING..........AND WHERE ARE THE KIDS?? SALAD BAR, BATHROOM, GAMES, TUBES WITHOUT SUPERVISION.
FOR THE POSTER WHO SAID THAT THE BAD GUYS NOW KNOW WHERE TO GO..................DIDN'T YOU THINK THEY KNEW ALREADY?? ASSUME THERE'S A PERV IN EVERY CROWD. WATCH YOUR OWN KIDS!
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fall3nrosep3tals 11-25-2008 @ 5:07PM
I don't like putting trust in other people to watch my children.
But for something safe and enjoyable for the children, I took my daughters to
thewritefiction.com
and let them be who they wanted in a story they dreamed up. My youngest still keeps it beside her bed and my older one wants another one. lol
Be who you imagine and let your children's imaginations soar in the safety of their own story. :-)
Reply
yana 11-25-2008 @ 5:18PM
nevermind chuckie cheese when i was flying to california this summer with my 18 month old son no one bothered to ask for proof of identification at the airport! not even when i passed the security! it was awful, i thought maybe it was just that airline or that airport, nope on my way back same thing! I WAS FURIOUS! anyone could have snatched my son and taken him anywhere even out of the United States fast enough before security could even stop all flights.
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pal182 11-25-2008 @ 5:29PM
I visited the local Chuck E Cheese on Sunday for a birthday party with my 2 children in North Bergen, NJ. They made a bid deal about the hand stamps being placed on all of our hands, never putting more ink that is only visible under the black light. This gives the parents a false security in the place as on the way out, they did not even check to see that we all had the same stamp on the way out, they just made believe that they checked them. I guess if you volunteer to show them your hand, it is assumed that they will all match. This is an issue as with most little ones, they do not want to leave and throw temper tantrums. How do these teenagers know the difference between a temper tantrum and a child abduction? In both cases, the child being taken out the door would be having a fit! I choose to watch my own children then to have this happen and later regret my own actions.
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