Raising My Free-Range Kids… in Costco
Dear Advice,
I grew up going to Costco with my parents almost every weekend, and my brother and I were mostly left to our own devices while our parents shopped. I remember always having the best time: racing office chairs, sprawling out on massive couches to read books, hanging out in front of huge TVs, intercepting my parents for free samples, and bringing random snacks we found to beg them to put in the cart. These are some of my fondest childhood memories!
Now I’m a parent with kids of my own, and we’ve finally moved to an area with a Costco. I’d love for my kids—ages 7 and 8—to have similar experiences. I think it would be good for them to have a bit of freedom to explore the warehouse. My wife disagrees. She thinks it’s rude to staff and other customers to let our kids “run amok” in the store, and she feels it was wrong of my parents to let us do it. I don’t see it that way. Our kids aren’t going to be toppling displays or bothering anyone. I just wonder what you think.
—Costco Family
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