This was huge last year and TRUS are doing it again
On November 15th every Toys R Us store in the UK will be holding an autism friendly and additional needs exclusive shopping event
Proud to announce the next Autism Friendly Shopping Session at Toys R Us will be Sunday 15th of November opening at 10am exclusively for families with additional needs
Please note you cannot purchase until 11am due to Sunday licensing laws.
There will be no loud music played in store, reduced fluorescent lighting and understanding staff with basic parent led autism awareness training
The purpose of these events is to give families the chance to shop for toys ready for Christmas in a peaceful environment where there will be no judgement. Toys r us are extremely friendly and happy for you to play with and try out most toys in store.
Might be a nice way of doing Christmas shopping or getting those bits before black Friday takes over and gets crazy.
Top comments
sexyshelk135
5 Nov 155#1
This is brilliant my son has learning disabilities adhd an sensory problems an other bits but this is great as it can be a big pressure on children to go places like this, nice to see a big company helping out well done toys r us.
vanquished100
5 Nov 154#2
Good stuff Toys r Us. As parent to an Aspie/ADHD gal this is worth knowing. Shopping is not easy.
sexyshelk135 to Biggunspaul
6 Nov 153#8
Oh I don't bite my tongue with those people I always say what his disability is not visible do you want to buy him a t shirt to say I'm not naughty just because my disability is not visible do not judge me.
Biggunspaul
5 Nov 153#5
Good on toys r us.
Nice to know families with children with such conditions can shop in an environment that is calming for them and also without being frowned at by staff thinking you've got a naughty child if they do start getting into a flap,I know what it feels like as I've been in that situation many times with my child who has autism and it's not nice,mind you the public are worse,you know the type that stop,stare and tut.
All comments (32)
sexyshelk135
5 Nov 155#1
This is brilliant my son has learning disabilities adhd an sensory problems an other bits but this is great as it can be a big pressure on children to go places like this, nice to see a big company helping out well done toys r us.
vanquished100
5 Nov 154#2
Good stuff Toys r Us. As parent to an Aspie/ADHD gal this is worth knowing. Shopping is not easy.
Gillybean177
5 Nov 151#3
great idea for a big store to embrace
PurpleLassie
5 Nov 151#4
Fantastic idea.
Biggunspaul
5 Nov 153#5
Good on toys r us.
Nice to know families with children with such conditions can shop in an environment that is calming for them and also without being frowned at by staff thinking you've got a naughty child if they do start getting into a flap,I know what it feels like as I've been in that situation many times with my child who has autism and it's not nice,mind you the public are worse,you know the type that stop,stare and tut.
sexyshelk135 to Biggunspaul
6 Nov 153#8
Oh I don't bite my tongue with those people I always say what his disability is not visible do you want to buy him a t shirt to say I'm not naughty just because my disability is not visible do not judge me.
mariefindlay
6 Nov 153#6
It's all good until your child wants to buy something but you have to wait an hour and they don't understand why they have to wait. This would be hot if it was during trading hours so we can buy then get out of there. Not really a shopping experience you can just browse for an hour!
Stevo_86 to mariefindlay
6 Nov 15#7
Well why don't you just go in trading hours, then you wont have to wait...
Slow_Marie to mariefindlay
7 Nov 15#18
"Let's make it so unless you have a child with special needs you aren't allowed into the shop for an hour."
This is a special event at a time when people wouldn't normally be allowed in to the shop to make their shopping a bit easier. Having the event during opening hours would alienate the majority of shoppers - allowing them to come in with everyone else eliminates the point of the event.
If your child can't cope with staying in a toy store for an hour in an environment specially tailored to keep them happy then maybe you should go on your own and get them a toy.
jamgin
6 Nov 151#9
Possibly the most stuipid reply I've seen on Hukd for a while.
Elevation
6 Nov 15#10
What's the parental excuse for little brats without Autism screaming their annoying little heads off in there?
sexyshelk135
6 Nov 15#11
Spolit
julieannenash
7 Nov 15#12
Good on you Toys r Us...my son has Autism and can't face shops normally, so worth a try for us!
scubamonster
7 Nov 15#13
I'm voting this cold. I never vote anything cold but this is perhaps the worst execution of a half decent idea and it deserves to be seen as such. Opening an hour early and not letting people buy is terrible. I've got two autistic kids, neither of whom struggle with shops or being told 'no' or stuff like that, but they did once. And if I had to turn the clock back to the time when I couldn't take my eldest in without having to buy something or leave immediately or handle one of the situations that used to occur I suspect I would just dump the money in front of the till, take the item and let Toys R Us work out the Sunday licensing laws. Autistic kids are allowed in but not allowed to buy? Just awful. I'm almost tempted to go just to see how this pans out.
chiqueblonde to scubamonster
7 Nov 151#16
you don't have to browse for an hour thats a choice you could go 15 mins before the purchasing time if you already know what you want to buy, I think its a great idea 1 whole hour to play with all the toys in a calm environment away from distracting noise of everyone else, I work in this area and know how frustrating it can be when its busy. A lot of shops open 1 hour early on a sunday for browsing so theyre not discriminating anyone its the law.
chiqueblonde
7 Nov 15#14
exclusively for families with additional needs I think it explained that didn't it
chiqueblonde
7 Nov 15#15
sandymcnamara10
7 Nov 15#17
What a brilliant idea,I work with adults whom have Autism/Aspergers/learning diffulcities and shopping can be a difficult time for them to,be accepted,especially when Adults don't understand there Needs/Rituals,and they can be quite rude sometimes,it makes my blood boil,I am so happy that Toys r us have opened there doors for them,Well done,more stores should follow suite.
jordanc93
8 Nov 15#19
To be honest the environment is still not going to be suitable for all children with autism the large amount of toy filled aisles can in itself be over stimulating to the point of leading to sensory overload. We have often found this to be the case with my severely Autistic brother.
scubamonster
8 Nov 15#20
So why not just open an hour early on a Saturday - 8am-9am - and let people buy stuff? Or just keep the doors shut for 15 minutes till 10.15 on the Sunday to allow purchases and then open them. Or just stop using autistic kids as free publicity.
I have Aspergers (a form of autism) and this would have been useful if I went there on one of those days.
Stevo_86
9 Nov 15#24
The autism friendly browsing lasts for a couple of hours until 12. so as someone else stated on here why dont you go closer to trading time to avoid waiting an hour
And why is this a stupid comment as you put it..
toomanychoices
9 Nov 15#25
I don't know anyone who actually needs this, but heat added for listing it for everyone to use or not.
To all those people complaining, it may not be a perfect idea but at least they are trying and if it's no good to you, then don't go.
jamgin
9 Nov 15#26
If indeed autism friendly shopping is until 12 then I apologise for the comment.
My understanding was it only lasted until 11 and you were suggesting shopping whilst the environment was not autistic friendly.
Sorry.
craftycook
10 Nov 15#28
Great idea.
comriegold99
11 Nov 15#29
Wish all stores would just turn off ALL the ruddy music all the time.
I hate it
gerrymig
11 Nov 15#30
Useful information but why is it in Freebies and clogging up the top slot? Surely it's just information about an event?
crazytracey
15 Nov 15#31
I think its a great idea if the environment is kept the same all day so we dont have to go early. We tend to take our kiddies shopping late afternoon to avoid busy times and so we can tell our asd child the shop is closing time for home. The routine has worked well for a number of years but if the alarms go off or they speak on the antenoy then we have to go home anyway with NO shopping. ☺
PinkHaven
15 Nov 15#32
Wonderful idea, my son suffers with anxiety and has ADD and he struggles with large crowds and the bright lights in these big stores fully support this
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Opening post
On November 15th every Toys R Us store in the UK will be holding an autism friendly and additional needs exclusive shopping event
Proud to announce the next Autism Friendly Shopping Session at Toys R Us will be Sunday 15th of November opening at 10am exclusively for families with additional needs
Please note you cannot purchase until 11am due to Sunday licensing laws.
There will be no loud music played in store, reduced fluorescent lighting and understanding staff with basic parent led autism awareness training
The purpose of these events is to give families the chance to shop for toys ready for Christmas in a peaceful environment where there will be no judgement. Toys r us are extremely friendly and happy for you to play with and try out most toys in store.
Might be a nice way of doing Christmas shopping or getting those bits before black Friday takes over and gets crazy.
Top comments
Nice to know families with children with such conditions can shop in an environment that is calming for them and also without being frowned at by staff thinking you've got a naughty child if they do start getting into a flap,I know what it feels like as I've been in that situation many times with my child who has autism and it's not nice,mind you the public are worse,you know the type that stop,stare and tut.
All comments (32)
Nice to know families with children with such conditions can shop in an environment that is calming for them and also without being frowned at by staff thinking you've got a naughty child if they do start getting into a flap,I know what it feels like as I've been in that situation many times with my child who has autism and it's not nice,mind you the public are worse,you know the type that stop,stare and tut.
This is a special event at a time when people wouldn't normally be allowed in to the shop to make their shopping a bit easier. Having the event during opening hours would alienate the majority of shoppers - allowing them to come in with everyone else eliminates the point of the event.
If your child can't cope with staying in a toy store for an hour in an environment specially tailored to keep them happy then maybe you should go on your own and get them a toy.
And why is this a stupid comment as you put it..
To all those people complaining, it may not be a perfect idea but at least they are trying and if it's no good to you, then don't go.
My understanding was it only lasted until 11 and you were suggesting shopping whilst the environment was not autistic friendly.
Sorry.
I hate it