A group of Park Slope mothers is demanding that the city ban the sale of ice cream in Prospect Park, in a bid to offset the inevitable tantrum when they tell their child they can’t have any.

Parents Demand Ice Cream Truck Ban to Quiet Kids

A group of Park Slope mothers is demanding that the city ban the sale of ice cream in Prospect Park, in a bid to offset the inevitable tantrum when they tell their child they can’t have any.

From the NY Post:

They’re all screaming for no ice cream.

Overprotective Park Slope parents have declared war on a treasured rite of spring: an ice cream in the park.

The icy rebuke of the time-honored tradition erupted on the Park Slope Parents online group when one mother described her son’s meltdown in Prospect Park after she put the ixnay on a acksnay.

“Along with the first truly beautiful day of the year, my son and I had our first ruined day at the playground,” the poster named Sarah somberly recounted. “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.”

Another angry mother, identified on the site as Dorothy Scanlan, chimed in.

“I should not have to fight with my children every warm day on the playground just so someone can make a living!” the poster wailed. “I too was at the 9th Street Playground on Monday, and one of the vendors just handed my 4-year-old an ice cream cone. I was furious.”

Click here to continue reading at the NY Post.

34 Comments

  • So true

    I avoid Lefferts park because the kosher ice cream truck is always there. It’s hard to even pick up my child from school, because they are always parked outside beis rivkah!

    Not everyone wants their children having ice cream everyday, and not everyone can afford to buy ice cream everyday. The ice cream trucks just give headaches to parents.

    Setup a shop, and if we want ice cream we’ll come to YOU!

    • A PROUD BRDC COUNSELOUR

      AS A STUDENT IN BEIS RIVKAH, I HAVE EXPERIENCE. THE ICE CREAM TRUCK WOULD PARK ITSELF IN FRONT OF SCHOOL EXACTLY 10 FULL MINUTES BEFORE SCHOOL ENDED. ALL THE TEACHERS HAD TO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR STUDENTS TO CRAM IN THE LAST BIT OF MATERIAL BEFORE EVERYONE RAN OUT THE DOOR TO GO BUY THEMSELVES AN EXPENSIVE AND GLUTENOUS ICE CREAM. SIZE LARGE OF COURSE! THIS ENCOURAGES COMMON OBESITY, AND CAN REALLY HELP KIDS GO BANANAS!! THE ICE CREAM TRUCK OWNERS SHOULD BUY THEMSELVES A SMALL STORE BY EMPIRE OR LEFFERTS, WHERE PEOPLE LIVE FAR FROM SWEET EXPRESSIONS AND WOULD GLADLY PATRONIZE THEIR STORE!

  • Citizen Berel

    Sorta Kinda childish, this weird demand to ban ice cream trucks. I wish they’d just ban tantrums.

    I can relate. I remember when our own kosher ice cream truck made its very first appearance, what was it…3 years ago? I thought it was cute and sent the bought the kids and they were happy and then the truck came every day and the kids grew expectant and it was harder on mommy than on tatty but we managed. Then last year I wasn’t so happy when the truck made its first rounds of the season but we yet again managed to make it through the summer and the tantrums but it was tiresome and that come and make a b… song started to give me the shivers….

    So anyways… and this here is the point…this summer at the very first time we heard the truck, I announced to the family that the truck no longer exists… and that we shall never ever buy another ice cream from the truck and that if they really want ice cream, they can approach mommey or tatty and we can discuss it and perhaps we will buy ice cream at that place what you go when want to buy stuff.

    There was some minor gnashing of teeth but it wasn’t really that big of a deal, because I actually think the appeal has waned a bit even for the kids, but the upshot is that the ice cream really no longer exists and we never hear anything about it.

  • Ice cream causes tantrums?

    Um, ever consider that perhaps tantrums is something related to a need of good parenting???
    Ice cream comes in many forms, want ban and blame all of those things for your child’s tantrums?

  • Boruch

    So long as these parents pay the operators full salary from their own money so the truck operators can feed their families, I see no problem with that.

  • really?

    another example of how parents these days want to get out of parenting.
    because of money constraints as a child it was a rare treat for me to be able to go to the ice cream truck and buy an ice cream, which made it so much more of a treat when I could.

    they want to ban it because they dont want to deal with a tantrum?????? are they for real? be a grown up I say deal with your kids. its a lesson for you and for them. for you to learn to deal with tantrum and for them to learn to deal with disappointment, if they cant handle that when they are little how will they handle disappointment when they are grown ups.

  • pah the ticcccc

    I demand every store get rid of their toy aisle…my kids have a tantrum every time i say no. These women give mothers, and parents in general, a bad name. If your children are having a temper tantrum because you’ve said no, it is too late for them..you missed the boat. You’ve succeeded in raising little humans who are spoiled rotten and expect their every whim to be fulfilled. Lot of good that will do them when they are older. Your children’s lack of discipline and pathetic sense of entitlement is your fault. Deal with it. Buy some ice pops and treat your children every so often as a reward for good behaviour etc…teach them that a “no” is not the end of the world. At the end of the day they will be better off.

  • TorahYid

    Or the parents could just learn how to actually parent their children so that they won’t throw a tantrum when the answer is “no”.

  • Seriously

    While you’re at it, maybe you should protest the fact that they air kids shows past 6pm. Actually, you should protest the fact that they air kids shows at all.

  • “I should not have to fight with my children

    Thats right woman .. you shouldnt , its time to properly
    discipline your children

  • parent your children

    When a child knows that when you say no-its a final decision.
    This simple advice will limit if not prevent 99% of these tantrums.

  • parent tantrums

    this article sounds like a parent tantrum You are parents but you need a lesson in parenting. Ban all candy and all toys or anything your child wants…You dont know how to say no to your child without the child having a tantrum? Start parenting education now before its too late

  • not surprised

    Didnt expect anything else from “liberal Park Slope” moms… But I expect better from Torah educated moms

  • Practically Speaking

    Pick a day to sit your kids around and have a conversation with them. Do not do this at the time the truck comes or right after.

    Talk to them about ice cream, and how much they love it. Share the things that you love too, but you can’t have it all the time because of a) b) & c).

    Tell them that they can have ice cream once a week – let them pick a day. Even better, have some ice cream with them!

    If they have a tantrum any other day, then they lose their chance to have ice cream the next time.

    And stick to your guns! It may be very painful at first, but oh so worth it to raise a mentch.

  • they have a good point

    a lot more things need to be banned as well that are much worse than ice cream.

  • Rivky

    This is ridiculous! Ban the ice cream truck because the kids want ice cream and the mothers cant say no?? Well then why dont you ban every store out there that parents have a hard time saying no to?
    an ice cream truck is a legitimate business and has every right to sell wherever they want. Imagine parents are walking by an ice cream store or a candy shop and the kid wants an ice cream or candy? the kid will also put up a fuss. so the parents will also have to argue with them. It is no different. Will the parents ask all businesses to close down? so what if the ice cream truck comes to your area….it is not a crime! This is all about discipline of kids. To tell the ice cream truck to stop coming just shows what kind of discipline problems parents of today are going through….

  • Sarale

    Why dont the parents just ban going to the park? it might be easier……

  • huh??

    i say all stores ban the candy and snack aisles my kids might have a tantrum when we go grocery shopping.. in fact disney should shut down my kids are tantruming too much when they hear their friends go….

  • To all

    Yes a parent should sit down and speak to their child and make rules, however it isnt easy for a two year old and a three year old to understand. And having it in their face doesnt help.

    It’s not always a “parent that spoiled their kids” fault..

  • Seriously?!

    I am so surprised to hear that you people are complaining. Get a grip on yourselves and your kids and teach them that no means no. And that they can’t always have ice cream. So the ice cream truck business should not have any business because u can’t say no?! We should ban the toy store too??
    You people are incredible!

  • Montrealer

    So do these parents say yes to everything else?
    Kids having tantrum is the punishment for not setting proper boundaries.
    New couples starting out take heed.
    Once on the wrong path of spoiling your kids it is extremely difficult to correct.

  • to 21

    We are talking about the two and three year olds, older kids should not have tantrums!!!! When your kids don’t manipulate you and they know that a no is final you would avoid %99 of the tantrums! Try it, good luck

  • YMSP

    Banning ice cream trucks – zehu kol haTorah kulo veidach pirusha hu, zil gemor.

    It’s hard to think of a more pressing issue in this day and age. Maybe “how to effectively say no to kids, in a kind way, but so that they don’t become spoiled” would be a runner up in terms of pressing needs.

    Definitely need to ban big scoops in ice cream stores though….. or have parents sign a consent waiver.

    :)

  • Let the Kinder Enjoy Summer!

    Its only for a few months out the year…We should name this group Scrooge! They want to take ice cream from a baby! Oy Vey!

  • Mendy Hecht

    Typical liberals: Government intervention to solve all problems big and small. How about the one solution staring you in the face: Learn how to parent your kids! Teach them some good old fashioned discipline! You’d think these people have no character.

  • Anti-Chassidish

    To train children and be mechanech them that icecream is geshmak – that is so anti-chassidish!

    To make ta’avos a part of your child’s life – is spiritual child abuse!

    Not to mention when parents encourage the unhealthy lifestyle and cause for obesity of guzzling icecream – is simply bad parenting.

    The city banned large portions of soda – but as parents we MUST ban icecream!

    Do it for your children’s bodies and souls. Do it for your child’s chassidishkeit!

    • Citizen Berel

      This a very special comment. It is in its own very special way one of the most special comments in the history of special comments.

  • Kids' Rights

    Every kid should have ice cream every single Summer day! To say no to that is just mean.