Here we go again!  After weeks of dealing with high-volume shopping situations, it's no surprise that the no-kids-allowed movement is making headlines again this month.  Let's take a look back at one of our most controversial topics of 2011.

There's a new form of discrimination happening across our country, and surprisingly, there's a whole lot of people behind the movement. 

Article source: [Shine Yahoo Parenting]

The no-kids-allowed movement is spreading 
By Piper Weiss  July 27, 2011

What's the matter with kids today and why doesn't anyone want them around? In June, Malaysia Airlines banned babies from many of their first class cabins, prompting other major airlines to consider similar policies.

Lately, complaints about screaming kids are being taken seriously, not only by airlines, but by hotels, movie theaters, restaurants, and even grocery stores.

Earlier this month, McDain's, a Pittsburgh area restaurant that banned kids under 6 became a mascot for the no-kids-zone movement.

According to a Pittsburgh local news poll, more than half of area residents were in favor of the ban. And now big business is paying attention.

"Brat bans could well be the next frontier in destination and leisure-product marketing," writes Robert Klara in an article on the child-free trend in AdWeek.

Klara points to Leavethembehind.com, a travel website for kid-free vacations, with a massive list of yoga retreats, luxury resorts and bargain hotels around the world that ban children.

"Call me a grinch, a misanthrope, a DINK (dual-income-no-kids), or the anti-cute-police, but I hate (hate a thousand times over) ill-behaved children/infants/screaming banshees in upscale restaurants (ok, anywhere, really, but I don't want any death threats)," writes Charlotte Savino on Travel and Leisure's blog. She lists a slew of a popular destination restaurants with kid-free areas and policies for travelers looking for quiet vacation dining.

Traveling is one thing, but what about in kids' own hometowns? Should kids been banned from local movie theaters, like they were at a recent adults-only Harry Potter screening? In Texas, one cinema chain has even flipped the model, banning kids under six altogether, except on specified "baby days".

Even running errands with toddlers may be off limits.  This summer Whole Foods stores in Missouri are offering child-free shopping hours and in Florida, a controversy brews over whether kids can be banned from a condominium's outdoor area. That's right, some people don't even want kids outdoors.

When did kids become the equivalent of second-hand smoke? Blame a wave of childless adults with money to spare. "Empty nesters continue to wield a huge swath of discretionary spending dollars, and population dips in first-world countries mean more childless couples than ever," writes AdWeek's Klara.

Catering to the child-free community may be good for business but is it good for parents? It could help narrow choices and make kid-friendly environments even kid-friendlier.  And let's be honest, babies won't miss flying first class. They won't even remember it. But their moms and dads will.

Most parents with young children have self-imposed limits on spending and leisure. This new movement imposes limits set by the public. And the public isn't as child-friendly as it used to be.  As businesses respond to their new breed of 'first-class' clientele, are parents in danger of becoming second-class citizens?

End of article.

Alright, Checkered Flag fans, I know many of you will have opinions on this topic.  Our Norfolk and Virginia Beach new and used car dealers are known for being kid-friendly, and we are proud of it. 

But, are there times you wish you could visit a local restaurant or store and not have to worry about screaming fussy little ones?  What about the idea of restaurants having separate seating sections for families with little ones (please Cracker Barrel, please)? 

Is this all outrageous nonsense?  Would you stop visiting a certain restaurant or grocery store if they began offering "tot-free" hours?  What about teen restrictions on local movie theaters and malls?

I'm interested to hear from all of you.  Drop a comment down below, but please, keep it clean.  Checkered Flag is, of course, still kid-friendly at all times!