STAFF at bookstores all over Singapore will heave a collective sigh of relief at closing time tonight: The week-long March school holidays have finally ended and fewer parents will treat the stores as a free babysitting service.

The problem of parents dumping their kids in bookstores is perennial, but it intensifies during the holidays.

Books Kinokuniya in Ngee Ann City has at least three staff at the children's section at any one time, but during vacations, up to 10 are on standby to handle the ruckus that unsupervised kids kick up.

A children's department manager, who has worked 14 years in one of the major book chains, says things have become uglier over the years.

'Judging by the increase in the number of children sitting alone for some time, parents leave their kids more readily,' she adds. 'Then they panic when they return and can't find them. We have had to page for children through the intercom up to five, six times a day.'

Sales assistants from Borders in Wheelock Place are familiar with these problems too. One staff member says assistants sometimes approach lone children in the branch only to be told: 'My mummy went shopping and asked me to wait here.'

When the staff call the parents on the mobile phones carried by the children, the parents who pick up the calls are anywhere from Far East Plaza to Takashimaya Shopping Centre. Some were contacted while getting a facial in Wheelock Place.

And then there are the horror stories.

Staff have had children with bursting bladders who ask to be taken to the toilet. Other kids just let go on the premises when high tide hits. Plastic bags of pee and soiled diapers have also been left on the shelves for staff to discover while tidying up.

Kids should not bear sole responsibility for striking fear in the hearts of bookstore staff.

Shop assistants say that a few parents, when confronted with books that their kids were seen tearing in their absence, refused to accept the blame. Others simply slot sticker books that their children have messed up back onto the shelves and walk away.

One staff member says: 'In my four years here, I've had only two parents admit that their child had damaged a book, but we've uncovered countless other books similarly ruined.'

The management of Borders declined to comment, but Kinokuniya store director Kenny Chan defends the majority of the store's customers: 'Though there are those who treat bookstores as childcare centres and libraries, most are civilised and considerate.'

The Harris bookstores tell LifeStyle that things are not that bad.

Mr Taufique Osman, 30, retail supervisor at the chain's Great World City branch, says this is partly due to the 3,000 sq ft store's compact size and its policy of not encouraging customers to sit on the floor as the space for browsing between bookshelves is relatively narrow.

Borders and Kinokuniya in Orchard Road span 32,000 sq ft and 42,000 sq ft respectively.

A Harris store supervisor who used to work at another chain says: 'During my stint there, I heard customers there say they enjoy the more relaxed ambience. But that also has the downside of a mess bigger than what we get here.'

LifeStyle spoke to 25 parents, and seven say they wouldn't mind leaving their kids alone.

Housewife Sarah Lim, who is in her 30s and who was interviewed at Borders in Wheelock Place, says: 'I think it's fine and not dangerous as long as my daughter knows not to leave the store and I've specified a time when I will be back from hopping over to, say, Marks & Spencer.

'I know for sure she's the sort who loves reading, will sit down quietly and not run amok.'

She adds that she lets her 11-year-old daughter remain unattended at the bookstore occasionally, for up to half an hour each time.

But most parents think it irresponsible. Theatre director Tracie Pang, 38, a mother of two boys aged seven and eight, says: 'People are here to buy things. It's not the staff's job to take care of your kids or answer to you if they disappear during your facial or shopping break.'

Tendering supervisor Apidah Khamis, 42, who hardly leaves her only son, 11, out of her sight, says: 'People take for granted the fact that Singapore's oh-so-safe. Shouldn't we play our part in preventing untoward things from happening?'

Whichever way one leans, the storm has largely blown over, for now.

After the onslaught of bawling kids every day over the past week, one sales assistant says: 'It's only natural to look forward to the quieter and more peaceful mornings from tomorrow on.'

Until the June holidays roll around, of course.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times on Mar 16, 2008.