@Nicolle, it appears you can not comprehend what you are reading, they are not banned. They can be dropped off to play in the LIfestyle Center.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-no-kids-allowed-movement-is-spreading-2516110/

This says you don't want children in your stores.

That article is abotu many places that are banning children, Chesterfield Whole Foods webpage does not state a ban.As much as I am for, to a degree, for the limited allowance of child-free shopping or eating out, I do not believe in banning. The banning in the same paragraph as the Whole Foods Missouri statement is for an outdoor area at a condo complex. Banning kids from the outdoors? I am unsure where that comes from, unless it is due to the same parents who let the children do as they want and when confronted say, "kids being kids."

The website does not say anything about a ban on children, just 2 hours of child free shopping, ONCE a week, while the children play, color or whatever in the Lifestyle Center. I am a parent and it would be nice to be able to go to the market and not have to worry about some varmit running free, tasting the fruit, handling the veggies or screaming while the self-centered, so-called parent chats on their phone or shops. I once had some little brat yank my purse from my cart and when I yanked it back (it was also on my wrist) stupid Mommy yelled at me her spawn just wanted some gum. Not all children are like that, but the problem is not the child, rather the self-entilted paretns who believe the crap Mrs. Clinton spouted her garbage that it takes a village to raise a child. None of this would be an issue if parents would be parental and teach boundries, not just to their children but to themselves.

I do agree it takes a village to raise a child but i also believe that just talking to your child dosent always work and there is nothing wrong with spanking your child on the butt. If more parents cared about how there kids were going to to turn out like they would do something instead of saying they are just being kids. Parents who dont care are the reason they scream and make messes in stores, that is why stores dont want our kids there. Not all of our children act that way.

Looks like the article was wrong. I was looking forward to shopping in a child free environment.

Whole Foods, if you do decide to go child free for a few hours a week, may I suggest Friday nights after 8:00? It would be pleasant to shop with only ill mannered adults to deal with as opposed to their ill mannered children as well.