The Little Toy Store — Local services in Canal Fulton

I am really quite upset I have to come on here and leave this review. Especially since before today I have only had great experiences with this shop and love to support small businesses. Then today happened. My wife and I brought our 3 children (ages 4, 3 and 3 so toddlers) to The Little Toy Store. Perused the selection without incident, apart from my kids being excited to be you know, in a toy store. Then we go to checkout and this is where things go south. My youngest son has a toy, my daughter has a toy, and my eldest, AUTISTIC LEVEL 2, 4 YEAR OLD has a few small animals he selected. We are treating them for a success first week of school. When the female associate working the counter went to scan one of my son's animals; it does not have a price tag (my son did not remove it). The associate goes to check the price on the shelf, and again my son is autistic and thought she was putting the toy back. He (a 4 year old autistic child) then tried to grab the toy from the hands of the associate, which we stepped in and addressed. The associate then proceeds to treat my 4 year old like he attempted to personally rob her. Starts scolding him right in front of us. Initially I was fine with her stating her boundaries as it's an important lesson for him to learn, but she proceeds to personally criticize both my son and the parenting of my wife and I. "I used to work in a daycare, so I won't tolerate that disrespect and behavior." She also criticized the fact he was getting multiple small animals figurine toys (his special interest) when his two younger siblings were getting larger toys of similar value. Did not need her commentary about fairness when it's our money that we choose to spend, and I definitely did not need the unsolicited parenting advice nor dirty looks I got. Mostly my wife and I are just upset and being made to feel "disrespectful" while buying our kids toys in a toy store. I understand my son tried to grab something you were holding, but I expect people working with children to give them grace and not assume he is being malicious when you know nothing about him. Obviously we have strong feelings regarding this and I truly hope this educates some people about the exact scope and boundaries of their positions when working with children.

Updated: I appreciate the response and acknowledgement from the store ultimately that is what I intended with my review which I am updating to reflect past...

I was impressed by the Little Toy Store's outstanding selection and excellent staff. The store offers a fantastic variety of toys, especially geared towards younger children. From educational toys to creative playsets, there’s something for every little one (and us big kids too).

What really stood out was the staff’s engagement and knowledge. They were incredibly helpful, offering great recommendations based on age and interests.

The combination of a selection and friendly staff makes it a top choice for anyone with young children. Highly...

Wonderful toy store, with a great selection of fabulous toys for all ages. Our granddaughters love how they can interact with the different samples they have. The young lady that works there during the week is always so helpful when the girls have questions. Highly recommend everyone visits this...