If a child breaks something in a shop should the parent be made to pay for it!

Absolutely!

Parents are typically responsible for their children's property damage due to parental responsibility laws. These laws hold parents liable for their children's actions, especially when the damage is willful or malicious. This is based on the idea that parents have a duty to supervise and educate their children, and if a child causes damage, it suggests the parents haven't adequately fulfilled this duty.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

Parents responsible for the damages, yes. Yet how the child is delt with is dependent on the situation and the child.

Not everything a child does is malicious. Which is a whole different situation.

4meAndyou · F

Absolutely. "You break it, YOU bought it" is store policy all over the world, and parents are supposed to be WATCHING their bratty, handsy kids so that they DON'T break things.