Playground rules

[Anonymous]

So you are at a public playground/kidspace and there are many kids. These 2 things happen after a few seconds of having our "turn" in an area.

1. Smaller kid runs up and grabs the sticks to the musical instrument in playspace while DD is playing. We are both just stunned and then after a few seconds I look around for a parent. NO WHERE IN SIGHT.

2. 1 zipline swing, no one is there and then after 2 swings a mom and her kid stand right behind me.

There are many other things to do for a few minutes.

After a few seconds, I can hear her mutter under her breath. I'll give them 2 minutes and then it's our turn.


We don't go to playgrounds often but is this normal stuff that happens?

[Anonymous]

With a zipline swing I have the kids take turns after each tie they use it- if my kids did it five times because nobody else was there then as soon as there is another kids I have her hand the biplane to the other kid and then wait in line to take a turn after that kid goes.

[Anonymous]

On the zipline the kids should take turns.

If a kid takes something out of your kid's hand, ask for it back and if they don't give it back just take it back.

[Anonymous]

1. Yes. Normal.
Were you actively using the music sticks? Or were they kinda to the side and therefore deemed "free for all"?
And how old was this little kid who ran up and started using them? Little kids have no sense with personal space or social cues.

Don't take it personally.

2 . Yes. Normal.
Mom and her kid were waiting patiently for a turn on the zipline since you seemed to not be alternating/take turns with other people who are waiting behind you. And you gave no indication or acknowledgment that you and your kid just got there or just wanted 1x more turn.
Don't deny you wouldn't be that same one muttering under your breath like said Mom.

Not everything is a personal spite against you.

[Anonymous]

For the zipline, it's one turn per kid if there's a line. So if your kid was going multiple times when someone was waiting, you were in the wrong.

On the music thing not unusual, but depending on how big the kid was, you could ask for it back "we were using that, can you give it back and wait your turn?". They probably had other siblings that the parent was with - it's okay to talk directly to the kid (assuming they are like 3+)?

[Anonymous]

If someone is waiting to use the swing, how many turns do you think you get before rotating? Doesn't matter if there are other things to do, her kid wanted to do that one too. This is all par for the course at these places, you need to bring a lot of patience and expect that things don't always run perfectly. There will be line cutting, not sharing, unpredictable behavior, and the more you relax and teach your kid to go with the flow, the better off you both will be.

[Anonymous]

1. Did the kid grab the sticks out of your kid's hands? If so, you just say, "Oh, we're still using those. Please give them back." If your kid's been using them for a while, you let the other kid have a turn.

2. The rule is one zipline trip per kid if there's a line. You were wrong to keep using it when someone was waiting in line. That's why she grumbled under her breath.

Playground play is all about taking turns, sharing, and rolling with the punches. You can't get worked up about every little thing that kids do.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and if your kid wasn't using the sticks, you were just annoyed that the kid was also playing music while your kid was there, then you have to get over that. It's not a concert hall; as many kids can use it as there are instruments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you are at a public playground/kidspace and there are many kids. These 2 things happen after a few seconds of having our "turn" in an area.

1. Smaller kid runs up and grabs the sticks to the musical instrument in playspace while DD is playing. We are both just stunned and then after a few seconds I look around for a parent. NO WHERE IN SIGHT.

2. 1 zipline swing, no one is there and then after 2 swings a mom and her kid stand right behind me.

There are many other things to do for a few minutes.

After a few seconds, I can hear her mutter under her breath. I'll give them 2 minutes and then it's our turn.


We don't go to playgrounds often but is this normal stuff that happens?

First one you seem wrong. Second one she does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you are at a public playground/kidspace and there are many kids. These 2 things happen after a few seconds of having our "turn" in an area.

1. Smaller kid runs up and grabs the sticks to the musical instrument in playspace while DD is playing. We are both just stunned and then after a few seconds I look around for a parent. NO WHERE IN SIGHT.

2. 1 zipline swing, no one is there and then after 2 swings a mom and her kid stand right behind me.

There are many other things to do for a few minutes.

After a few seconds, I can hear her mutter under her breath. I'll give them 2 minutes and then it's our turn.


We don't go to playgrounds often but is this normal stuff that happens?

First one you seem wrong. Second one she does.

Nope, OP is wrong in #2 as well.

[Anonymous]

You were in the wrong with zip line. After your child goes, she should go to the end of the line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If someone is waiting to use the swing, how many turns do you think you get before rotating? Doesn't matter if there are other things to do, her kid wanted to do that one too. This is all par for the course at these places, you need to bring a lot of patience and expect that things don't always run perfectly. There will be line cutting, not sharing, unpredictable behavior, and the more you relax and teach your kid to go with the flow, the better off you both will be.

I usually let my child swing for 3-4 minutes if there is an obvious wait. If a child is distraught, I tell my daughter one more minute.

We usually don’t even wait. If someone gets off, we may walk over but we don’t stand and wait normally for a swing. We don’t go during crowded times though.

[Anonymous]

Both seem normal and not like anyone was doing anything wrong. First situation - it would be ideal for parent to enforce, but some parents just aren't there or won't see everything. You can nicely tell the kid that it was your child's turn, or wait a minute and ask for a turn then.

Second situation - Ask the other parent how they want to take turns. "Oh, hi, we just go here. Would it be okay for us to swing for another minute and then give you and your kind a turn for 2 minutes, then switch back?"

[Anonymous]

Zip line one turn then give it to the next kid in line. Music, did she grab the sticks out of her hands?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If someone is waiting to use the swing, how many turns do you think you get before rotating? Doesn't matter if there are other things to do, her kid wanted to do that one too. This is all par for the course at these places, you need to bring a lot of patience and expect that things don't always run perfectly. There will be line cutting, not sharing, unpredictable behavior, and the more you relax and teach your kid to go with the flow, the better off you both will be.

I usually let my child swing for 3-4 minutes if there is an obvious wait. If a child is distraught, I tell my daughter one more minute.

We usually don’t even wait. If someone gets off, we may walk over but we don’t stand and wait normally for a swing. We don’t go during crowded times though.

If you are there first, you get a few minutes with a regular swing, if someone is waiting but a zipline swing sounds like you take a turn and go back to the end of the line.