More playgrounds need age recommendations listed near equipment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The younger child’s mother could have chosen a more appropriate place but it’s a public park so she can play wherever she wants. I’m not sure a sign would help because there will always be someone younger on a jungle gym and it’s just rude to run past people regardless of their age, jungle gym or not. The other children’s mothers should teach their children common courtesy of not running around other people. I get they were playing tag but clearly not everyone on the jungle gym was playing. I would have redirected my children to play tag in the grass.

The purpose of a playground is for children to play, run, make lots of noise. The other children should not have to tiptoe around a baby on equipment meant for older children. To the kids are playing, not being rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone like that is probably not going to abide by the signage anyway.

Yeah, that mom is selfish and she sucks, but signs aren't going to burst her out of her self-involved bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s obnoxious.

I hate when adults get on the equipment with babies. Let them climb the smaller set, and watch from the ground. It’s not that hard.

I like to actually play with my kids. Sorry you feel guilty for ignoring yours

No, honey, we aren't ignoring them. We're just not selfish jerks. You tried, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There’s no need to play tag on the equipment. They could even injure a kid who is within the age limits but less sure of himself or near the edge. They can play tag on the ground, where tag is meant to be played.

Sorry, where is this nonexistent rule written again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A mom confronted my (very tall and large for his age) 12 year old demanding he get off the swing set when he was there with friends after school. He pointed directly at the sign (5-12 year olds) and politely declined. She became livid.

I don’t think signs are the issue, just common sense and manners.

lol I love this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The younger child’s mother could have chosen a more appropriate place but it’s a public park so she can play wherever she wants. I’m not sure a sign would help because there will always be someone younger on a jungle gym and it’s just rude to run past people regardless of their age, jungle gym or not. The other children’s mothers should teach their children common courtesy of not running around other people. I get they were playing tag but clearly not everyone on the jungle gym was playing. I would have redirected my children to play tag in the grass.

Nope.

[Anonymous]

She'll learn eventually when the big kids accidentally pummel her kid off the playground. They always do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live just two blocks away from a really nice neighborhood park. There are three climbing structures located in the park, two very large and one smaller. There’s also a large sandpit with some digging equipment and next to it a few very small climbing structures (basically soft domes).

The two larger climbing structures are probably geared for the 6-12 crowd or the physically aware/capable 4/5-year-olds. Lots of harder obstacles to climb up, big drops.

The smaller climbing structure is probably for 2-5-year-olds. Sometimes older kids will play, but for the most part it’s boring for them. A toddler could manage with an adult nearby.

Sandpit is for all ages. But the section closest to the soft structure climbing area as well as the area itself is where crawlers and new walkers play.

Yet this one mother comes every morning with her ten-month-old crawling infant comes to the larger structures and will finger walk her baby all over it. Which, when it’s not busy is fine. The baby seems to enjoy climbing and she has her at all times. But when it’s crowded with kids? She’s constantly telling kids to stop running and watch out for her baby when they’re up there. She’ll block half the structure so her infant can sit and play with the bars. Yesterday a group of kids were playing tag and about three 7/8-year-olds whizzed past her baby. She yelled at them to be careful and stop running in a very harsh tone. One of the kids moms yelled back something along the lines of, this is a playground, kids are going to run. She argued that the park was for everyone and the older kids should be considerate of the your ones. Other mom said this equipment was made for older kids and it wasn’t fair to expect the older kids to not play because she’s taking her infant up there. Infants moms said there wasn’t a sign stating it was for older kids older, so basically everyone was going to have to deal.

No, it’s not explicit, but obviously this is meant for children who are older. I agree with the other mom. It’s not fair to expect the other kids to change their play to avoid baby. It feels entitled.

I usually just have my kids play on the other large structure when she comes with her infant, but she’ll go back and forth often. I of course, want my kids to be mindful of smaller children but they should be able to play tag and run!

Ok, but what about when the play structures say recommended age 2-5 (like they do at my local playround) and the 5 year olds pay no heed to the 2 year olds? I get your point, but I also see the mom’s point about other kids having to be mindful of younger kids.

I do think the older 5-year-olds should be mindful of the younger two-year-olds as the older 12-year-olds should be mindful of the younger 6-year-olds.

In fact, I even stated that I teach my children (6, 6, and 9) to be mindful of younger kids. We often will just move our game to the other large play structure.

My issue is with what I perceive is this woman’s entitlement. She will bring an infant who cannot use this structure independently while large groups of older kids are playing and often have established a game and as soon as she enters she expects them to change their play in order to avoid her and her infant. She’ll often use an entire section/slide of the play structure, forbidding any other kids to use the slide because her baby is trying to climb up or has found an interesting twig in the area.

I’m sure her infant would be safe and happy in the sand pit or on the soft climbing structures. I think exploding the larger structure is fine too, but not when it’s in use by a large number of older kids that the structure is meant for…

Its a public playground. Why is her child less entitled to any space than any other child? Talk about entitlement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live just two blocks away from a really nice neighborhood park. There are three climbing structures located in the park, two very large and one smaller. There’s also a large sandpit with some digging equipment and next to it a few very small climbing structures (basically soft domes).

The two larger climbing structures are probably geared for the 6-12 crowd or the physically aware/capable 4/5-year-olds. Lots of harder obstacles to climb up, big drops.

The smaller climbing structure is probably for 2-5-year-olds. Sometimes older kids will play, but for the most part it’s boring for them. A toddler could manage with an adult nearby.

Sandpit is for all ages. But the section closest to the soft structure climbing area as well as the area itself is where crawlers and new walkers play.

Yet this one mother comes every morning with her ten-month-old crawling infant comes to the larger structures and will finger walk her baby all over it. Which, when it’s not busy is fine. The baby seems to enjoy climbing and she has her at all times. But when it’s crowded with kids? She’s constantly telling kids to stop running and watch out for her baby when they’re up there. She’ll block half the structure so her infant can sit and play with the bars. Yesterday a group of kids were playing tag and about three 7/8-year-olds whizzed past her baby. She yelled at them to be careful and stop running in a very harsh tone. One of the kids moms yelled back something along the lines of, this is a playground, kids are going to run. She argued that the park was for everyone and the older kids should be considerate of the your ones. Other mom said this equipment was made for older kids and it wasn’t fair to expect the older kids to not play because she’s taking her infant up there. Infants moms said there wasn’t a sign stating it was for older kids older, so basically everyone was going to have to deal.

No, it’s not explicit, but obviously this is meant for children who are older. I agree with the other mom. It’s not fair to expect the other kids to change their play to avoid baby. It feels entitled.

I usually just have my kids play on the other large structure when she comes with her infant, but she’ll go back and forth often. I of course, want my kids to be mindful of smaller children but they should be able to play tag and run!

Ok, but what about when the play structures say recommended age 2-5 (like they do at my local playround) and the 5 year olds pay no heed to the 2 year olds? I get your point, but I also see the mom’s point about other kids having to be mindful of younger kids.

I do think the older 5-year-olds should be mindful of the younger two-year-olds as the older 12-year-olds should be mindful of the younger 6-year-olds.

In fact, I even stated that I teach my children (6, 6, and 9) to be mindful of younger kids. We often will just move our game to the other large play structure.

My issue is with what I perceive is this woman’s entitlement. She will bring an infant who cannot use this structure independently while large groups of older kids are playing and often have established a game and as soon as she enters she expects them to change their play in order to avoid her and her infant. She’ll often use an entire section/slide of the play structure, forbidding any other kids to use the slide because her baby is trying to climb up or has found an interesting twig in the area.

I’m sure her infant would be safe and happy in the sand pit or on the soft climbing structures. I think exploding the larger structure is fine too, but not when it’s in use by a large number of older kids that the structure is meant for…

Its a public playground. Why is her child less entitled to any space than any other child? Talk about entitlement.

I’m not PP, but in this case the entitlement would be stopping play so your baby can climb up a slide rather than down it like it was designed, and preventing other kids from using it while hers does.

[Anonymous]

The situation you describe is egregious and the mom was out of line, like complaining that you can't concentrate if studying in a public cafeteria.

But the age signs are often meaningless though. The 2-5 equipment is often so primitive my adventurous 3 year old finds it boring. I have to hand it to some newer playgrounds that they make the new ones safe for 3-5s while still being interesting to older kids.

There's a delicate balance where parents with kids on the lower end of skill should yield so kids can play, but older kids (the 12s of 5-12) should still be minding the younger ones (the 5s, say).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live just two blocks away from a really nice neighborhood park. There are three climbing structures located in the park, two very large and one smaller. There’s also a large sandpit with some digging equipment and next to it a few very small climbing structures (basically soft domes).

The two larger climbing structures are probably geared for the 6-12 crowd or the physically aware/capable 4/5-year-olds. Lots of harder obstacles to climb up, big drops.

The smaller climbing structure is probably for 2-5-year-olds. Sometimes older kids will play, but for the most part it’s boring for them. A toddler could manage with an adult nearby.

Sandpit is for all ages. But the section closest to the soft structure climbing area as well as the area itself is where crawlers and new walkers play.

Yet this one mother comes every morning with her ten-month-old crawling infant comes to the larger structures and will finger walk her baby all over it. Which, when it’s not busy is fine. The baby seems to enjoy climbing and she has her at all times. But when it’s crowded with kids? She’s constantly telling kids to stop running and watch out for her baby when they’re up there. She’ll block half the structure so her infant can sit and play with the bars. Yesterday a group of kids were playing tag and about three 7/8-year-olds whizzed past her baby. She yelled at them to be careful and stop running in a very harsh tone. One of the kids moms yelled back something along the lines of, this is a playground, kids are going to run. She argued that the park was for everyone and the older kids should be considerate of the your ones. Other mom said this equipment was made for older kids and it wasn’t fair to expect the older kids to not play because she’s taking her infant up there. Infants moms said there wasn’t a sign stating it was for older kids older, so basically everyone was going to have to deal.

No, it’s not explicit, but obviously this is meant for children who are older. I agree with the other mom. It’s not fair to expect the other kids to change their play to avoid baby. It feels entitled.

I usually just have my kids play on the other large structure when she comes with her infant, but she’ll go back and forth often. I of course, want my kids to be mindful of smaller children but they should be able to play tag and run!

Ok, but what about when the play structures say recommended age 2-5 (like they do at my local playround) and the 5 year olds pay no heed to the 2 year olds? I get your point, but I also see the mom’s point about other kids having to be mindful of younger kids.

I do think the older 5-year-olds should be mindful of the younger two-year-olds as the older 12-year-olds should be mindful of the younger 6-year-olds.

In fact, I even stated that I teach my children (6, 6, and 9) to be mindful of younger kids. We often will just move our game to the other large play structure.

My issue is with what I perceive is this woman’s entitlement. She will bring an infant who cannot use this structure independently while large groups of older kids are playing and often have established a game and as soon as she enters she expects them to change their play in order to avoid her and her infant. She’ll often use an entire section/slide of the play structure, forbidding any other kids to use the slide because her baby is trying to climb up or has found an interesting twig in the area.

I’m sure her infant would be safe and happy in the sand pit or on the soft climbing structures. I think exploding the larger structure is fine too, but not when it’s in use by a large number of older kids that the structure is meant for…

Its a public playground. Why is her child less entitled to any space than any other child? Talk about entitlement.

I’m not PP, but in this case the entitlement would be stopping play so your baby can climb up a slide rather than down it like it was designed, and preventing other kids from using it while hers does.

So sharing is a totally foreign concept to you. No wonder kids are so wound up now. All these random rules and anxious parents. The slide must be used only one way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live just two blocks away from a really nice neighborhood park. There are three climbing structures located in the park, two very large and one smaller. There’s also a large sandpit with some digging equipment and next to it a few very small climbing structures (basically soft domes).

The two larger climbing structures are probably geared for the 6-12 crowd or the physically aware/capable 4/5-year-olds. Lots of harder obstacles to climb up, big drops.

The smaller climbing structure is probably for 2-5-year-olds. Sometimes older kids will play, but for the most part it’s boring for them. A toddler could manage with an adult nearby.

Sandpit is for all ages. But the section closest to the soft structure climbing area as well as the area itself is where crawlers and new walkers play.

Yet this one mother comes every morning with her ten-month-old crawling infant comes to the larger structures and will finger walk her baby all over it. Which, when it’s not busy is fine. The baby seems to enjoy climbing and she has her at all times. But when it’s crowded with kids? She’s constantly telling kids to stop running and watch out for her baby when they’re up there. She’ll block half the structure so her infant can sit and play with the bars. Yesterday a group of kids were playing tag and about three 7/8-year-olds whizzed past her baby. She yelled at them to be careful and stop running in a very harsh tone. One of the kids moms yelled back something along the lines of, this is a playground, kids are going to run. She argued that the park was for everyone and the older kids should be considerate of the your ones. Other mom said this equipment was made for older kids and it wasn’t fair to expect the older kids to not play because she’s taking her infant up there. Infants moms said there wasn’t a sign stating it was for older kids older, so basically everyone was going to have to deal.

No, it’s not explicit, but obviously this is meant for children who are older. I agree with the other mom. It’s not fair to expect the other kids to change their play to avoid baby. It feels entitled.

I usually just have my kids play on the other large structure when she comes with her infant, but she’ll go back and forth often. I of course, want my kids to be mindful of smaller children but they should be able to play tag and run!

Ok, but what about when the play structures say recommended age 2-5 (like they do at my local playround) and the 5 year olds pay no heed to the 2 year olds? I get your point, but I also see the mom’s point about other kids having to be mindful of younger kids.

I do think the older 5-year-olds should be mindful of the younger two-year-olds as the older 12-year-olds should be mindful of the younger 6-year-olds.

In fact, I even stated that I teach my children (6, 6, and 9) to be mindful of younger kids. We often will just move our game to the other large play structure.

My issue is with what I perceive is this woman’s entitlement. She will bring an infant who cannot use this structure independently while large groups of older kids are playing and often have established a game and as soon as she enters she expects them to change their play in order to avoid her and her infant. She’ll often use an entire section/slide of the play structure, forbidding any other kids to use the slide because her baby is trying to climb up or has found an interesting twig in the area.

I’m sure her infant would be safe and happy in the sand pit or on the soft climbing structures. I think exploding the larger structure is fine too, but not when it’s in use by a large number of older kids that the structure is meant for…

Its a public playground. Why is her child less entitled to any space than any other child? Talk about entitlement.

I’m not PP, but in this case the entitlement would be stopping play so your baby can climb up a slide rather than down it like it was designed, and preventing other kids from using it while hers does.

So sharing is a totally foreign concept to you. No wonder kids are so wound up now. All these random rules and anxious parents. The slide must be used only one way.

Did you read what that PP wrote? It was the mom you are defending, with the young child, who wasn’t sharing and not allowing others on the slide and parts of the equipment.

Yes, slides should be used one way when there are multiple kids, a mix of ages of kids and kids waiting for a turn. It’s a safety issue as well. No one wants a shoe in a toddler’s face because one was heading down and the toddler was climbing up. If no one is around or wanting to use the slide, and an adult is there, then fine going up can be done safely.

[Anonymous]

Ugh I encountered a mom like this on the playground today. It is really frustrating because they act like they own the playground and like their 10 month old is the only person entitled to use the tot lot. She plopped her baby on the bottom of the only slide playing peekaboo even though there was a line of 2 and 3 year olds waiting to go down the slide. so bizarre and antisocial and, apparently, common.

[Anonymous]

Lots of people go through a lot to have kids. It sounds like this woman loves her baby very much. Let her live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The younger child’s mother could have chosen a more appropriate place but it’s a public park so she can play wherever she wants. I’m not sure a sign would help because there will always be someone younger on a jungle gym and it’s just rude to run past people regardless of their age, jungle gym or not. The other children’s mothers should teach their children common courtesy of not running around other people. I get they were playing tag but clearly not everyone on the jungle gym was playing. I would have redirected my children to play tag in the grass.

Yeah I think this is the best take. There are kids who can go crazy on the play structures. Run and have fun, but share the space. Doesn’t matter if you knock over a 2 year old or a small 5 year old. Still problematic.