Do you ever step in and physically help another child at the park?

[Anonymous]

Of course I’d help a child in need but that’s it. If they want to go higher on a swing that’s up to their parents.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I’d of course intervene on a safety issue.

I hate it when kids who aren’t mine ask me to swing them, watch them do something, help them on monkey bars, etc., when I can see their own parent/caregiver sitting around scrolling on the phone. I’ll politely pay attention to them for a minute and then explain I need to attend to my own kids.

+1 I hate it too. Those kids are so annoying and starved for attention!

+2. Same and I’m a nanny. I find it truly loathsome that negligent parents consider themselves “free range” and anti-helicopter parents when it’s strangers who are forced to watch and encourage their children.

No one wants you helicoptering around their children. Keep your eyes on your own paper.

LOL. Found the lazy parent!

NP who agrees with PP. Leave my kid alone. He is capable and independent mainly because I don't "help" aka do everything for him, unless necessary or he asks. He has plenty of hands on 1:1 interaction at home and at his expensive ass private montessori daycare. At the park he runs free and I stand back and let him. Don't do us any "favors", especially when you are judging the whole time.

I’m one of the PPs. This isn’t the situation I’m talking about. Hell no I’m not approaching your “capable and independent” child and offering my help! I want your kid to leave me alone. But your kid sees me engaged with my kid. Sees me making an effort. Playing hide and seek. Going down the slide. Pushing my kid on the swing. Whatever.

It’s your kid, getting no engagement from you, that seeks ME out because you can’t be bothered.

If you’re at a park and your kid wants to swing but doesn’t know how, that’s your job.
If you’re at a park and your kid wants to play hide and seek, get off your phone and play with your damn kid.

And if you don’t want to, fine - but tell your attention starved kid to leave the other parents/caregivers alone.

Kids are at a park to play with kids, not parents. Redirect to your child and get out of the way for hide-and-seek.

When I take my kids to a park, I’m prepared to engage with them. If they make friends and play with those friends, great. But no, I didn’t bring my child to the park to entertain your kid. Why would I redirect my kid, who just wants to play with her mama? Parents can’t engage their children at parks?

I’m talking about specific situations - which sadly occur often - when a kid will approach me because they see me being attentive with my own kids. The kid might ask me to push them on the swing. Or watch them do a trick. Or want me to play with them. I’d be pretty embarrassed if my kids thought they needed to seek a stranger out for attention or help use the equipment.

Most people use the parks and playgrounds for unstructured play and socialization. If you want to play with your kids, do it at home if they're 3+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I’d of course intervene on a safety issue.

I hate it when kids who aren’t mine ask me to swing them, watch them do something, help them on monkey bars, etc., when I can see their own parent/caregiver sitting around scrolling on the phone. I’ll politely pay attention to them for a minute and then explain I need to attend to my own kids.

+1 I hate it too. Those kids are so annoying and starved for attention!

+2. Same and I’m a nanny. I find it truly loathsome that negligent parents consider themselves “free range” and anti-helicopter parents when it’s strangers who are forced to watch and encourage their children.

No one wants you helicoptering around their children. Keep your eyes on your own paper.

LOL. Found the lazy parent!

NP who agrees with PP. Leave my kid alone. He is capable and independent mainly because I don't "help" aka do everything for him, unless necessary or he asks. He has plenty of hands on 1:1 interaction at home and at his expensive ass private montessori daycare. At the park he runs free and I stand back and let him. Don't do us any "favors", especially when you are judging the whole time.

I’m one of the PPs. This isn’t the situation I’m talking about. Hell no I’m not approaching your “capable and independent” child and offering my help! I want your kid to leave me alone. But your kid sees me engaged with my kid. Sees me making an effort. Playing hide and seek. Going down the slide. Pushing my kid on the swing. Whatever.

It’s your kid, getting no engagement from you, that seeks ME out because you can’t be bothered.

If you’re at a park and your kid wants to swing but doesn’t know how, that’s your job.
If you’re at a park and your kid wants to play hide and seek, get off your phone and play with your damn kid.

And if you don’t want to, fine - but tell your attention starved kid to leave the other parents/caregivers alone.

Kids are at a park to play with kids, not parents. Redirect to your child and get out of the way for hide-and-seek.

When I take my kids to a park, I’m prepared to engage with them. If they make friends and play with those friends, great. But no, I didn’t bring my child to the park to entertain your kid. Why would I redirect my kid, who just wants to play with her mama? Parents can’t engage their children at parks?

I’m talking about specific situations - which sadly occur often - when a kid will approach me because they see me being attentive with my own kids. The kid might ask me to push them on the swing. Or watch them do a trick. Or want me to play with them. I’d be pretty embarrassed if my kids thought they needed to seek a stranger out for attention or help use the equipment.

Most people use the parks and playgrounds for unstructured play and socialization. If you want to play with your kids, do it at home if they're 3+.[/quote


You’re missing the point, PP. Your kids want to play with me (the adult). NP here and it’s really hard when someone elses’s kid wants me to “watch” them or play with them when I want to focus on my own kids. If your kids want to play with my kids - great. But if your kids want to play with me - step in and redirect them so I don’t have to. ]

[Anonymous]

I agree with the above poster. The problem is when the kids wants my (the adult’s) attention or wants to play with the adult. It happens to our nanny all the time and she gets angry.

[Anonymous]

No. Too many parents are litigious. Watch your own kids and I'll watch mine. I had a father scream at me for helping his son tie his shoe. Your kids and your responsibility for their safety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the above poster. The problem is when the kids wants my (the adult’s) attention or wants to play with the adult. It happens to our nanny all the time and she gets angry.

+1. It happens to DH all the time too. He is a magnet for kids. He’s gotten so annoyed that he’s called the kids parents over to play with them so he could play with our kids.

[Anonymous]

I dunno. I play tag with my 7 year old. I'm really athletic so I will launch myself around and over playground equipment. Usually other kids love to join in, and I'll chase them a little bit too. It's fun. I like kids. Fortunately no one has gotten mad so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’d of course intervene on a safety issue.

I hate it when kids who aren’t mine ask me to swing them, watch them do something, help them on monkey bars, etc., when I can see their own parent/caregiver sitting around scrolling on the phone. I’ll politely pay attention to them for a minute and then explain I need to attend to my own kids.

+1 I hate it too. Those kids are so annoying and starved for attention!

+2. Same and I’m a nanny. I find it truly loathsome that negligent parents consider themselves “free range” and anti-helicopter parents when it’s strangers who are forced to watch and encourage their children.

No one wants you helicoptering around their children. Keep your eyes on your own paper.

LOL. Found the lazy parent!

NP who agrees with PP. Leave my kid alone. He is capable and independent mainly because I don't "help" aka do everything for him, unless necessary or he asks. He has plenty of hands on 1:1 interaction at home and at his expensive ass private montessori daycare. At the park he runs free and I stand back and let him. Don't do us any "favors", especially when you are judging the whole time.

I’m one of the PPs. This isn’t the situation I’m talking about. Hell no I’m not approaching your “capable and independent” child and offering my help! I want your kid to leave me alone. But your kid sees me engaged with my kid. Sees me making an effort. Playing hide and seek. Going down the slide. Pushing my kid on the swing. Whatever.

It’s your kid, getting no engagement from you, that seeks ME out because you can’t be bothered.

If you’re at a park and your kid wants to swing but doesn’t know how, that’s your job.
If you’re at a park and your kid wants to play hide and seek, get off your phone and play with your damn kid.

And if you don’t want to, fine - but tell your attention starved kid to leave the other parents/caregivers alone.

Kids are at a park to play with kids, not parents. Redirect to your child and get out of the way for hide-and-seek.

When I take my kids to a park, I’m prepared to engage with them. If they make friends and play with those friends, great. But no, I didn’t bring my child to the park to entertain your kid. Why would I redirect my kid, who just wants to play with her mama? Parents can’t engage their children at parks?

I’m talking about specific situations - which sadly occur often - when a kid will approach me because they see me being attentive with my own kids. The kid might ask me to push them on the swing. Or watch them do a trick. Or want me to play with them. I’d be pretty embarrassed if my kids thought they needed to seek a stranger out for attention or help use the equipment.

Most people use the parks and playgrounds for unstructured play and socialization. If you want to play with your kids, do it at home if they're 3+.[/quote


You’re missing the point, PP. Your kids want to play with me (the adult). NP here and it’s really hard when someone elses’s kid wants me to “watch” them or play with them when I want to focus on my own kids. If your kids want to play with my kids - great. But if your kids want to play with me - step in and redirect them so I don’t have to. ]

Then stop making yourself an attraction. The park is for kids to play. If you are playing around and starting fun, loud, squealing games then surely you understand that you are opening yourself to playing with ALL kids on the playground- not just yours....

[Anonymous]

I say no to lifting, swinging, etc. “I’m sorry but I don’t know your mom/or dad so I don’t feel comfortable. Is mom or dad here with you?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I dunno. I play tag with my 7 year old. I'm really athletic so I will launch myself around and over playground equipment. Usually other kids love to join in, and I'll chase them a little bit too. It's fun. I like kids. Fortunately no one has gotten mad so far.

I do this as well. My kids like to play "tickle monster" at the playground where I chase them, roar, and try to tickle them. When other kids want to join in, it becomes just a simple tag on the shoulder or foot (if they're on the equipment above me). I try not to touch other kids because parents can be weird. It's usually when we go to our ES playground on occasional weekends and the parents don't seem to mind and the kids are 5+. I consider chasing them part of my workout and it helps keep me young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:I grabbed a toddler at the airport once. She had taken off and her maaaaybe five year brother was chasing her while the mom was four gates back on crutches shouting at her to stop.

Mom reamed me out for touching her kid. I'll never help a child again.

Wow.

Double wow. What a witch! She should have thanked you!

I suppose she felt there wasn't much that could happen to her child at an airport, and maybe she was right, but still. Mom instinct kicked in (because I've had my own kids take off like that...terminals are GREAT for running when you're three, it seems).