Bringing your own toys to the playground-what's the etiquette?

[Anonymous]

Stop saying "0-3 playground" as if they have special rules.

[Anonymous]

OP, you're not crazy. But at least now you know what you're dealing with at the playground - which was the whole point of your query.

Plenty of other parents think it's expected and perfectly okay to be rude, selfish and self-important and teach their children accordingly. When you encounter such people, the thing to do is smile, feel pity and move your child to the next activity. If you don't make a big deal out of it, your kid will be better prepared to navigate this bullshit that is surely in his future.

Good news is that within a couple of years, he'll be old enough to learn that sharing is actually a valuable life skill. Bad news is that some parents - a lot of parents - will always be assholes and their kids will be, too.

[Anonymous]

You aren't obligated to share toys at a playground just like you don't have to share your drinks and snacks. I suggest keeping some toys handy for these situations so you can have your own

[Anonymous]

OP, not sure your situation was all that annoying, but sure it'd be nice if people were more welcoming. The worst is when parents bring push toys or cars kids can ride to the kiddie playground. Fucking crazy watching all the nannies/parents have to restrain their worked up 1-2 year olds for the next 30 minutes. It's awfully selfish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be sure and tell us all the juicy details of how you got your ass-whupped when you tried to tell someone that they can't bring personal stuff to the playground OP...

This is DCUM in a nutshell. Free thrapapy for moms who need to beat up on other moms. Come one and all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Don't think I've ever seen a sign at any toddler playground prohibiting the presence of outside toys or playthings.
Perhaps it's a simple matter of the general public not properly adhering to this "rule" because there isn't one.
You know what...
This is your moment OP.
This is your chance to make a difference in the world.
I encourage you to start a grassroots campaign to Keep Toddler Playgrounds Free From Distraction By Other Kids Things and just start putting up signs everywhere and you can start standing outside libraries to gather signatures to try and initiate some legislature making it a crime punishable by a fine and possibly community service to bring (GASP!!!) a "frisbee thing" to a public playground...
The horror
You can do it OP we're all behind you!!

You think you're witty but you are not.

I thought it was hysterical.

[Anonymous]

A similar thing happened to us. Except it was an older kid playing with his father and a soccer ball at a 2-5 playground. My twins kept chasing the ball, we kept correcting them, the older kid, maybe ten, refused to let them even touch it. We were constantly saying no, that is his ball, he does not have to share. It was so annoying, I almost picked up the ball and threw it to the adjacent older kid playground where he should have been. We ended up leaving early. Some people are jerks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A similar thing happened to us. Except it was an older kid playing with his father and a soccer ball at a 2-5 playground. My twins kept chasing the ball, we kept correcting them, the older kid, maybe ten, refused to let them even touch it. We were constantly saying no, that is his ball, he does not have to share. It was so annoying, I almost picked up the ball and threw it to the adjacent older kid playground where he should have been. We ended up leaving early. Some people are jerks.

Which people?

[Anonymous]

When my toddler brings toys to the playground I make her share (if other children are interested). If she doesn't, toy goes away. It's a public space where you know other children will be -- think sharing is common courtesy (not that I'd show up with a frisbee at a toddler playground...sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen...haha)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my toddler brings toys to the playground I make her share (if other children are interested). If she doesn't, toy goes away. It's a public space where you know other children will be -- think sharing is common courtesy (not that I'd show up with a frisbee at a toddler playground...sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen...haha)

No one should have to share a frisbee with an 18 month old. I'd question how much an 18m old can actually get out of a playground in the best of circumstances. But either way, public space does not mandate sharing.

[Anonymous]

A public space may not mandate sharing, but a three year old screaming if a baby looks at their toy does mandate that the three year old should leave the toy at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my toddler brings toys to the playground I make her share (if other children are interested). If she doesn't, toy goes away. It's a public space where you know other children will be -- think sharing is common courtesy (not that I'd show up with a frisbee at a toddler playground...sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen...haha)

No one should have to share a frisbee with an 18 month old. I'd question how much an 18m old can actually get out of a playground in the best of circumstances. But either way, public space does not mandate sharing.

Of course an 18 month old can enjoy a playground. They shouldn't just be strapped in strollers at museums you know.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised by the responses on here ganging up on OP. In my parents sphere, i can think of countless times where friends or acquaintances have said in passing that they never bring toys to the park because of the inevitable drama that ensues. I consider it pretty standard knowledge. So if a dad chooses to buck that trend and bring a toy to the park (which of course he has every right to do in a public park), he better damn well make sure he doesn't have a screechy toy-possessive kid who is the cause of said drama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course they can bring their own toy. No, they don't have to share while they are actively playing with it. No one ever has to share (whether they are playing with it or not)...but offering turns is always nice and appreciated. To little kids, babies are annoying and can ruin games because they want to grab everything and 'get in the way'. The father was there to play with his kid, not yours. That's just kind of how it goes.

This is how I feel too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if I bring an apple for my kid as a snack, am I supposed to share with you because your kid is distracted and wants one?

Haha NOPE!! Youre crazy op.

This reminds me when my kids were younger and I would have snacks for them- inevitably, there would be one or two little ones hovering around us looking at us, crying and reaching for our snacks. It was so awkward. I would have to ignore them and or say no. Obv. it was distracting for them but according to OP I should have to share because of etiquette? I'll agree with PP... NOPE!