Reply to Parents who don't intervene -- why not?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I will freely admit that I do not usually intervene when my kid commits a routine playground faux-pas like climbing the slide. You know why? I am tired and it is not a huge deal at the end of the day. With my 2yo, I intervene because it is usually a safety issue. With a 5yo, though? No. They can figure it out themselves.

I completely realize this is selfish and that most of you probably find it extremely annoying. I find the people who are constantly intervening in the social dynamics of elementary-school-aged kids annoying as well. [/quote]

I was just thinking as I read the OP, "I let my 4 year old climb the slide......"    I figure he and the other kids can work it out.  Either they will take turns, or they will all decide to climb up instead of slide down, or vice versa, or someone will get kicked and i'll say "yup, sometimes that happens when you climb the slide when it's crowded... people coming down have first dibs".  I actually really dislike when other parents correct children climbing the slide (who aren't their own).  "Ok guys... slides aren't for climbing!  Little Larlo (their own child, always) is waiting patiently to slide down!"   Like ok... let them wait patiently.  What's wrong with this? [/quote]

OP again and I let my kid climb up the slide when there aren't any other kids trying to use it.  But if I see a kid at the top of the slide ready to go down, and my kid starts climbing up it, I'm going to intervene.  Why is my kid so special that he gets to do whatever the heck he wants, regardless of the other kids that are waiting?  [/quote]

This!

There is a happy medium, people.  If your child is doing something dangerous, either to themselves or someone else, you intervene.  You reiterate the rules.  Climbing up the slide when the playground is busy and kids are waiting to come down counts.  Not only can the kid going up get hurt by being hit/kicked, the kid coming down can get hurt.  I know a kid who broke her leg coming down the slide when another kid got in the way.  Sorry, but your kid learning the natural outcome is not worth my kid going to urgent care or the emergency room.

If there are not safety issues, then you can sit back and let kids play to an extent, but if your kid is being consistently rude, it's time to intervene again.  Reiterate the rules.  If they can't follow them, leave.

If you have a baby/ toddler, you need to pay attention the whole time and defer to the kids who are playing independently.  You can't expect 4 or 5 year olds to be fully aware of where your toddlers are.  Keep them out of the way of the bigger kids who are playing.

These things are so basic.  [/quote]

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