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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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![/quote]

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. [/quote]

This is so much more common, too. I don't even have a kid in the 2-5 age range anymore but I will absolutely speak up in this situation and tell kids to let the little kids have their space. I also intervene when I see a younger kid trying to use the slide or something and not getting the chance because the bigger/bolder kids won't give the littler one a minute to build up the courage.

I'm always a bit amazed at how few parents try to teach their kids playground etiquette and how to play around kids of other ages but especially younger kids. I'm always reminding my kids about being gentler and more patient with younger kids and not hogging playground equipment. And they are pretty good about it (but not perfect). But so many parents just don't care at all and seem fine with a Lord of the Flies type playground environment.

I very rarely see parents of really little kids doing what OP is describing. Occasionally, but very few parents have the patience for it. Also, I rarely see kids that young at the playground during peak hours (after school until dinner time, or mid-late morning in the summer). I think most parents of babies and young toddlers understand that the after school playground rush is not the best time for their kids to be learning how to climb on the equipment.[/quote]

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