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

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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Op here.  Bottom line (for me) is that I slug it out with my 18 month old all day, every day. Tbere is a lot of boundary setting and testing of said boundaries.  [b]Our playground is a safe and fun place where he can run and I can relax a little bit as well.[/b]  It's not like I can sit around and text, and I'm still on him a little (use the stairs, don't walk up the slide!), but overall we mutually love playground time.[b] I was annoyed because the pair brought an off-limits object to a place that is normally a place where I don't have to say "no" as frequently[/b], and all of a sudden I have to go back into high toddler vigilance mode. [/quote]

OP, that's the thing though -[b] it's not your playground, it's the neighborhood playground. [/b]So while I totally get how nice it is to have a place where you don't have to chase a busy toddler quite so much, it's also other families' place to play and have fun. For some that means bringing a toy, and just because it was off limits to your child doesn't mean it's not allowed. I personally do not ever bring toys to the playground, because I don't need one more thing to remember to bring home and because I feel like we go to the playground to play with and on things we don't have at home, but plenty of other people do - and they're allowed to do that. You can always pick up and go home or go to a different park if someone bring a toy you don't want your child around, or if kids start playing rougher than you like, or a million other potential playground irritants. [/quote]

It might have been nice for the kid and dad to let your kid play with the Frisbee.  But there is nothing wrong with them wanting to have a game together, which does not include a kid too young to participate in their game.  Your kid can't play Frisbee.  Period.  It's quite possible that the toddler would have wanted to join in some other activity, regardless of the toy involved.  That's just a thing that can happen when you go to a public space.  The kid could have gotten on the swing and had his dad push him really high, and your toddler could have wanted to join in.  Or whatever other activity the kid and his dad engaged in.  Your annoyance is your problem.  It is not actually rude for people who are engaged in an activity together not to include a total stranger who is evidently incapable of participating in the activity.  Sure, the three-year-old might have been rude (although it's also possible that you are exaggerating) but he's three.  He didn't want your son to take his Frisbee (which your son apparently wanted to do).  [/quote]

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