Anonymous wrote:How do you know the 4/5 year old is not autistic or has some other impairment? Perhaps the father should explain that to you rather than let it go on, but it could explain why he didn't do what you expect (and sound like you expect major kudos for btw).

Are parents not supposed to correct children with autism?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where are these playgrounds that have community toys?

Kalorama Park has a few (not in great shape). And it's not clear from the OP's post whether these were community toys, or whether they belonged to someone but OP thinks that all toys brought to the playground may be treated like public property.

Westminster in logan has a bunch of common ride on/push toys.

Anonymous wrote:How do you know the 4/5 year old is not autistic or has some other impairment? Perhaps the father should explain that to you rather than let it go on, but it could explain why he didn't do what you expect (and sound like you expect major kudos for btw).

This. We bring our own toys. They are not community and I do not allow sharing as I am tired of them getting broken. My 4 year old will not play with your toddler. It is not our job to entertain your kid. Your kid should not be hitting anyone. The child may look fine but have speech, developmental or other issues.

Anonymous wrote:Well done, OP. You are obviously a master parent, and the 5 year old's father is only an apprentice or journeyman parent.

Or, you could give him the benefit of the doubt: he was tired after correcting her all day, she was behaving out of the ordinary, he believes in allowing children to interact without adult intervention, etc.

Oh please. I spend all day correcting my 23-month old too, and you'd better believe I'm tired. All.the.time. That's what you sign up for when you become a parent.

Next time, I will allow my toddler to hit others on the playground so that children can learn to interact without adult intervention.

Maybe you should teach your kid that just because he wants something doesn't mean he can have it (even if it is community property). He'll grow up to be someone who demands a metro seat as "community property" without a special need to one.

Try fighting the entitlement rather than encouraging it.

So your kid stole toys and then hit and HE's the bad parent? Your kid sounds absolutely awful.

Anonymous wrote:Where are these playgrounds that have community toys?

Kalorama Park has a few (not in great shape). And it's not clear from the OP's post whether these were community toys, or whether they belonged to someone but OP thinks that all toys brought to the playground may be treated like public property.

Anonymous wrote:Where are these playgrounds that have community toys?

There are lots of them in North Arlington, especially in playgrounds with sandboxes. People donate toys their kids have outgrown for everyone else to use.

How do you know the 4/5 year old is not autistic or has some other impairment? Perhaps the father should explain that to you rather than let it go on, but it could explain why he didn't do what you expect (and sound like you expect major kudos for btw).

Maybe it was intentional and he wanted his daughter and your toddler to hash it out themselves. Not all issues with kids should be handled by adults, IMO.

Well done, OP. You are obviously a master parent, and the 5 year old's father is only an apprentice or journeyman parent.

Or, you could give him the benefit of the doubt: he was tired after correcting her all day, she was behaving out of the ordinary, he believes in allowing children to interact without adult intervention, etc.

Where are these playgrounds that have community toys?

Feel better?

Battle over toys at the playground among young children happens, and I suppose, is to be expected. However, I'm appalled that you sat there and did nothing when my toddler tried to engage with your 4/5 year old daughter, and her response was to scoop up all the toys and scream 'NOOOOO!' in my toddler's face. When my toddler reacted by swatting your child, I immediately intervened, got on your daughter's eye-level, apologized to her, made my toddler apologize, THEN left the scene to teach my toddler that hitting will not be tolerated, period.

Would you be a parent the next time and teach your daughter that all children are allowed to play with toys found at the playground, as this is community property, and screaming in another child's face is inappropriate?

Signed,

Annoyed Mom