Turtle Park in AU Park--my kids aged out of the climbing stuff by 6 or so--they still would ride various large plastic toys down the hills in the tot lot until 8 almost --also splash park --by 9 they could walk there by themselves with friends to play basketball--now they are 13, 14, 15 they still go there to catch fly balls or play touch football or b-ball on the courts and fields.

Anonymous wrote:DH and I would love to use the playground behind our house. The swings look awesome. He comments though that without a kid, he would be regarded as a pedophile.

How sad.

What about you go together as a couple? I guess you would still be labeled as weirdos, but since the common (lack of) wisdom is that there are no female pedophiles, you'd probably be safe going as a couple if you can stand being seen as the local weirdos.

Also, my DS 10 and DS 13 still go to the elementary school "playground" almost every day to ride bikes or play soccer or catch near the playground. Not really playing on the equipment but still enjoying that there is indeed a playground there

Anonymous wrote:It depends on the playground.

Arlington has such a huge variety. My boys graduated from our local neighborhood park--but now go to one that has much bigger play equipment and bigger sports facilities--with a turf field and volleyball and many basketball courts, etc.

We have a decent backyard--but they love to roll up there because there are a gazillion kids in the evening for pick-up games of basketball or soccer.

They are 7 and 9.5 and there are middle school boys there too...as well as even older depending on the time.

Now that I read the above posts I realize some of these posters must be at little kid-type parks with structures not made for bigger kids.

Arlington did some amazing design work on newer parks and all ages use them routinely.

It depends on the playground.

Arlington has such a huge variety. My boys graduated from our local neighborhood park--but now go to one that has much bigger play equipment and bigger sports facilities--with a turf field and volleyball and many basketball courts, etc.

We have a decent backyard--but they love to roll up there because there are a gazillion kids in the evening for pick-up games of basketball or soccer.

They are 7 and 9.5 and there are middle school boys there too...as well as even older depending on the time.

Anonymous wrote:There is something vaguely pathetic about seeing older kids such as 12 year olds at a playground.

Speechless. You are a twat.

Anonymous wrote:There is something vaguely pathetic about seeing older kids such as 12 year olds at a playground.

What would you prefer my 12-year-old to be doing? Wandering around the mall and making out with her 15-year-old boyfriend?

Anonymous wrote:There is something vaguely pathetic about seeing older kids such as 12 year olds at a playground.

That is an insanely pathetic and sad thing to say.

^^Also, they grow up so fast!

Everything changes at age eight. After that, your playground becomes a rotting tinder box. We got rid of ours as it was seldom used. Ironically, our neighbors are building one and their kids appear to be around eight and I want to warn them, but, oh, well!

When kids turn eight (around when their permanent teeth come in), they get on this mission to distance themselves from all things little kiddish and are drawn towards how the middle schoolers are dressing and acting. To them, playgrounds are for little kids. They also gain a lot of weight at that time and its scary to see them on a swing set, especially since they also get more daring and mischevious and want to see how high and how loud they can make the swing set creak and rock.

You might be able to squeeze a couple more years out of your playground if you have younger neighborhood kids who stop by and visit alot.

By 3rd grade or so for my DS.

We live by a middle school next to a community center with a play ground. Packs of middle schoolers stop by all the time to horse around. It's a little intimidating for my little kids, but I think it's great.

2ng grade is when I saw the interest dwindle and time at the playground grow shorter

There is something vaguely pathetic about seeing older kids such as 12 year olds at a playground.

I am a mother of 4 children (boys, if it makes a difference) between the ages of 9-15.
I found they lost interest somewhere around 3rd-4th grade.
My youngest never asks to go to the playground anymore, but would probably play if I specifically brought him there.