Playground police

[TrudyCampbell]

Am I the only one who is constantly directing other kids at the playground? I feel like the playground police and I'm wondering where these other parents are. Or am I out of line for expecting everyone to slide down the slide and take turns like normal children?

Today two girls were throwing lacrosse balls (which really are dangerous) at the slides and bouncing them off and making a game. I had to tell them repeatedly that my kids were trying to slide down the slide and they should go somewhere else.

And then there's always a million kids climbing up the slide or cutting everyone in line by pushing and being aggressive. I seem to be the only adult stepping in, but if I didn't I know my kids would get upset.WDYT? Too helicoptery?

[teamhayes]

I just let everyone play

I helicopter but don't direct other kids

They are having fun in their own way

[muppetinma]

As long as nobody is in imminent danger, I just let it go. If somebody is doing something that could injure themselves or others, I don't care whose kid it is, I'm going to step in and say something.

[TrudyCampbell]

May 11, 2016 18:08:56 GMT -5 teamhayes said:

I just let everyone play

I helicopter but don't direct other kids

They are having fun in their own way

Oh I know they're having fun and more power to them except they're in turn not allowing the other kids to play with the equipment as intended.

[katfco]

I only direct other kids if someone looks to be in danger or if they're impeding my children's ability to play. Even at that, I encourage my kids to say something first, but my kids just aren't aggressive near other kids. They save that for each other.

[carawestt]

If it's something where they can harm themselves or other kids, I ask them to stop. I also ask kids to not climb up the slides and ask older kids to be careful of mine.

[lolaburns]

The going up the slide thing drives me crazy. Usually, E or L will mirror the behavior of the child going up the slide and then I will loudly correct them that we go DOWN the slide.

Being insanely rambunctious around the little ones and doing dangerous stuff I correct because they can hurt my kids. I don't care if other parents have a problem with it. You can have fun and learn to be cognizant of your surroundings and aware of others at the same time.

[devonpow]

I only correct if it's blatantly dangerous or if it's impeding Es ability to do something AND he is frustrated (I want him to try and work it out on his own). I'm pretty lax at the playground though. I let them go up the slide (as long as they aren't blocking other kids), they run around with sticks, etc. I'm sure I would horrify some people

[shevacc]

I step in for being too rough around my kids and when they're not allowing my kids to go down the slide/take turns on whatever. If there's no one else at the playground, I let mine go up the slide (well, try to) but not if they're getting in other kids' way.

I ask kids to take turns, but I tend to block older kids with my body when they're being rough. Not touch them, just block the way if they're running and continue moving in areas that cut them off/slow them way down.

[bebeetmoi]

If DD is playing near or with kids who are being reckless/ dangerous, I pull her aside and tell her to go play elsewhere/ with other kids because I don't want her to get hurt.
I've never asked a child to move for DD or take a game elsewhere.
And fortunately no other kids have ever played dangerously around DD. HOWEVER- I would absolutely step in if a child was being malicious or potentially causing harm to DD.
Fortunately, DD is pretty assertive and I don't have to worry about her getting walked all over by other children lol.

[claralou]

I step in if/when it's blatantly dangerous or there are much bigger or much smaller children in the mix and someone could get hurt.

[TrudyCampbell]

Well now I feel like maybe I'm overdoing it with these other kids. There's only one slide in this area of the playground that my kids can do completely independently, and it drives me nuts when they can't use it because other kids are using it in unintended ways. I feel like if I didn't intervene then my kids would never get to play with anything.

[bebeetmoi]

May 11, 2016 19:19:24 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Well now I feel like maybe I'm overdoing it with these other kids. There's only one slide in this area of the playground that my kids can do completely independently, and it drives me nuts when they can't use it because other kids are using it in unintended ways. I feel like if I didn't intervene then my kids would never get to play with anything.

Is the big kid area not seperate from the smaller kid area? I used to avoid certain playgrounds that didn't have a play structure suitable for younger children to avoid having to battle the older kids running amuck.

[TrudyCampbell]

May 11, 2016 19:32:47 GMT -5 bebeetmoi said:

May 11, 2016 19:19:24 GMT -5 TrudyCampbell said:

Well now I feel like maybe I'm overdoing it with these other kids. There's only one slide in this area of the playground that my kids can do completely independently, and it drives me nuts when they can't use it because other kids are using it in unintended ways. I feel like if I didn't intervene then my kids would never get to play with anything.

Is the big kid area not seperate from the smaller kid area? I used to avoid certain playgrounds that didn't have a play structure suitable for younger children to avoid having to battle the older kids running amuck.

This playground kind of sucks and doesn't have a clear little kid area. But there are plenty of bigger slides for the bigger kids to play on. Leave my little slide alone!

[Deleted]

If bigger kids were doing that on the smaller slide when they had a bigger option, I would say something. Especially about the lacrosse balls.

[DesertMoon]

I live in Canada so all the people including kids are super friendly, lol jk.

I have never encountered a kids doing something and their parent not stepping in. If I did I would talk to Julian about moving or looking out, not direct the kid though.

I have said stuff like "wait a minute Julian until this little boy gets off the slide" and then stared until they stopped trying to climb up while he was trying to go down.

[jg183]

I must be psycho I sound like a broken record "up the stairs down the slide" so all the kids hear

[monkeybabe]

I'll tell kids to move if they're like, hanging from the end of the slide. I've been known to tell children they'd better make room, or they're going to get kicked in the face.

Nothing annoys me more than a kid climbing up the slide, then going down, then climbing up, going down, rinse, repeat, never actually ever getting off the slide, while their parent watches and my kid stands patiently at the top. I'll look at the parent, wait, and then loudly tell Zoe it'll be her turn as soon as the other kid moves. Usually the parent looks annoyed, but tells their kid to gtfo. I'll never understand people that let their kids be little shits on the playground. Letting your kid climb the slide when no one is waiting is one thing. Dominating the equipment while their parents watch is just mind blowing.

[irishsara]

I don't usually direct other kids. I will usually steer mine away. Toys are not always played with as they are intended, so I don't think that playground equipment needs to be also. As long as they aren't hurting anyone, I let them be. Just because someone might not be using the equipment as intended doesn't mean it's wrong. At least that's the way i approach it.

[Deleted]

May 11, 2016 18:31:59 GMT -5 devonpow said:

I only correct if it's blatantly dangerous or if it's impeding Es ability to do something AND he is frustrated (I want him to try and work it out on his own). I'm pretty lax at the playground though. I let them go up the slide (as long as they aren't blocking other kids), they run around with sticks, etc. I'm sure I would horrify some people

I am lax too, but my kids are older than yours Trudy and plus they are rough boys so I'm not worried about them too much anymore.
Mine also run around with sticks 

When they were little (toddlers eg.) I would hover more.  I totally get you wanting the little slide available for little kids, though!

[devotchka]

We tend to go to playgrounds that are a lot less crazy or this would be me too, Trudy. When Max was a baby/toddler and couldn't fend for himself as well and we lived in a different area I feel like I had to helicopter a lot more. It was busier at the park and the parents seemed more absent or something.
I'm also in a "if they're hurting others and or themselves I feel like I need to say something" camp.

[TrudyCampbell]

May 11, 2016 22:55:53 GMT -5 monkeybabe said:

I'll tell kids to move if they're like, hanging from the end of the slide. I've been known to tell children they'd better make room, or they're going to get kicked in the face.

Nothing annoys me more than a kid climbing up the slide, then going down, then climbing up, going down, rinse, repeat, never actually ever getting off the slide, while their parent watches and my kid stands patiently at the top. I'll look at the parent, wait, and then loudly tell Zoe it'll be her turn as soon as the other kid moves. Usually the parent looks annoyed, but tells their kid to gtfo. I'll never understand people that let their kids be little shits on the playground. Letting your kid climb the slide when no one is waiting is one thing. Dominating the equipment while their parents watch is just mind blowing.

That's what these kids were doing yesterday! But there parents were MIA. V & R were waiting at the top of the slide patiently while these other kids kept stealing s turn.

[TrudyCampbell]

May 12, 2016 1:51:44 GMT -5 devotchka said:

We tend to go to playgrounds that are a lot less crazy or this would be me too, Trudy. When Max was a baby/toddler and couldn't fend for himself as well and we lived in a different area I feel like I had to helicopter a lot more. It was busier at the park and the parents seemed more absent or something.
I'm also in a "if they're hurting others and or themselves I feel like I need to say something" camp.

Yea this is a VERY busy playground. Tons of people and kids.

[raynes]

May 11, 2016 21:37:02 GMT -5 DesertMoon said:

I live in Canada so all the people including kids are super friendly, lol jk.

I have never encountered a kids doing something and their parent not stepping in. If I did I would talk to Julian about moving or looking out, not direct the kid though.

I have said stuff like "wait a minute Julian until this little boy gets off the slide" and then stared until they stopped trying to climb up while he was trying to go down.

That's usually my MO too, but we rarely have to deal with this because often we're basically the only ones at the park.  

[mumegs]

I don't police other kids but the playgrounds around here are dead, we are usually the only ones there. Poor M is always hoping for kids to come to play with her. But if there are other kids I police her if she's climbing up the slide, that is annoying that the other kids' parents aren't policing them at all.

[jnoellee]

I do the same thing. At Eli's party sil's kids were being too rough and wild, and they're a lot older, and I feel like I'm always yelling at them at every party to stop, be careful, watch out for the younger ones or to not do what they're doing. If the parent isn't going to then I will!

[betsyray]

I hover. I don't say anything to other kids usually but I fume silently lol It offends my rule following self when kids climb up the slide.

I have an even worse time at fast food play areas. It has rained 15 days straight here (kill me now) and we have been to Chick Fil A a lot. I'm usually the only parent in there and the other kids are hooligans. I know I should chill, but it's hard for me to relax about my kids when the others are so rowdy.

[jaylea]

I only intervene if someone's in danger of being hurt or someone's being mean.

I will never understand going up the slide hate. It's actually good for them. If there's someone waiting to go down, then I'll tell me kids to move aside, do something else, etc. but no one waiting? Have at it. That said, they are generally aware of their surroundings and not assholes to others so they will stop of someone is waiting anyway.