To not want to let the little thug take over the trampoline (but I did)

It sounds a little like you may have been ‘hogging’ the trampoline. He sounds like a normal 2 year old who hasn’t quite yet learned all his social skills. ‘Intimidated’ definitely the wrong word unless you’re seriously fragile.

Standing there waiting for his turn is perfectly appropriate. How else would he ever get a go? 🤷🏻‍♀️

You were obviously hogging the trampoline. Learn how to share

If he didn't stand there waiting, it's likely your DD would suddenly run off and another child take her place. His presence was not to intimidate but to wait. My DS used to wait for a minute, run off and play elsewhere while still 'waiting' in his head then return and be furious that someone else took the turn while he was waiting. That was a difficult lesson to learn.

Most children at 2 will start shouting it's their turn as soon as they arrive but that shouldn't mean another child cuts their turn short either, they just have to be ignored and wait. I think 3 to 5 minutes is enough per child.

I also think it's ok for another parent or minder to intervene when necessary, 'no pushing, wait your turn' etc. A parent cant be there all the time and it's everyone's responsibility to teach them the rules.

I’d have just moved GC off to get away from the other kid. I couldn’t have stood there listening to him going on and on.

I think this is a perfect way to deal with the situation from both sides.

I usually say something to DS like "10 more jumps, then it's this little girls' turn". If he's the one waiting I wait for a minute and then start making comments like "I'm sure this little boy will be off in a second and then it will be your turn" - usually gets them off!

Haha I’m guilty of the “I’m sure it’ll be your turn soon” comments as well. And the mum of this little boy (little boy, not thug 🙄) sounds like she was on the ball as she took him away and then came back to demonstrate how to wait his turn. Which he did. Thank god some adults teach their children to share…

OP this happens all the time at my local playground! My 2 year old son has been on both sides of this (wanting a turn when a younger one is on, and being pushed off by older kids!).

With shared items like this, they really only get 1 minute each. Doesn't feel like long but then they can come back for lots more turns if you're there for a while.

I usually say something to DS like "10 more jumps, then it's this little girls' turn". If he's the one waiting I wait for a minute and then start making comments like "I'm sure this little boy will be off in a second and then it will be your turn" - usually gets them off!

If it’s busy, then read the room and let others have a go. Sounds as if you let your granddaughter stay on longer than was polite in a public play space…

I'm with you on this. Although only two years old, he needs to learn he can't just demand things and hit, push or upset people when things don't go his way.

I would have let my child stay on as long as she liked after that 😆

Sounds like the mother dealt with the hitting by taking him away. She may well have spoken to him in that moment as well and the “punishment” of being taken away from it would have been enough for a 2yo.

Standing by the trampoline and waiting for their turn is pretty standard. No he didn’t cope well because he’s 2! The mother made him wait.

Say it’s light hearted all you want but calling him a thug is not particularly pleasant.

Two year olds aren’t thugs. They do struggle to articulate themselves in a socially acceptable way when they’re frustrated though.

Sounds more passive aggressive than intimidating imo. I personally would have distracted my kids with something different. Equally if I knew there was another 2 year old right there waiting to play and struggling with waiting I’d encourage my child to move onto something else and let them have a turn rather than another few minutes (a lot to a 2 year old on a tiny trampoline/waiting to go on something).

i suspect the mum removed her son, spoke to him about waiting his turn, and then returned to wait their turn!

Sounds like your grand daughter been on it a long time if the other little girl been on it too. You take turns re equipment and doesn't sound like you are. Yabu re the word thug. They are two!

I'd allow DGC to use it for a few minutes then tell her it was someone else's turn and take her off to use another part of the huge soft play centre. It's a balance. You don't want to teach them they always need to give way and stand aside, but at the same time they need to know that when toys are 'for everyone' they can't monopolise them. How long before you make them share the toy is a judgement call in the moment.

When my children are fixated on going onto a piece of equipment, doesn't matter how many times I try and distract them to go on something else they will patiently wait their turn, as they desperately want to go into it.

I think you pitched this right and so did his mum, he was told it was unacceptable to hit and then came over and waited for his turn. Your GC needs to understand the art of taking turns and sharing too.

And?

‘A few minutes’ means that it’s the end of her turn. This happens all the time at soft plays/the playground/rides etc. where there are certain things that can only fit one child at a time. I often have to remind my oldest that he’s had his turn and to give another child a go.

I don’t think them standing there waiting for you to finish is ‘intimidating’. I do this when I feel that one child has had a long enough turn and there are other children waiting for a turn.

I agree that the boy shouldn’t have pushed her, but it sounds like the mum intervened quickly and removed him from the situation.

YABU for calling a two year old a thug. And for being 'intimidated' by same two year old.

These things happen. The mum intervened. 🤷🏻‍♀️

After she had been on there for a few minutes more

I'm with him.

She had a.ready had time on it and the boy waited. It was time for her to move on and let another child play.

YANBU - even if he’s only very young, the boy’s mother shouldn’t have effectively rewarded his pushing by bringing him back for another turn.

I see this ALL the time - girls being taught to share and boys being encouraged to take up as much space as possible. It starts in infancy - there’s loads of research on it.