To find this situation awkward?

Yes, I've definitely been this parent with my kids...who would very much need a hand doing something as ordinary as joining in with others. It never been comfortable for me, as I'm not someone who particularly wants to speak to others (and this OP demonstrates why!) but make myself for the sake of the kids. So unless they're particularly tough skinned they didn't take the easy option

I get what you mean OP, I wouldn't be annoyed at the random kid at all, more the presumption of the parents who should maybe try bringing their own games if they want their shy child to draw some park friends into his sphere, especially as you've entertained the child before. Not very reciprocal if they always get to kick back and relax! My husband tends to be one of the fun parents at soft plays and parks who attracts the kids whose parents can't be bothered playing for whatever reason. At least you've role modelled inclusive behaviour to your children.

Yes it does sound like it's your issue.

Presumably you wouldn't feel ok to ask another parent to let your kid join in. So your resentment is probably related to your feelings about what you can ask from others, in comparison to their feelings about what they can ask of others.

Some people meet people at the park who actually become friends in future, they could be nice people. (Accepting it is possible they could be annoying!).

You made a kid's day better at no cost to you, you stepped out of your personal comfort zone and your kids had a social experience. I don't see the downside.

Where then?

Surely parks are for socialising with other kids? If you want to play a game and not expect other kids to want to join in then don’t go a do it in a park.

If that happens you intervene, not rocket science. The poster wasn't talking about one incident though- she was stating that she wanted to play alone with her children in the park without socialising with other children. I do find that weird because socialising with other children was one of the reasons I brought my children to the park. They are older now but still very friendly and open to meeting new people.

Because her kids didn’t want to play with him.

The older kids didn’t specifically want to play with the random kid though. 🫤 you are suggesting that OP and her dc who are happily playing are is actually a family with a tantrum throwing hell 4 year old who should sit it out so random kid who no one is particularly fond of can play. Odd.

Because you're acting like other children are a danger to your children. Why not just stay at home if you don't want your children to have any social interactions🤷‍♀️

I really couldn’t get worked up about this

I mean isn’t this what the park is for? Playing, meeting others, chatting etc

In future possibly go when it’s quieter or place a cordon around your family? Or DND sign

Why? Because they don’t like their toddler mown down by random kids?

Weird question

@metellaestinatrio YANBU I understand that you’ve previously entertained this child even though your kids weren’t overly keen and on this occasion you were all looking for some personal family/bonding time. If it happened again to me I’d say “Im sorry but I’ve promised the kids a game just with me and them - maybe next time thank you” Then I’d immediately run back to my kids.

When mine were younger, if they were happy for another kid to join in a game, I would often withdraw at that point, so it was all kids together. Or in your situation I might have invited one of the parents to play too.

I know what you mean - it feels a bit embarrassing to be entertaining someone else’s kid whilst their parents look on!

You and your family sound like fun.

I get you op. We’re in London too, plenty of parks and it’s always full of kids. They could clearly see you playing with your kids.
We get this too. We enjoy playing with our kids and I hate it when a random child wants to join in because 1. My ds doesn’t enjoy that and 2. We have a toddler and some kids are rough and don’t know how to behave around a toddler.

we just say, we are finishing off now go sit down for a few minutes and start again. They get the message often enough

Sometimes, sure, why not? Not saying the 4 year old should be locked in a dungeon and never allowed out to play lest they become contaminated by contact with strangers, but if the older siblings want to play an older kids game with some other randoms from the park, surely what some of us would do at least sometimes is stay behind with the younger kid and get them to do something more age appropriate rather than follow the whole group around and parent the whole gang to referee/stop the 4 year old tantrumming or being left out? And part of using a communal / public area to play in is that if you're doing the funnest thing in the whole park either you accept that you'll get kids coming up with all the social awkwardness that can entail, or if you don't like that you keep the best games back and do them at quieter times or at home, or a mix? Don't see what's so very dreadful about that...

It's fairly obvious a 7 year old is going to want to play with a group of children rather than their baby sibling. The father asked politely if he could join in. Doesn't seem rude to me. If you can't find the words to say "Sorry it's a game for 4 people" or "We're just finishing" or whatever, then how will they know you didn't want to.

Hang on, this was a kids game for four, and you, an adult, wouldn't automatically happily step out to let a lonely 7 year old join in? Do you have issues with empathy or social skills?

I just can't fathom an adult being do utterly unkind and socially unaware. Next time offer, don't wait til someone has to prompt you to not leave their child out!

Let the kids play without you!

This has got to be a joke??
Your advice is she changes what games she plays with her kids and then holds back her 4 year old for playing with their siblings?!