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Original poster

Playgrounds..........

31 replies

Anordinarymum · 08/08/2021 18:09

OK so this is lighthearted because in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really mean much but at the same time some parents of their precious children really get my goat.

I went for a walk with my grandson (3) and the dog today to a local park/woods .
As we moved near to the children's playground he said he wanted to go in there and he did. I couldn't go in because we had the dog with us, so I walked around the fence and got as near to where he was playing as possible.
We were only a few yards apart. I could speak to him and he could hear me, and answer back. It was the best I could do.
He went to go on the slide. It is mounted onto a hill and you have to climb up to get to it.
There were three older children already there .I saw them all standing around him and he moved away from the slide. The oldest one was saying something to him but I could not hear.
He walked over to a circular thing on a pole which went round and round.
The children moved across and the girl pushed him off it and started playing on it.
I watched. I asked him if he was OK and the girl, realising he was not by himself got off and he got back on.
Then she stood really close to the thing and kept putting her hand across to make him get off.
The mother came over and told him to take turns and asked him to stand back which he did. She looked across at me, rolled her eyes and smiled.
I wanted to punch her lights out.
I watched the girl playing on it and my grandson waiting to go back on.
When she got off the mother brought another child over to have a go putting her hand across to stop him from going back on the thing and told him to wait.
He waited and then he got back on and played for two minutes and we left.

Yes I could have caused a fuss but what good would it have done?
Later I thought about it and decided it was a lesson in life for him. Still feel a bit miffed even now though

OP posts:
BlueSurfer · 08/08/2021 18:12

I would have said something. No need to be rude at all, but I would have pointed out your grandson had waited and it was now his turn.

Mamette · 08/08/2021 18:17

You were very restrained. If I see a child push my child at a playground I always speak to them directly and say “We don’t push, don’t do that please”.

Notgoingonholiday · 08/08/2021 18:20

I would have definitely pointed out that he'd been waiting and it was his turn. That's not making a fuss, it's looking out for your grandson.

Rogue1001 · 08/08/2021 18:23

I'd have tied my dog up somewhere i could keep an eye on him and gone in with my grandson

purpleme12 · 08/08/2021 18:32

Bloody hell I'd have said something before the other mother got there!!

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 09/08/2021 08:55

@Rogue1001

I'd have tied my dog up somewhere i could keep an eye on him and gone in with my grandson
No. We were out for a dog walk. The dog never gets tied up anywhere.
OP posts:
Original poster
Anordinarymum · 09/08/2021 08:58

@purpleme12

Bloody hell I'd have said something before the other mother got there!!
Well, to be honest, I thought the mother was coming over to tell her child off! It all happened in a very short space of time. I'm normally quite reactive in situations like this, but I did not want to raise my voice or use emotive language in a child's area where other people were present. I might not be quite so calm another time. I know I won't !
OP posts:
Bimblybomeyelash · 09/08/2021 09:00

No. We were out for a dog walk. The dog never gets tied up anywhere. sounds like you are more protective of your dog than your grandson!

HotPenguin · 09/08/2021 09:03

I don't think a 3 year old should play in a park with older children without an adult to be honest, if you aren't prepared to tie up your dog he shouldn't have gone in.

grey12 · 09/08/2021 09:17

I'm sorry OP but PPs are right. You shouldn't leave a 3yo by themselves in the playground. Specially if they are being harassed by older children. You should have left the dog for a moment and go to help you GS resolve the situation

MindyStClaire · 09/08/2021 09:26

No. We were out for a dog walk. The dog never gets tied up anywhere.

But your 3 year old grandson gets left alone in the playground? I know you could see him, but at that age (I have one!) they need a bit more hands on interaction than that - help with climbing something a little big for them, quick cuddle and dust off if they fall, and yes, help with social interactions like taking turns.

The dog could be safely tied up outside where you could see him at all times.

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 09/08/2021 09:27

Yep you are all right but the playground visit was not planned. There was a small fence between us. He and I could see each other perfectly well.
It didn't pan out and it will not happen again.

The other mother could see me though..................

OP posts:
Original poster
Anordinarymum · 09/08/2021 09:28

@Bimblybomeyelash

No. We were out for a dog walk. The dog never gets tied up anywhere. sounds like you are more protective of your dog than your grandson!
Yeah thanks for that
OP posts:
L1ttleSeahorse · 09/08/2021 09:31

You really shouldnt have a 3 yesr old playing alone in a park. Im not surprised the other mother looked at you tbh. Sursly you can leave the dog to play with your grandson for 10mins?

UserStillatLarge · 09/08/2021 09:32

How old were the older children? If 5/6/7 then tbh this is just playing in playgrounds and what happens in that age group. If you let your son go in on his own knowing there are older children you have to accept this might happen.

You need to tie up the dog or avoid the playground.

toomuchfaster · 09/08/2021 09:34

@MindyStClaire

No. We were out for a dog walk. The dog never gets tied up anywhere.

But your 3 year old grandson gets left alone in the playground? I know you could see him, but at that age (I have one!) they need a bit more hands on interaction than that - help with climbing something a little big for them, quick cuddle and dust off if they fall, and yes, help with social interactions like taking turns.

The dog could be safely tied up outside where you could see him at all times.

This! A 3 year old is far too little to be in a playground alone. What would you have done when he fell? If it's a dog walk specifically, don't let him in the playground. I would be very cross if I was the child's parent too.
L1ttleSeahorse · 09/08/2021 09:35

I was thinking that. If I was the child's parent I'd want to know my child was in a playground alone and came second to the dog.

(Arg previous typos.)

ThreeFlowers · 09/08/2021 09:36

The other family have obviously learnt their unfriendly behaviour from their mother…I would have just removed him from the situation and gone back later when they’d left.

I have dog too and it can be really awkward, I tend to avoid playgrounds when I have him with me. Can you either tie the dog up (I can’t mine barks🙄) or maybe just leave the dog at home.

Original poster
Anordinarymum · 09/08/2021 09:37

@UserStillatLarge

How old were the older children? If 5/6/7 then tbh this is just playing in playgrounds and what happens in that age group. If you let your son go in on his own knowing there are older children you have to accept this might happen.

You need to tie up the dog or avoid the playground.

Exactly. And that is why I said nothing. I was watching. He was only in there for a short time before we returned to the car. It wasn't the children who concerned me. I know what children are like. It was the behaviour of the adult that surprised me.

Normally the dog would not be there but on this occasion she was as it was a dog walk.

OP posts:
Original poster
Anordinarymum · 09/08/2021 09:38

@L1ttleSeahorse

I was thinking that. If I was the child's parent I'd want to know my child was in a playground alone and came second to the dog.

(Arg previous typos.)

Oh mumsnet at it's very best this morning
OP posts:
L1ttleSeahorse · 09/08/2021 09:38

Tbh your behaviour of leaving a 3 year old to play without an adult probably surprised her!!

2reefsin30knots · 09/08/2021 09:40

I agree with PP that the main problem here is that you prioritised your dog over your grandson.

If you can't tie your dog up for 10 minutes to help the grandson mediate turn-taking the playground, don't let him go in.

WalkersAreNotTheOnlyCrisps · 09/08/2021 09:44

I think OP is getting a bit of a hard time here, at my local playground a few parents stand at the railings watching their child if they have a dog with them, some even sit on the benches...

I’d have probably tied the dog up though OP and marched over if the mother kept stopping my child getting on it 🤷🏼‍♀️

ForeverSinging · 09/08/2021 10:16

You need to in the park supervising a 3 year old child properly for reasons exactly like this.

PaddyPadster · 09/08/2021 10:21

3 year old wasn’t on his own though was he, he was being supervised the whole time. You can’t leave dogs tied up anymore because they are being stolen left right and centre. As OP said, it was a dog walk not a trip to the park. I agree with you OP but I would certainly have said something to the other child and then the mother.