Being the only adult in the playground: wwyd?

[IceStationZebra]

Went for a wander to the playground this afternoon with my 2yo. Busy but not super busy and didn’t really pay much attention to the other kids there. There’s a multi use pitch next to it and there were a group of older kids on there playing football, some more on scooters and a handful of younger kids with parents.

It started to rain so decided to leave. Popped DC back in the pushchair and was out of the gate when I heard one of the other older kids shout to me - I then noticed it was only the older kids left and I was the only adult around.

They were all talking at once but the gist of it seemed to be that someone had taken someone else’s scooter (they were about 20m away, riding around on it) and were going to set fire to it. All were looking to me for a solution, no one seemed distressed or in immediate danger. I have no experience with older children and genuinely didn’t know what to do - said that they should go home or contact their parents in some way.

What would you have done? I hate the thought of DC going up to an adult for help in a few years time and them being as dismissive as I was, but I’m not sure what would have been appropriate action.

How old is 'older'?

I would maybe have tried to verbally stop the other child, asked if it was theirs, and said if not to give it back. But only if they were under 10 and didn't look thuggish and weren't in a big group.

This is a judgement call but I would have stepped in for them. Just used my stern adult voice and suggest the scooter be returned to its owner. That’s usually enough in my experience. Did you just basically say no and walk off?

I wouldn’t just ignore someone stealing from a vulnerable adult either. To me this is the same. We’re all one community and have a responsibility to keep things safe and pleasant where we can.

That said, if they were aggressive or much older I wouldn’t push it beyond that. You do have to think of your safety.

Depends how old. I expect I would not have been able to just walk away unless I felt I was in danger. It is a bit sad they asked you and you didn't help.

I would probably shout to the one on the scooter that if they damage it they will be liable to buy a new one. Criminal damage. Theft. Police may be involved. Probably a good idea to just get off it and give it back. Then leave. But I’m a teacher, so used to dealing with teenagers!

I would probably have shouted to the one that had taken the scooter to bring it back sharpish , but I’m quite happy to talk to anyone .

Yep, I'd have gone across to have a word with the scooter taken. Then suggested they all go home cos it's raining and their parents could sort it out.

Oldest ones were quite tall and on large mountain bikes - maybe 12-13? I’m bad at estimating ages. The majority looked around 8-10.

I didn’t do nothing and wasn’t apprehensive but hadn’t expected to be surrounded by 10 kids all telling me a story. The kid on the scooter was out of the playground and by the side of the road - about 20m away, could have shouted to them I suppose but wouldn’t expect them to act on anything I said. Why would they?

This is making me think - thanks for responses. I find large groups of children quite challenging & I suppose I come from a starting point of thinking they’re all just rambling nonsense!

I'd have told the other kid to give the scooter back and if they didn't I'd ask them if I needed to call the police.

I didn’t say no and walk off - asked someone if they knew the boy on the scooter (they did) and asked if they lived nearby (they did) so said they should go home or phone their mum.

I don’t have a stern adult voice. Literally never interacted with kids outside of my own family.

You need to find your stern adult voice, it is an essential piece of kit!

Will be getting my teacher friends to prep me @carefullycourageous!

They should teach this kind of thing in NCT groups

The special voice is also useful for dealing with rude adults

Just channel your inner Thatcher

This. If fairly young children, I would have used my stern voice to tell child with scooter to bring it to me and then I would have asked whose scooter it was and reminded them not to take other people's things without permission. I would have also told them not to talk about setting fire to things because that's silly, dangerous and if they actually did it, they could end up seriously hurt or in a lot of trouble.

If teens as tall as me, I wouldn't have got involved and would have left the playground. Although I have told teens to shut up on the bus before when they were shouting and physically fighting and my 3yo was getting upset.

Absolutely. Being able to shout "Right everyone, off the bouncy castle and sitting down for food please NOW!" in a voice that 25 children will actually listen to is a vital skill for running children's parties 😁.