Page 3 | Adult telling 12 year olds to leave playground

itzthTtimeGib · 02/09/2024 08:26

NowImNotDoingIt · 02/09/2024 08:03

So what will you do with YOUR kids once they're 10?

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Cinema, bowling, shopping, adventure parks, aquariums, museums……

Emeraldiisland · 02/09/2024 08:31

Our local playgrounds say for children under 13 so your DD would be fine in our area. We also have a teen park though so most secondary school children go there.
Do you think he was a council worker (council workers are responsible for keeping playground safe and making sure equipment hasn't been broken) and thought the girls were older than they were? If he wasn't I'm not sure why he'd care.
I can understand why they wouldn't want to go there and also I don't agree we the poster who suggested screaming paedo at him? You can't go around ruining someone's life just because they asked to stop playing in the playground.
Are there other safe areas they can go to? Or if they do decide to go back teach her to say no firmly if approaced again and then ignore. Hopefully he wouldn't be stupid enough to try and physically make them leave.

Elseaknows · 02/09/2024 08:33

itzthTtimeGib · 02/09/2024 08:26

Cinema, bowling, shopping, adventure parks, aquariums, museums……

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Most of these require money which a lot of parents do not have due to the COL crisis. Must be nice to have all the answers.

itzthTtimeGib · 02/09/2024 08:35

Elseaknows · 02/09/2024 08:33

Most of these require money which a lot of parents do not have due to the COL crisis. Must be nice to have all the answers.

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A picnic, a game of rounders, outdoor swimming, libraries, the museums I already mentioned…

HelloDaisy · 02/09/2024 08:35

You are I only hearing one side of the story though and his version could be completely different. They could have been making a lot of noise, misusing equipment etc…

We had to help some girls once at a playground as they were both stuck in the toddler swings! They must have been about 12/13 and couldn’t get their legs back out! Luckily we managed to get them out as in another park near us the same thing happened and the fire brigade cut the girl out resulting in no toddler swing for months until council replaced it.

CraigBrown · 02/09/2024 08:36

Me as the mum of a 2yo- “why are all these giant 10yos in the playground, posing a risk to my child? And why has so much of the space in this playground wasted with those giant monkey bars and climbing ropes that no child could possibly manage?”

Me as the mum of a 10yo- “why are all these 2yos getting in the way of the monkey bars and climbing ropes so no one can use them? Can’t their parents see that this part has been designed for bigger kids?”

Unicorntearsofgin · 02/09/2024 08:40

Honestly depends on context. I’ve seen preteens in playgrounds and it’s super intimidating for my little ones. Lots of kids around 12 came into one we were in last week swearing and generally being a nuisance. The age limit was 8 and honestly I’d have been happy for someone to move them on.

Elseaknows · 02/09/2024 08:41

itzthTtimeGib · 02/09/2024 08:35

A picnic, a game of rounders, outdoor swimming, libraries, the museums I already mentioned…

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A picnic would mean going over budget for some families, a game of rounders would mean buying equipment some people don't have, lots of people don't have a lake, river or stream near them (I certainly don't), libraries here are shut for half the week due to council cut backs and even going to museums can be costly when you factor in travelling to and from?

I get where you are coming from but many parents are on the bones of their backside. Factor in multiple children, during an expensive time like the summer holidays and it's not as simple.

NowImNotDoingIt · 02/09/2024 08:41

CraigBrown · 02/09/2024 08:36

Me as the mum of a 2yo- “why are all these giant 10yos in the playground, posing a risk to my child? And why has so much of the space in this playground wasted with those giant monkey bars and climbing ropes that no child could possibly manage?”

Me as the mum of a 10yo- “why are all these 2yos getting in the way of the monkey bars and climbing ropes so no one can use them? Can’t their parents see that this part has been designed for bigger kids?”

Haha yes!

Can I object to parents and very small children using the equipment for the older kids? That's a nuisance too. They can't navigate it safely, they get hurt, get scared/stuck, an adult definitely shouldn't be on it and it takes them ages !

Rocketpants50 · 02/09/2024 08:42

I think parks should be designed for everyone. Just returned from France where we went to a park, there was little children, my large teens and adults on the equipment. Very much encouraged. I think there should be play equipment in every secondary school to. I hate this 'you are too old to be in a playground'.

I hope the girls ignore this grumpy old man and return.

POTC · 02/09/2024 08:43

Sounds to me like he probably lives nearby and was on the committee/council that funded the equipment so is fed up of children bigger than it is designed for using it. I don't see anything sinister in this.

CaptainMyCaptain · 02/09/2024 08:43

A picnic would mean going over budget for some families,

Surely you could just eat whatever you were going to eat at home? A sandwich outdoors in the park makes it a picnic.

LBFseBrom · 02/09/2024 08:44

Wrenbird27 · 24/08/2024 19:17

This happened to my friends daughter. She was with her friends and an older man (~65ish) approached them and told them they were too old to be in the playground. He demanded that they leave before they broke equipment 'with their weight'. He was very persistent and a few of the girls were upset.

The playground was very quiet at the time - just a few other kids.

None of the parents of the 12 year olds were close by - a few of the girls phoned their Mums who arrived quickly but he was gone by then. He didn't have a child himself which the girls noted and thought was odd.

My friend says her daughter won't go there anymore. I think this is a pity as it was a safe area (I thought!) for them to hang out. If there had been more children in the playground they would have moved to the side but the girls said nobody was waiting to go on equipment. The equipment is very sturdy - I've seen adults sitting on swings in there before!

What should they have done?

I don't know, it depends on the playground rules, however I do know there are playgrounds with equipment and apparatus which any child of 12 or over is not allowed to use.

When I was ten (back in the dark ages), I went to somewhere that had one of those plank swingboats. No child over 12 was allowed to use any of the things there.

I was on it and a 'big' girl (over 12), got on the end, standing up holding the chains, and made the plank swing up to the 'bumps'. I was terrified, begged her to stop but she wouldn't. I don't know how it happened but I fell off, I remember sailing through the air passing the posts. I landed on my head, skidded along the concrete taking the skin off the side of my face. I ended up in hospital for a few day, was so fortunate not to have broken my neck. The girl slid away with her friend.

You cannot be too careful with young children.

I'm sure the children concerned would not have behaved badly and the guy could have phrased his concerns better, but he wasn't wrong.

To be honest, thinking back to when I was 12 and I remember it very well, my friends and I wouldn't have wanted to, or even thought of, hanging about in a kids' playground.

We went to parks and open spaces, yes, but not those parts.

NowImNotDoingIt · 02/09/2024 08:44

@itzthTtimeGib so no unstructured play, no going out to play with friends?

If there's an age limit fair enough, otherwise just let kids be kids.

Bellamari · 02/09/2024 08:45

I have a small child and it’s a nuisance when older kids use playground equipment that’s not meant for them. It prevents little kids (who the equipment is actually for) from using it, and puts them at risk of injury.

InTheRainOnATrain · 02/09/2024 08:47

HelloDaisy · 02/09/2024 08:35

You are I only hearing one side of the story though and his version could be completely different. They could have been making a lot of noise, misusing equipment etc…

We had to help some girls once at a playground as they were both stuck in the toddler swings! They must have been about 12/13 and couldn’t get their legs back out! Luckily we managed to get them out as in another park near us the same thing happened and the fire brigade cut the girl out resulting in no toddler swing for months until council replaced it.

I still remember the boy at school who had to be cut out of the baby swings by the fire brigade in Y8. He never lived it down!

And there’s loads of age appropriate outdoor stuff for preteens/teens to do. Skate park, basketball court, kick a football about, game of rounders/frisbee, ride bikes, go for walks, sit on a picnic blanket chatting and sunbathing, go to the beach! Paid for but not expensive are things like the local swimming pool or tennis courts, maybe getting the train into town to mooch round the shops or go for a coffee. I know it depends what you have locally and what their interests are but some of those have got to work and any are better than getting stuck in the baby swings!!

joolsella · 02/09/2024 08:47

Bloody hell

Kids cant win

HoppityBun · 02/09/2024 08:48

LBFseBrom · 02/09/2024 08:44

I don't know, it depends on the playground rules, however I do know there are playgrounds with equipment and apparatus which any child of 12 or over is not allowed to use.

When I was ten (back in the dark ages), I went to somewhere that had one of those plank swingboats. No child over 12 was allowed to use any of the things there.

I was on it and a 'big' girl (over 12), got on the end, standing up holding the chains, and made the plank swing up to the 'bumps'. I was terrified, begged her to stop but she wouldn't. I don't know how it happened but I fell off, I remember sailing through the air passing the posts. I landed on my head, skidded along the concrete taking the skin off the side of my face. I ended up in hospital for a few day, was so fortunate not to have broken my neck. The girl slid away with her friend.

You cannot be too careful with young children.

I'm sure the children concerned would not have behaved badly and the guy could have phrased his concerns better, but he wasn't wrong.

To be honest, thinking back to when I was 12 and I remember it very well, my friends and I wouldn't have wanted to, or even thought of, hanging about in a kids' playground.

We went to parks and open spaces, yes, but not those parts.

Edited

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He was indeed wrong if there was no age limit or if they weren’t over it. The point is: we just don’t know. He was wrong not to explain. He set a poor example of how to speak to people and how to deal with a situation. 12 year olds deserve courtesy and explanations just as much as older people and he set a poor example.

CuteCillian · 02/09/2024 08:49

The man didn't know that they were 12 too, girls can sometimes look or act a bit older. Especially to the older generation. He may have thought they were more like 14
I would also question if he was an 'old' man? When DS was 12 he and his friends used to moan about an old man who told them to stay on the footpath when they walked through his farm. I assumed 60+. Later I've become friends with the farmer. He was 41 when my DS was 12.

kirinm · 02/09/2024 08:51

Most playgrounds aren't aimed at 12 year olds and kids that age - younger even - are often loud and take over the space which is scary for younger kids.

I wouldn't shout at them to leave but I think I agree (when picturing the playgrounds near us).

Unicorntearsofgin · 02/09/2024 08:51

Rocketpants50 · 02/09/2024 08:42

I think parks should be designed for everyone. Just returned from France where we went to a park, there was little children, my large teens and adults on the equipment. Very much encouraged. I think there should be play equipment in every secondary school to. I hate this 'you are too old to be in a playground'.

I hope the girls ignore this grumpy old man and return.

I agree with you but around here at least most are designed for kids under 8 and some for kids under 10. More playgrounds with areas for older kids would be wonderful but the council seems to be on the bones of its arse so unlikely I guess. Older kids are intimidating to the younger ones though so the solution shouldn’t be force the younger ones out.

LadyGilley · 02/09/2024 08:52

I note this was a man seeking to intimidate girls.

Girls leave parks at an earlier age than boys. This is not a good thing. It’s great your girls were still playing there.

I’m pretty appalled by comments on here that 12 year olds are too old for play parks. No wonder our kids mental health has deteriorated so badly when we think 12 year olds are too old to play!

Any adults around should be making sure older kids share properly, not just telling them to leave just because of their age. Kids are capable of this where mixed age play is normal.

itzthTtimeGib · 02/09/2024 08:56

NowImNotDoingIt · 02/09/2024 08:44

@itzthTtimeGib so no unstructured play, no going out to play with friends?

If there's an age limit fair enough, otherwise just let kids be kids.

You think adventure parks, outdoor sports and swimming are too structured and/or can’t be enjoyed with friends?

BippityBopper · 02/09/2024 08:57

LadyGilley · 02/09/2024 08:52

I note this was a man seeking to intimidate girls.

Girls leave parks at an earlier age than boys. This is not a good thing. It’s great your girls were still playing there.

I’m pretty appalled by comments on here that 12 year olds are too old for play parks. No wonder our kids mental health has deteriorated so badly when we think 12 year olds are too old to play!

Any adults around should be making sure older kids share properly, not just telling them to leave just because of their age. Kids are capable of this where mixed age play is normal.

It's not that they're too old for play parks, just that they are too old for ones that specify that they are for 12 and under.

There are playgrounds around my areas with areas for children 12 and under,but there are also areas for children 8+.

LadyGilley · 02/09/2024 08:58

Skate park, basketball court, kick a football about, game of rounders/frisbee, ride bikes, go for walks, sit on a picnic blanket chatting and sunbathing, go to the beach

Most of these things are more of interest to boys than girls. The ‘teen parks’ are dominated by boys. Girls tend to like places they can sit and chat. But if they sit on swings to chat, adults tell them to move, which leaves parks as places for boys ( with their basket ball courts etc).( Most teen girls are not walking around with picnic blankets!). We need to design parks to suit teen girls as well as teen boys.