Does anyone else feel uneasy when adults use playgrounds without children?

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Am I the only one that hates when adults go to the playground without children? I know it’s a free world and they can go where they like but it makes me feel so uncomfortable. Like yesterday was sat in the local playground was only me and my kids and a group of 5 adults arrived with no kids, just makes me feel so uncomfortable. I realise im probably being unreasonable but I can’t be the only one that hates it

Seems a bit odd. I know me and my boyfriend at the time went on swings in our early 20s, because the playground was isolated and empty, and swings are fun. But we wouldn't have if children had been around. Some equipment isn't really designed for adult weights either, so that could be a concern.

How do paedophiles seem?

One of our local playgrounds seems to be used for drug deals. The dealers are thick as shit though because the playground is a giant fenced in dead end. So no adult walking through can make a casual excuse for being there and they look suspicious AF. All young men with no kids obviously. They tend to go during off-peak times like early morning when the place is mostly empty so that makes them stick out even more like sore thumbs.

I’m all for people having fun however they want to as long as they aren’t harming anyone, but even I find what you are describing bizarre and I’m surprised by the number of people that don’t think it should be an issue. Isn’t there a sign on the playground saying what the maximum age is? I’m pretty sure all of the playgrounds I take my children to and the ones I went to as a child usually do/did. The absolute maximum they ever say is 14, often its 12, sometimes as little as 8, depending on the equipment. There are also some tourist attractions in and around London which have playgrounds inside where they have someone on the gate and you have to be with a child for them to let you in. Playgrounds are designed to be safe spaces for children to play, so I do think it’s inappropriate for adults to be using them when children are there. (Different from a quick go on the swings when no one’s around). I’ve never seen people in their 20s or 30s using them in the way you describe, but there have been occasions where teenagers have been using equipment obviously designed for little kids making it impossible for the little ones, and we’ll tell them that it’s for younger children and they need to leave.

The equipment is for children, it could break or be damaged by adults using it frequently especially if they are being rough with it. When something in a public park breaks it is unlikely to be fixed in a timely manner making the facility unavailable for the children. Not to mention how creepy it is for adults to hang around children’s spaces on their own, it can also be seen as intimidating for someone on their own with their young children. Very weird behaviour op I completely agree with you.

This is so bizzare I've never seen 30 year old adults playing on swings and going down the slides at a park. How odd

I did witness something funny in a playground once, when it was getting dark. Some teenagers were loitering on some broken playground equipment which had been fenced off; and a group of adults appeared, and started playing on the swings, and climbing the climbing frame. One of the men hesitated before climbing up, and a teenager called out “come on daddy, you can do it!”

Yes im also very surprised at the amount of people that think this is ok and the amount of people being so obtuse comparing it to a park with grass ducks and a cafe! Thats completely different, weird so many think this is ok! Yes the park has a sign saying for child 13 and under

It’s a bit odd especially if kids are there.

i do love a good swing though and I’m 49. I loved Alnwick gardens which has loads of them and they are for adults too.

Come to think of it the swings are often broken and being replaced, explains why now

Our play park is just off the street too, but right next to is the keep fit equipment. Then nothing, no proper green park.
In fact most of the children’s play parks are just play equipment not park of a larger park!
Its about 5 miles to the nearest big park with walks and seats etc!

I go on the swings sometimes if I walk past and there are no kids on it. Also a slide if it's wide enough for my adult sized hips 😂I went for a walk with my MIL the other day and we both went on the swings on the way home and had a good chat and a laugh. Why? Because it's fun. Why does anyone do anything?

I’m with you Op & wish there was a law against it. When I lived abroad, there was a rule (that was properly enforced) for playgrounds that no over 12s were allowed unless accompanied by an under-12 (special needs being the exception!)

Kept playgrounds clear for little children & also meant that the equipment didn’t get broken by adults using the equipment when they’re too heavy for it!

I don't think that would have bothered me tbh. I don't see it much in my local area at all. I once met a nice old lady in a playground sitting alone who said she lived nearby and would come to the playground every day as she liked to watch the kids having fun. And I've occasionally sat in a playground on ny own while waiting as it has better benches and toilet access than other parts of a park.

In lockdown we used to get men using the monkey bars for fitness, and that annoyed me (I didn't think they were pervy but they were getting in the way of kids using their playground equipment), but I've not seen it since then and there's no reason they'd use them now instead of a normal gym.

I agree and also think there should be a law against adults laughing in public.

I think there’s a big difference with adults having a cheeky swing on park swings if there’s no other child there to adults using and hogging the equipment when other peoples dc are there. That’s weird.

I do recall a time last year though when me and ds26 took his dd (my dgd) to one of our local parks and ds oiled the swings as they were squeaking annoyingly and were stiff when we tried to have a swing. Worked a treat and we had a very happy hour with dgd on the swings and going down the slide. It was early morning on a sunday and not a soul was there.

It may well be against the council bye laws.

Many parks have signs about it.

My 15 year old has adhd and he loves playing in the playground. He and i get judged all the time for him being there. We have a swing/climbing frame at home that he uses every day. I imagine he will still want to do this stuff when he is older. Personally I find it really sad that so many people have a problem with adults playing. Where are people like my son supposed to go?

Like adult males who stare in the direction of little girls they don’t know for an uncomfortable length of time.

No, it wouldn’t make me uncomfortable.

Exactly, where are the parks just for adults? One of the best memories I have with my MIL is being on a playground with my children and myself and MIL on the swings having a little swing together. Why is it always about the children?

There are several places in the UK that have adult only nights for soft play and they actively encourage adults to play with their children rather than just sitting at a table watching. We have been to one with the children and it was so much fun to climb besides them, slide down massive slides into ball pits, We never had this as children ourselves, just the potential death equipment in playgrounds. Google 1970s playgrounds.

If there are signs on the park saying maximum age 12 then fair enough but there are no signs on the nearest park to me which is near a primary school so lots of primary children on it, later in the evening the teens are on the swings. I enjoy watching young children play as my children are now adults. Luckily I am female so no hard stares if I dared to sit on a bench. Just because someone is looking at a child doesn't mean they want to sexually assault them.

It seems weird that it’s so frequent! Also, don’t most playgrounds have a notice on the gate saying no adults unless accompanying a child?

I think it will be obvious a child or young adult has SEND needs if they are there with a parent. Age appropriate activities can vary depending on needs. You shouldn’t have to but I have found it helpful for my child to wear a sunflower lanyard in places they might be misunderstood, it makes it clear and reduces the risk of hostility towards us. My child is much younger than yours but has a developmental delay which means they are still into much younger activities than their peers.

lol last time I checked 15 wasn’t an adult! I was there with my 13 year old and younger dd

15 isn’t an adult, no one would bat an eyelid at a 15 year old. We are talking grown men and women.