to let my son spend HIS turn on the slide climbing up it instead of going down it?

[lookingforwards]

Just had this happen again at play area (softplay this time) but its happened so many times over the last yr since DS could walk. He's a climber and thinks slides are for climbing. He waits his turn, then goes to the bottom and starts scrambling up it. After a suitable interval I get h im off and he waits again till the last child after him has had a go at which point I let him at the slide again for a scramble. He only gets about 1 minute if its busy but unlimited if there's noone else there. I lift him off if there's someone waiting at the top who has clambered up and wants to come down and then he can scramble again while they are climbing back up. He is 18 mths.

The problem starts when some other parent lifts their child/baby striahgt up to the top and then looks at me impatiently or says straight out 'can you take him off please?'.

Well I think a go spent climbing is as valid as a go spent coming down but the rest of the baby playground world apparently goes by a different etiquette where slides are for coming down and anyone climbing up is a pain and their parent needs to have it pointed out to them that their son is breaking all the unwritten rules.

So go on then AIBU, what's the verdict?

yabu,
slides are for sliding down
he can climb up the ladder, made specificially for the prupose.
slides are for sliding down, does what it says. tis dangerous to be walking up, well not really, but it coudl be

Sliding down takes 5 seconds.

You see the issue?

Your son's dirty feet are on the slide and other children have to get dirty going down it. YABU.

YABU when there are other children waiting, it takes a lot longer to climb up than slide down.

I had two climbers but taught them the rules and they have to like it or lump it.

I would encourage his climbing elsewhere (like a climbing frame maybe?).

to slide down takes seconds.
to climb up considerably more.

To slide down is to use the equipment as it is designed, to climb up is far more dangerous.

To slide down you are using the cloth of your clothing, to climb up you are putting your feet and shoes on the slide which is to be sat and slid down.

Ya absolutly bu

blimey don't see the problem at all! unless there is obviously a queue

OMG you bare seriously over thinking this. a slide is for er sliding, show him the climbing ropes etc so he know where he can climb.

YABU

The clue is in the name. They ain't called "Climbs" are they?!

I think the queueing was the issue.

*are not bare! bloody iPad,

YABU. Sorry but slides are not for climbing on(the clue is in the name. I know lots of little kids like doing this and I suppose of park is empty and it is a dry day then not doing any harm.But if is wet(even a little bit) then your dc climbing up the slide will make it dirty for other kids(and no am not a clean freak at all!). Also when kids are taking their turn on slide then surely they are whizzing down it fairly quicky while your pfb(must be?)will take alot longer climbing up therefore meaning other kids have to hang around for their turn again?(bit rude imo). Surely at 18 months its a n ideal time to teach your dc that its much more fun to slide down?.

I suspect the OP will soon change her tune when a child at the top doesnt wait til its clear before sliding down and her little darling gets booted in the gob!

umm, i saw a little girl scramble up a massive plasitc indoor slide once ( 4 in a row ) so she had one all to herself.
she got about half way up it and slipped, smacked her face onto the slide and well,,, slide all the way down.
I could see the smeared trail of blood from the toilet area!

I think YABU, and irresponsable.
Take him to the rope ladder or climbing frame instead.

Southeastra - even if there is a queue, OP lets PFB climb up for a 'minute' -am assuming she times it to the second.

YABU - it annoys me when this happens especially when outside. The climber makes the slide all dirty and as a result the sliders get dirty on the way down! Teach him to climb up the steps instead of the slide.

No queue, no problem.

Childhood would be pretty dull if we were restricted to only using objects for their intended purpose.

wow i had no idea this was so contentious

if no-one is waiting, let him climb. if tehre is a queue he has to get off and take turns to slide down the, er...slide

Just keep repeating: Stairs up, slide down. He'll get it eventually.

And when no one's around he can do as he pleases!

OK, fair enough Sassy, I think 1 minute was a wrong estimate, I thought that when i pressed post. I reckon its more like 15-20 secs. A few scrambles. And we are talking about baby playgrounds, nobody over the age of 3. Not great big schoolage kids thundering around wanting their turn.

LyingWitch - no I don't think dirty feet applies. This latest was a socks only venue and I wouldn't let him do it with muddy feet. I suppose shoes could be said to contain grime from the floor but then that is all over the ladder (or whatever they have to climb up to get to the top) too, no?

I just think its mad to dictate to kids how to play. Surely they should use their imagination (within reason) to play with the equipment there as they want to for their own development....climbing is good for arms and shoulders/confidence etc etc.

I know,I commented through boredom -I really couldn't give a fuck.

YABU. Can't stand parents who think the world revolves around their little darling.

And yes my DD has attempted to climb up many slides, unlike you I'vetaught her that they are strictly for slidng down. You're lucky that the children at the top wait for your DS to get out the way before coming down. Give it time and they wont.

Slides are for sliding down not climbing up.

In many soft play areas they have a sign saying 'do not climb up the slides'.

You need to either buy a small slide for your garden that he can climb up, or find one of those rustic outdoor play areas with big wooden structures that he can climb all over.

haha at my shocking typos