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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

236 replies

lookingforwards · 22/02/2011 14:56

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?

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 22/02/2011 15:07

It's all about fitting in too. Climbing up a slide is probably infinitely more interesting/challenging than climbing the steps and sliding but where other parents are trying to teach their child to cooperate, to queue, to use the equipment for its intended purpose etc, you're encouraging your child to do the opposite.

And yes you may well be watching but when another child sees this sanctioned by an adult and tries it themselves with no supervision that's how accidents happen.

Original poster
lookingforwards · 22/02/2011 15:07

Sassy and others - for your information errr, he's not my first.

No PFB assumptions please.

OP posts:
Psammead · 22/02/2011 15:07

I wouldn't have a problem so long as he was being properly supervised and wasn't making it dirty.

YABU to expect everyone to feel that way, though.

Fimbo · 22/02/2011 15:08

If it is one of those which seem to be the norm for park equipment these days when it is neigh on impossible for a young kid to climb the stairs to get to the top, then no yanbu, especially if you stand there at all times.

But if there is no perfectly good reason for doing it then no you are being very unreasonable.

We went to a country park at the weekend, my ds couldn't come down the slide as it was covered in mud from climber uppers. We were away for a few days and didn't have that many changes of clothing for him and were going on to a restaurant immediately afterwards before anyone has a go Grin.

ledodgy · 22/02/2011 15:08

I hope your son never meets mine coming down on his way up because he can be very impatient and doesn't always listen when told to stop.

laosvher · 22/02/2011 15:08

How does one climb up a slide in socks?
Mega skillz

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 22/02/2011 15:09

looking forwards... No, not an issue at softplay if you think it's a good idea, but if he does it there, he'll do it on every slide, won't he.

I wouldn't be too pleased for my DC to have to slide down a muddy slide.

... or will you be having a slide down yourself to clean it after your DS has climbed up it? That's always an option.

Maryz · 22/02/2011 15:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BooyFuckingHoo · 22/02/2011 15:09

saffy i think taht is a bit harsh. OP isn't saying teh rest of the parents have to wait for her ds to be finished. she said she lets him do it for 15-20 seconds. now really, who begrudges an 18 month old 15/20 seconds of climbing on their turn? i certainly wouldn't. if tehy were taking teh piss then yes but thsi doesn't soudn liek it.

southeastastra · 22/02/2011 15:10

how sad that playgrounds have 'rules' Hmm

strandednomore · 22/02/2011 15:11

I know it sounds really booooring and conformist man, and life is so much bettttter when we all do our own things, man.

But really just teach him the rules, it'll be much better for everyone in the long run.

Sassybeast · 22/02/2011 15:11

No one is saying that they shouldn't be able to play/climb/stand on their heads or swing from the lightbulbs. Just use the climbing frames for climbing and leave slides for kids who want to slide. It really irks me when people assume that their kids have more of a right than other people - this thread reminds me of the militant mother whose PFB had a divine right to hog the bloody swings for ages whilst other kids queued.

TerrorFirmer · 22/02/2011 15:11

oh fgs - he's going to have to learn to conform to a lot more social conventions in life. I think you have a responsibility to teach him how to do something the 'right way'.

slartybartfast · 22/02/2011 15:12

i dont know why this is in AIBU

you know it is unreasonable. i dont know why we are commenting so much tbh.

mamatomany · 22/02/2011 15:12

My kids have their own slide in the back garden that is huge and even that i won't let them climb up, we climb ladders or climbing walls, that is the rules, then nobody ever gets booted in the face.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 22/02/2011 15:13

OP... Will you mind when another parent speaks to your child about climbing up the slide instead of using it as intended?

slartybartfast · 22/02/2011 15:13

those wooden playgrounds. they are just ripe for bulding a lovely bonfire.
break the rules,
use our imagination man

Original poster
lookingforwards · 22/02/2011 15:13

'It's all about fitting in too. Climbing up a slide is probably infinitely more interesting/challenging than climbing the steps and sliding but where other parents are trying to teach their child to cooperate, to queue, to use the equipment for its intended purpose etc, you're encouraging your child to do the opposite.'

Funny, I thought baby playgrounds were for playing in! Hmm. Can't they learn about fitting in at preschool and school age? Bit dull to worry about conforming when you are 18 months.

And like I said, he does queue and wait his turn. He just spends his turn in a different way and while the other child is climbing back up.

Never seen a sign saying 'do not climb up the slide' but obv if I did I wouldn't let him!

OP posts:
StewieGriffinsMom · 22/02/2011 15:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyWellian · 22/02/2011 15:13

My (older) sister ended up in hospital having her chin stitched (still has scar now, 30-odd years later) after I inadvertently booted her over the side of a slide she was climbing up as I was sliding down.

I don't recall getting told off about it - I think my parents felt she should have known better.

It's just not a habit worth getting into, IMHO.

Maryz · 22/02/2011 15:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheDevilAndTheDeepBlueSea · 22/02/2011 15:15

Just teach him the rules, like everyone else Hmm

Plenty of time for him to rebel later on, I'm sure.

suzikettles · 22/02/2011 15:15

He is probably going to get a foot in the face one of these days unfortunately.

As long as you're happy to be gracious to the parent of the impatient child who didn't wait for him to finish his wee scramble then do whatever you like.

yogididabooboo · 22/02/2011 15:17

couldnt care if hes your first of fifteenth, it is a slide. for sliding down. not climbing up.

pastapestoforgotherpassword · 22/02/2011 15:18

Its one of the unspoken rules of the playground isn't it, climb UP steps slide DOWN slide, simple!