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?

"I've drummed it into her that its their area to play in as they like and not hers so she must play by their rules... I'd expect other parents to do the same."

Yes and many hundreds of parents have drummed it into their children that they must slide down slides and not climb up them. They tend to expect other parents to do the same...

Oh bollocks she's gone...

Hello brick wall, how are you?

You think he should learn about the social side of things when he gets to pre school?

Well that will probably have to teach him that slides aren't for climbing at pre school as well then.

I've worked in three nurserys with slides, and the rule is always that children come down the slide and then move away. For their own safety and that of others. And always feet first fwiw, so they can slide on backs or tummies if they want, as long as their feet go first. Other equipment is provided to encourage climbing skills and imaginative play.

If you deliberately want your child to have to be confused over such a simple rule when he is being exposed to so many new things all at the same time, that's your choice.

No problem with encouraging your child to climb up the slide the wrong way OP - provided you take the blame when another child, who is using the slide in the correct way, crashes into our DC and kicks him in the face. Nothing at all wrong with letting your DC do whatever he wants OP. Just do not have a hissy fit and blame the other child when your DC gets hurt.

YANBU
I work in a nursery and allow the children to climb up the slide. It's much more fun sometimes and a great opportunity for children to problem solve, to work out how to climb to the top. It's a challenge.
But the most important skill they are learning is to be able to take risks in a controlled environment, which is absolutely essential and will prove more worthwhile than learning how to queue and use a slide in the 'correct' way.

yabu i have seen the consequences on more than 3 seperate occasions when a child has been knocked off a slide coming up it the wrong way. Blood everywhere, missing teeth, screaming mummies. SLides are for sliding down - not stickig to rules on this one before you knwo it they will be mugging granies in the street because its "fun".

YABU. Who wants fresh, wet mud (and possibly worse) all over the slide before their dc goes down it?

We used to use the slides as "travellators" and try to run up them without holding on to the slides. It was fun.

I'd suggest going to a less busy playground, then you can play however you want.

really purepurple, you are allowed or even told to do this are you?

I think you need to ask your superior if this is actually ok for you to do.
I wouldn't be happy about this being encouraged at my sons nursery.
There are plenty of other safe ways to expose children to risks and problem solve that exclude the possibility of a split lip or knocked out tooth.

Dear OP.

AIBU is the online equivalent of 'does my bum look big in this?' - if you have to ask, then you have to expect someone to give a resounding YES!

Don't then flounce off in a huff!

YANBU, goodness what a lot of conformity-freaks we all are this evening!

You're right, you've waited your turn, a 15 second wait won't kill them, and I know the sort of soft-play slide you're talking about - it's a moot point whether it even is a slide.

I'd just practice a dazzling smile and say "oh, he's more of a climber but we have queued, don't worry!" and then ignore them.

OTTmumma, yes, I'm 'allowed'. I think children are learning lots of skills by being able to explore equipment in this way.The children climbing up the slide need to be able to negotiate with the children waiting to slide down, as well as weighing up the risks of climbing up. The children actually talk to each other, such as 'wait till I've climbed up' etc. It is all very safe and very well supervised.
The only time I don't let them climb up the slide is when it is raining as it makes it too slippy.
I don't see a right way or a wrong way, it's about experimentation and gaining confidence. It's not really about following rules.

I would actively encourage my child to go down the slide while your child were on it being awkward.

so do you have no rules for mealtimes or when you take the children out on an end of term trip?

Can you see why some parents do not like this, where should this 'experimental learning' be practiced where does it end?

I personally would not want my son at your nursery PP, purely because i feel it is a H&S issue that you would be blatently ignoring, and i would be wondering what else you let slide,,

excuse the pun.

Oh c'mon have you never climbed up a slide?

You get 'told off' if your child climbs up the slide at soft play.
I have 'allowed' my child to climb up a slide before in the park when no other children are queuing- to let little Quentin climb up the slide whilst others are at the top waiting to go down just seems bad manners really, simple as that.

I still don't understand how you can queue at the bottom of a slide for a turn.
Yes, I've let my children experiment with play equipment, just not when there are other people using it.
So OP, YABU and he's heading for an accident, or you are heading for a row with another parent.

Ha! I remember a previous incarnation of this thread. We haven't got to "whey faced milksops" yet then? Opinion more divided that time IIRC. MN is getting more conformist...

Do you think the Ops mummy never ever told her 'no' either ?

YANBU, I think.

I let my DCs do this BUT only under the following conditions:

• nobody else waiting
• shoes aren't dirty
• not muddy or raining

IMO, playgrounds shouldn't be subject to these rules - WHY should you only be allowed to slide DOWN a slide? Surely playground equipment is for exploring and developing physical strength and dexterity - climbing up a slide can be part of that.

no Usualsuspect, i never liked the slides anyway.

I was much more a swinger

As long as you are not going to kick off when a child sliding down it knocks your child off

(BTW, I meant YANBU about the actual climbing up the slide part - YABU for doing it when other children are waiting)

I think there is probably a difference between teaching in an environment where all children are following a 'climbing up' rule and supervised by people also following the rule, compared to a public play space, with multiple adults supervising playing to different rules, IYSWIM. That's not to say I agree with doing it, as how is a child then meant to know the rules have changed when they play elsewhere. Contradicting myself, as I type, LOL.

OTTmumma (how apt)
I love it when people jump to wild conclusions from a little post.
I don't have to justify myself to you :P