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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that parents of toddlers need to realise that older children have just as much right to play in playparks....

61 replies

MrsHeffley · 27/12/2011 17:58

and actually some areas are actually designed for the over 4s.

So taking that into account giving kids of 7 and over the evils and tutting when playing quite happily on equipment at the older end because your pfb is on the same equipment is a tad precious and actually not very nice.

If you don't like older kids engaging in loud energetic play remove your toddler and take him/her down to the large amount of play equipment designated for younger children.

Also expecting a large number of older kids to queue for a veeeeery long time so your pfb can spend ages being lifted step by step up a ladder is a tad selfish when it's the only slide for older kids and you have 3 other toddler slides to choose from!!!!

Just sayin.

OP posts:

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 27/12/2011 18:00

Your answer is in the question. P F B

AnotherMincepie · 27/12/2011 18:00

YABU

slavetofilofax · 27/12/2011 18:01

YANBU!

That is something that really gets on my wick.

Yuuule · 27/12/2011 18:03

YANBU

Sirzy · 27/12/2011 18:03

It works both ways. Parents of older children should encourage them to be aware of little children, parents on younger children should make sure they don't get in the way to much! If everyone did that it would make trips to the park much nicer!

RainboweBrite · 27/12/2011 18:03

Depends on how old the kids are, though. IMO, secondary school kids are too old to use play equipment, and our local playground used to be full of them when my DS was a toddler.

Cinderfella · 27/12/2011 18:03

YANBU and I look after pre-schoolers.

belgo · 27/12/2011 18:05

YANBU. I think it's great seeing older children and teenagers playing on park equipment, far better then the stereotyped image of them on their computer consoles or causing trouble.

tallulah · 27/12/2011 18:05

YANBU but by the same token, parents of older children don't watch them as closely as Toddlers parents do, and it might help if they explained to them before getting to the park that if an area is designed for under 4s (a) they should not be in there, and (b) if they are they need to not shove smaller children.

In our local park were two children older than my 4 yo climbing up the slide, over and over again. Their mother wandered over to join them and just smiled indulgently at them. Nobody else could use the slide.

BastedTurkey · 27/12/2011 18:06

YANBU although I may have been a tad PFB when mine were toddlers

slavetofilofax · 27/12/2011 18:06

Secondary school children are not too old at all!

My ds is at secondary, he's still only 11 and won't be 12 until August. Teenagers might be too old, but not ones who are young for their age and still doing things that 13 yo's should be doing.

bigTillyMincepie · 27/12/2011 18:07

YANBU!

Our local park has been upgraded which is fab - most of the equipment is for toddlers - under 7's. There is really only a basket ball hoop for the older kids, but toddler mums still expect them to move out of the way / watch out for their PFB's. Which they do, but it spoils their games.

When mine were toddlers, I kept them out of the way of the older children.

GypsyMoth · 27/12/2011 18:09

Secondary school? Well we don't have secondary schools in this area.... Middle school?? Upper??

SardineQueen · 27/12/2011 18:10

YANBU

However trying to persuade a recalcitrant nipper to use the age appropriate stuff rather than the much more exciting bigger stuff can sometimes be challenging to say the least.

spiderpig8 · 27/12/2011 18:10

YANBU A playground local to us has an area specifically for 14+ and it's full of bloody tots!!

rathlin · 27/12/2011 18:15

In the London borough I live in, it clearly stipulates on the signs that the parks are for under 12s. I have no objection to anyone of that age running around but I don't appreciate children of 6 for example running around knocking my 2.5 yr old over - they don't own the place and a child of 6 has more sense than one of 2-3 yrs. They should be able to play happily while also not acting like they own the place and steam-rolling over little kids.

Original poster

MrsHeffley · 27/12/2011 18:15

It'a massive,award winning,fantastically designed huge playpark designed for kids up to 12(as stated on the gate).It has 4/5 massive fab play areas that kind of go up in ability ie the toddler stuff has challenging areas.

Have been taking my kids there since they could walk and always kept them at the younger end when toddling as it was more than challenging enough.I have no problems with others using the older stuff for toddlers but don't really relish the intimidation(evil looks,tutting,crowding round the slide to butt out other older children).There were many older kids(6,7,8) all playing beautifully.

If it was one tiny set of swings/slide I could understand the need for older kids to modify their play,it wasn't.

Basically older kids need and have a right to play,if you don't like it move on.It's no wonder kids grow up too quick when 7/8 year olds can't even play pirates without glares.There seems to be an assumption that over 5s don't need play areas-they do hence the hoards of money that went into the building of our local park.

OP posts:

RainboweBrite · 27/12/2011 18:16

Secondary school children are not too old at all!
I forgot that kids start secondary at 11 in this country, as I come from Ireland, where they are usually 12 or 13 starting, so in the circumstances, that's fair enough.
I know you wouldn't have caught me or any of my friends dead in the park at that age though; we were far more interested in going into town and looking looking at boys around the shops from the age of 10.

Northernlurker · 27/12/2011 18:16

When I take my three to the park they cover both age groups (13,10 and 4). I like to people to recognise that both groups have a right to play but I expect other people's older dcs to be as careful with my little one as my big ones are with other people's little ones. And no it's not possible to keep a little child off the other stuff, especially when she sees her big sisters on it.

Pishtushette · 27/12/2011 18:16

We have all ages in our local park and they all play really well together usually. When I'm helping DD to go up the stairs I always move her to one side if there is a larger/more able child trying to get past. All the parents I've come across have been great...there is sometimes a bit of pushing/shoving when things get boisterous, but that's kind of expected. As long as it it isn't done maliciously.

rathlin · 27/12/2011 18:18

sorry, forgot, YABU a little bit. Everyone should be able to play in the park. I don't put my DS on equipment that is clearly designed for older children so YANBU on that issue.

Original poster

MrsHeffley · 27/12/2011 18:18

I agree with the poster who things teenagers need playparks too,I always hung out in parks until quite old.There needs to be more.

OP posts:

SardineQueen · 27/12/2011 18:19

I'm not sure about your last post though you seem to be saying that you don't want the little ones there at all?

slavetofilofax · 27/12/2011 18:26

Fair enough Rainbow!

I would have been more interested in town at that age too, but my ds is fairly young for his years which is nice, and will still happily play on park equipment.

I think if you are going to allow a young child on equipment that is designed for children up to the age of 12, then the responsibility to keep them safe is yours. My boys (11 and 9) do know that they have to watch out for younger children and be careful not to knock them over, but at the same time, I'm not going to stifle their play so much that they can't get on with their game becaue they are so busy trying to avoid little ones. They will run and climb and do what children like to do, becaue the space was created for them to be able to do just that. If a child is too small to defend themselves or manage their own safety, then they should be in the area designed for the under fours, becaue that's what it's there for. I wouldn't let my boys play their games in the toddler area, but there is no way I will stop them from running around in the older children's area just because some parents want to allow their pfb toddlers on everything.

goldbow · 27/12/2011 18:30

Erm not really noticed. I've got 10, 7 and 3 year old.

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